To vex myself and him: I now would give Who lately lived for me, and when he found He hid his face amid the shades of death! Who wasted his for me; but mine returns, With stifling heat, heaving it up in sleep, Tears that had melted his soft heart: for years 'Merciful God!' such was his latest prayer, Quieter is his breath, his breast more cold Where children spell athwart the churchyard gate Pray for him, gentle souls, whoe'er ye be, Charles Lamb. Born 1775. A POET, but better known by his delightful essays, was born in London on 10th February 1775. His life has a strange tragic interest, and the devotion of his life to the care of his sister is touching in the extreme. He was an accountant in the East India Company's office until 1825, when he retired with a handsome pension. His works were written at his leisure hours. His first poems were published in 1801, with but indifferent success. He attempted the drama, but failed; he now devoted his mind to prose essays, in which there is more of real poetry than in any of his verses. He met with the greatest encouragement, and his name has come down to us as one of the master essayists of his age. with an accident, which caused his death on 27th December 1834. TO HESTER. WHEN maidens such as Hester die, He met A month or more she hath been dead, To think upon the wormy bed, A springy motion in her gait, I know not by what name beside Her parents held the Quaker rule, A waking eye, a prying mind, My sprightly neighbour! gone before When from thy cheerful eyes a ray James Smith. { Born 1775. Born 1779. Died 1849. THE authors of "Rejected Addresses" were the sons of Robert Smith, solicitor to the Board of Ordnance, and were born in London. James followed the profession of his father, to whose appointment he succeeded. Horace became a member of the Stock Exchange. Their first contributions to literature were published in the "Pic-nic" newspaper. They also Its contributed largely to the monthlies, in which were first published their poetical pieces. In 1812 appeared their great work, "Rejected Addresses," containing imitations of Wordsworth, Southey, Coleridge, Scott, &c. success was unexampled, and it brought the authors both wealth and fame. James Smith was content with the fame thus acquired, and only wrote a few occasional pieces for the magazines; but Horace opened up a new field of honour, and became a most successful novel writer. James died at London, 24th December 1839, and Horace at Tunbridge Wells, 12th July 1849. FROM "REJECTED ADDRESSES." (AFTER SIR W. SCOTT.) AN awful pause succeeds the stroke, 'Twas Joseph Muggins, name revered, 'Mid blazing beams and scalding streams, But sulphury stench and boiling drench, Still o'er his head, while Fate he braved, |