LOVE'S PHILOSOPHY.

TH

HE fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean;
The winds of heaven mix for ever

With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one another's being mingle-
Why not I with thine?

See, the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,

And the moonbeams kiss the sea ;—

What are all these kissings worth,

If thou kiss not me?

Shelley.

IN

THE RETURN OF THE HUNTING PARTY.

IN the midst of the bustle and hum of talk the mellow notes of a horn were heard, and a boy, running to the door, announced the approach of the Earl and his son, who had been hunting in the neighbouring beech forest since early morning.

At the sound of the distant bugle Adeleve and Wynfreda, the two fair-haired girls in their teens, who had been bending for the last hour or two over their embroidery frames, engaged upon pieces of the "English work" then prized all over western Europe, stopped their busy needles, and with their mother, Lady Elgitha, went out to welcome their father and their brother from the chase. A spirit of happy harmony and domestic affection pervaded the household of the good Earl, who long ago had made a love match, and had found his reward in a pleasant home and loving children.

Dismounting at the foot of the ascent, Alfgar and his son led their horses up the steep path to the oval flat space before the door, and within the surrounding wall. Behind them came attendants carrying three dead bucks upon hurdles made of beech boughs. Several couples of tall, rough hounds, whose long thin tongues hung out of their snaky jaws, brought up the rear, under the charge of some men, who carried the bows and spears of the noble huntsmen, and a pile of strong nets rolled upon a couple of thick stakes.

"What sport have you enjoyed, my dear Lord?" said the Lady Elgitha.

"Edric killed two with arrows; and the third and largest fell to my spear, after the dogs had driven them to the nets. But I would gladly have missed all the sport I had, if I could have saved the best dog I ever possessed--deep-chested Luga, that the Welsh chieftain gave me. That antlered giant there, coming last up the hill, tore his heart out with a sidelong stab. Poor Luga! thou wert too keen, too brave!"

Dr. Collier.

N