WHICH?

If thou art false as thou art fair,

And false the fairest fair may be,

Again the wondrous power to snare,

Again the siren’s self we see.

There’s danger in those dimpling smiles,

It glances from that witching e’e,

And he who would escape thy wiles,

Must quickly from the tempter flee.

For better far, as sages tell,

From fickle fair to bid adieu,

Than fall beneath the magic spell

Of charms the heart may ever rue.

Beware, if false, of beauty bright,

Beware that luring beacon’s ray,

For, oh! the love that trusts its light,

May drift a wreck ere dawn of day.

But if thou’rt true as thou art fair,

Art leal in heart, though seeming gay,

Wouldst ever constant prove, and ne’er

With faithful heart all faithless play,

Then thou’rt a gem worth more than gold,

More precious than the ruby rare,

More to be prized than wealth untold,

True heart enshrined in form so fair.

John Napier.

The Conductor of Chambers’s Journal begs to direct the attention of Contributors to the following notice:

1st. All communications should be addressed to the ‘Editor, 339 High Street, Edinburgh.’

2d. For its return in case of ineligibility, postage-stamps should accompany every manuscript.

3d. To secure their safe return if ineligible, All Manuscripts, whether accompanied by a letter of advice or otherwise, should have the writer’s Name and Address written upon them IN FULL.

4th. Offerings of Verse should invariably be accompanied by a stamped and directed envelope.

If the above rules are complied with, the Editor will do his best to insure the safe return of ineligible papers.

Printed and Published by W. & R. Chambers, 47 Paternoster Row, London, and 339 High Street, Edinburgh.