If an indignant eye we lift above, To lose some sparkling goblet ill content, Which, but for that keen watchfulness of love, Swift certain poison through our veins had sent." THE UNCLE. BY H. G. BELL. I HAD an uncle once-a man Of threescore years and three ;— He was a man of gloomy mood, His conscience with him wrought; There was not one in all the house I was an orphan and alone,— There was a curtain over it,- Or seen her pale expressive smile One night I do remember well, I sat and read in that old hall; I read but little understood For with a sidelong glance I marked And saw how all his quivering frame A silent terror o'er me stole, His lips were white as bone-his eyes He gazed on me, but 'twas the gaze Then suddenly he turned him round, That hung before my mother's face ;— But ne'er before that face to me "Come hither, boy!" my uncle said,I started at the sound; "Twas choked and stifled in his throat, And hardly utterance found :"Come hither, boy!" then fearfully He cast his eyes around. "That lady was thy mother once,— O God! I've seen her when she held I grudged not that;-he was the prop And manly beauty was of him A token and a sign. "Boy! I had loved her too,-nay, more, 'Twas I who loved her first; For months-for years-the golden thought Within my soul was nursed; ་ He came―he conquered-they were wed;My air-blown bubble burst! "Then on my mind a shadow fell, And evil hopes grew rife ; The damning thought stuck in my heart, And cut me like a knife, That she, whom all my days I loved, Should be another's wife! "By Heaven! it was a fearful thing And mark the placid calm that sat That seemed in bitter scorn to say, "I left my home-I left the land— "I came again-I found them here- He doted on that pale face there, "He disappeared-draw nearer, child ;- But there was one who rightly guessed "It drove her mad-yet not his death,No-not his death alone: For she had clung to hope, when all Knew well that there was none ; No, boy! it was a sight she saw "I am thy uncle, child,-why stare The arras waves, but know'st thou not I, too, have had my fears like these, "I'll show thee what thy mother saw,- Suits with the purpose best.Come hither-thou hast often sought To open this old chest. "It has a secret spring; the touch Is known to me alone; Slowly the lid is raised, and now- A sudden crash-the lid fell down- That night they laid him on his bed, In raving madness tossed; He gnashed his teeth, and with wild oaths And, ere the light of morning broke, ABOU BEN ADHEM. BY LEIGH HUNT. ABOU BEN ADHEM (may his tribe increase !) Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord." The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night It came again with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. |