he has a large estate worked by slaves, to petition the King of Denmark to abolish slavery in the Danish islands immediately, even if it has to be done without compensation from the government. This, I thought, was a strong testimony in favor of freedom, and the man who gave it was as well qualified to judge as perhaps any other in the islands. I inquired of an intelligent colored man, how they liked freedom? O, very well, massa.' But I again inquired, 'Did not your masters give you plenty to eat, and were they not kind to you?' Yes, massa, dey kind enough to us, and dey use to gib us plenty to eat; but den we hab to eat it with a very sorry heart.' Liberty is dear to man; whenever a ray of intelligence sparkles, it kindles a desire to enjoy the free gift of Heaven."

THE SUN AND STAR.

THE sun and star both draw their beams
From the same fount on high,
That wells, in never-failing streams,

From the Eternal Eye!

So, to all pure and faithful souls,

Each keeping its command,
Our God the same fair truth unfolds,
Though far apart they stand.

Meekly the little twinkling star
Into the dark retires,

Soon as the sun, from burning car,
Scatters his wide-felt fires.

The star has light enough to know
Whence sprung the sun to birth;
And while its own small lamp burns low,
Rejoices for the earth.

E. P. P.

How came they in this wood, without a guide?

DOLCE.

How, truly if they came not from the sky.

But, then, they have no wings.

CAROL.

Whence did they come?

If now we fly to Nelly's cot, to find

Some crumbs around her open door, our nest
Of birdlings will be safe; for we can list

If anything disturb it. Dolcè, come!

The Bank whereon the Babes are lying.

EDGAR.

Asleep! asleep! I cannot waken her!

But she will waken when mamma doth come,
I know! I'll go to sleep beside her!

Ah!

Mamma is coming! dear mamma! I see

Thee now! And thou wilt lead us both to Heaven!

(CAROL and DOLCE appear.)

DIRGE OF THE ROBIN REDBREASTS.

Behold the lovely lying

In death a-sleeping,

Angels hovering o'er!

Hear the wood-echo sighing:

"O sight for weeping!

Never to waken more!"

Hie we quickly to the bowers

Where the pure white blossoms grow!
Mournfully bring leaves and flowers
O'er the lovely babes to strew!

The Terrace of the Forest Castle.

THE UNCLE.

Thou calm, pure River! give me, if thou canst,
Serenity and hope! Return to me,

Dark Wood, the treasures thou hast reft me of,
The which I vowed to keep so carefully!
The Demon of Ambition tempted me,
Resistlessly, or still they would have been
My joy and pride. Ah! what avail me now
These noble turrets, and these princely lands!
I cannot gaze around, but I am filled

With tumult of remorse. Serpents my heart
Are gnawing ceaselessly; and furies wild
Come thickly round, to mock me. Pity have
Thou God of Mercy, on my wretched soul!
Ye holy angels! save me from the fiends
That thus torment me! Edith, thou alone
Lookest with gentle sorrow on my fate!

The Wood.

HUBERT.

Wilt thou alight here, Bertha? Near this oak
We left the orphan babes. O, God be praised!
My dagger is unstainèd with the blood

Of innocence,- O Heaven!

BERTHA.

and my soul!

And art thou sure this path will lead us there,

Hubert?

HUBERT.

Sure as my life. I marked it well:

They could not wander far.

BERTHA.

O, Heaven grant

That we may find them safe! I tremble, lest
Some famished beast of prey already hath
Devoured my darling babes, or reptile tongue
Hath poisoned them. O, let us haste, Hubert!
To rescue them, if still they wander here!
My heart doth yearn for their embrace; and yet
It strangely faileth me! Here, on this mossy seat,
I'll wait thy coming, Hubert.

Horrid doubts,

Misgivings, have unnerved me; for, alas!

They may have perished even now,
from thirst
Or hunger. In these wild and tangled woods.
No sustenance for tender frames is found.
Ah! heedlessly I've kept my lady's charge!
And yet I dreamed not of this cruel deed
By one so seeming fair and good! Alas!
Woe's me if Hubert seek the lost in vain!

Hark! hark! 't is Hubert's voice. He beckoneth
My coming. Holy Christ! my fainting heart
Revive! Uphold my faltering foot, and nerve
My failing eye! Hubert! O holy Christ!

(She follows Hubert.)

HUBERT.

O'erstrewn with leaves and flowers, here they lie, Bertha! What meaneth this? They are asleep! The flowers are fresh with morning dew, as if

Just gathered now.

Some gentle, unknown eye

Hath watched their slumbers! Bertha, fear no more To know their fate!

My babes are dead!

BERTHA.

Alas! my babes are dead!
O hapless, hapless fate!
Weep, weep, O eyes that saw the waking morn
Of this sad day! My beauteous angel-babes!
The gentle waving of their golden hair

By the soft, summer wind, no more they know,
No more the snowy lids of their sweet eyes
Will ope to the glad sunlight, as it seeks
Their prisoned joy so vainly to unlock!
How lovely was the smile upon their lips,
As the death-angel came to lead away
Their infant souls to Heaven! Gently so
They woke in the dear presence of the one
They loved with the fond trust of infancy,
Thus to fulfil her dream of hope! My heart,
What tender, sweet consoling calmeth thee!
This holy thought,

their lips' soft smile, this veil

Of purest, incense-wafting angel-flowers!
Before this shrine of innocence, I kneel,
Most Holy One, to thank thee!