11. But the tide comes up, and the tide goes down, And the daylight follows the night's eclipse, And still with the sailors, tanned and brown, I wait on the wharves, and watch the ships. 12. And still, with a patience that is not hope, - ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN. LXV.-ESCAPE OF JAMES V. SIR George Douglas, and his brother, the Earl of Angus, who had married Queen Margaret of Scotland, had obtained possession of the person of the young King, James V., then a child; and the Earl of Angus administered the kingdom, and discharged all the functions of a regent, without assuming the title. In a word, these two lords maneuvered so as to substitute their family for the reigning one upon the throne of Scotland. 2. Several attempts for the king's deliverance had failed, and even two great battles had been fought, without success, by the partisans of James V. At the commencement of the second battle, George Douglas, seeing that the King was eagerly watching an opportunity to escape, said, “It is useless for your Grace to think of getting out of our hand; if our enemies held you by one arm, and we by the other, we would see you torn in pieces rather than loosen our grip." 3. To make quite sure of their prize, they appointed one hundred chosen men to guard the youthful monarch, commanded by one of their own family, Douglas of Parkhead. Every attempt by open force having thus failed, James resolved to have recourse to stratagem. 4. He persuaded his mother, Queen Margaret, to give up her castle of Stirling to him, and to place it under the command of a gentleman in whom he had confidence. All this was done very secretly, and the King, having thus prepared a possible retreat, began to seek an opportunity of flying to it. 5. The better to disarm the vigilance of the Douglases, he showed such deference to the Earl of Angus, that people began to think he had gone over to that nobleman's party, and had become resigned to the loss of his own liberty. He was then living at Falkland, a royal residence very favorably situated for hunting and falconry, his favorite amusements. 6. The Earl of Angus and Archibald and George Douglas had all three left Falkland on various errands of business or pleasure, and no one remained near the King but Douglas of Parkhead, with the hundred men on whose vigilance the family knew they could rely. 7. James saw the moment was favorable. To allay the suspicions of his guards, he announced his intention of rising early on a certain morning to hunt the stag; and Douglas of Parkhead, never doubting that this was said in good faith, went to bed, after posting his sentinels in the usual manner. 8. But the King no sooner found himself alone, than he called his trusty page, John Hart, and, looking at him very earnestly, said, “ John, do you love me?" 66 9. More than I love myself," replied the page. 10. "And are you willing to risk every thing for me?" 11. My life, if needs be," replied the youth. 12. The King then made him acquainted with his plan, and, hastily putting on a servant's livery, went to the stables with him, as if to prepare for the next day's hunt. The guards, failing to recognize him in this dis guise, suffered him to pass without hindrance. The King had previously taken another of his servants into his confidence, so that, when he and the page reached the stable, they found three good horses, ready saddled and bridled, awaiting them. 13. James mounted, at once, with his two faithful servants, and galloped all night, light as a bird just escaped from its cage. At break of day, he passed the bridge of Stirling, and, as there was no other means of crossing the Firth than by this bridge or by a boat, he ordered the gates which barred the passage to be closed against all comers, without exception. He was very tired, when he reached Stirling Castle, where he was received with joy by the governor, whom he had himself been the means of placing in that fortress. 14. The draw-bridge was raised, the portcullis lowered, the guards were doubled, in fact, every possible precaution that prudence could dictate, was taken. But the King was so much afraid of again falling into the power of the Douglases, that, in spite of his fatigue, he refused to go to bed, until he had himself placed the keys of the castle under his pillow. 15. There was great alarm at Falkland on the following morning. George Douglas had returned on the very night of the King's flight, at about eleven o'clock, and had at once asked for his prisoner. He was told that James had gone to bed early, wishing to rise in good time for the hunt; and he himself retired, perfectly satisfied that all was safe. 16. But, in the morning, he was destined to hear very different news, for an officer came, rapping at his door, to ask him where the King was at that moment. 17. "He is asleep in his bed-chamber," said Sir George. 18. "You are deceived," replied the officer; "he passed over Stirling Bridge last night." 19. Douglas, jumping out of bed, ran to the King's room, knocked loudly, and, receiving no answer, broke open the door. Finding the apartment vacant, he cried, "Treason! the King is gone!"-dispatched couriers to his brothers, and sent out in every direction to call his partisans together for the recapture of James. 20. But the King had, by this time, proclaimed by sound of trumpet that he would declare traitor every person bearing the name of Douglas who should approach within twelve miles of his person, or take any part in the administration of the kingdom. The Douglases were obliged to submit, and from that time commenced the decay of their house; for James could not be brought to pardon them. Walter Scott. LXVI. - GOLDSMITH. "THE most beloved of English writers," — what a title that is for a man! Oliver Goldsmith, a wild youth, wayward, but full of tenderness and affection, quits the country village where his boyhood has been passed in happy musing, in fond longing to see the great world, and to achieve a name and a fortune for himself. 2. After years of dire struggle, of neglect and poverty, -his heart turning back as fondly to his native place as it had longed eagerly for change, when sheltered there, — he writes a book and a poem, full of the recollections and feelings of home, he paints the friends and scenes of his youth, and peoples Auburn and Wakefield with remembrances of Lissoy. Wander he must, but he carries away a home-relic with him, and dies with it on his breast. 3. His nature is truant; in repose, it longs for change, as, on the journey, it looks back for friends and quiet. He passes to-day in building an air-castle for to-morrow, or in writing yesterday's elegy; and he would fly away this hour, but that a cage and necessity keep him. What is the charm of his verse, of his style, and humor, his sweet regrets, his delicate compassion, his soft smile, his tremulous sympathy, the weakness which he owns? Your love for him is half pity. 4. You come, hot and tired, from the day's battle, and this sweet minstrel sings to you. Who could harm the kind, vagrant harper? Whom did he ever hurt? He carries no weapon, save the harp on which he plays to you, and with which he delights great and humble, young and old, the captains in the tents, or the soldiers. round the fire, or the women and children in the villages, at whose porches he stops and sings his simple songs of love and beauty. With that sweet story, "The Vicar of Wakefield," he has found entry into every castle and every hamlet in Europe. Not one of us, however busy or hard, but, once or twice in our lives, has passed an evening with him, and undergone the charm of his delightful music. - 5. Think of him, reckless, thriftless, vain if you like but merciful, gentle, generous, full of love and pity. He passes out of our life, and goes to render his account beyond it. Think of the poor pensioners, weeping at his grave; think of the noble spirits that admired and deplored him; think of the righteous pen that wrote his epitaph, and of the wonderful and unanimous response of affection with which the world has paid back the love he gave it. 6. His humor delights us still; his song is fresh and beautiful as when first he charmed with it; his words are in all our mouths; his very weaknesses are beloved and familiar, - his benevolent spirit seems still to smile upon |