Good and Evil.
An aged man along the road
Pursued his weary way—
His back was bent beneath a load,
His thin long locks were gray.
The aged man with tottering tread
And many a sigh did go,
And misery seemed to bow his head
And mark his brow with wo.
Yet on his lip there lurked a sneer,
As sorrow, like a spell,
On every traveller he came near,
With clouds and darkness fell.
Still on he sped with restless bound,
As if a fire within
Burned at his heart, which only found
Relief in deeds of sin.
“What is thy name?” a traveller cried—
As he the old man met.
“’Tis Trouble”—thus the seer replied—
“Canst thou my form forget?
“No pilgrim on life’s rugged road
Can fail to feel my wrath;
On every back I lay a load—
Strew thorns in every path.
“Time’s tooth, that crumbles all beside,
These ghastly limbs defy;
No shelter from my form can hide—
No wing my sceptre fly!
“Yet seest thou yonder gentle maid,
That follows with her wiles?
She dares my kingdom to invade,
And turns my tears to smiles.”
While yet the hoary tyrant spoke,
The angel maiden came—
A light around her footsteps broke,
For Comfort was her name.
With anxious look the wizard sped,
And darkness marked his way—
But on his track the maiden fled,
And turned the night to day.
The load that bowed each pilgrim back,
She lightened with her wand,
And if Earth’s sky was hung with black,
She showed a Heaven beyond.
LITTLE LEAVES
FOR
LITTLE READERS.
Under this title, we propose hereafter to devote a portion of each number of our Magazine to the special benefit of our very young friends—the A b c darians—those who have just begun to read. We intend, in fact, to make a little magazine on purpose for them.
And now, at the very outset, we wish to make a bargain in behalf of our littlest friends; those who have just learned to spell crucifix, amplification, &c. It is as follows:
The big Black-eyes and Blue-eyes have a right to read the older part of our magazine, first; after this, the A b c darians must be permitted to read our Little Leaves. We foresee that there will be a squabble between the old aristocrats and the young democrats, if we do not settle this point beforehand. Now, having spoken our will, we trust we shall be obeyed.
If any trespass upon our law, here laid down, occurs—if any little friend of ours is elbowed out of his rights—if his elder brother or sister ventures to peep into the story of Limping Tom, or Inquisitive Jack, before he has read it, we hope the case will be laid before us, and we shall forthwith proceed to hear and adjudge the matter according to law and justice. Hear ye and obey!