his teeth, behind the shoulder of the spy. Then, with the handle in his grasp and the blade in his sleeve, he softly returned his hand, now closed, to the horseman's waist, and awaited his chance. Oh, to be one "Perhaps the officer will ride on. minute alone with this villain! I'll strike him with all my might in his neck, tumble him off, snatch the reins, and away!" Such were the boy's thoughts, not formed definitely in those words, but passing through his mind in electric flashes. He saw the possibility of escape clearly enough, provided the officer would take himself out of the way. True, the rebel pickets were passed long ago; it was now broad day; they were in the enemy's country, travelling the open road; and, although it was a good horse they mounted (as he was pleased to observe), he could not hope to gallop back to camp without encountering danger. He seemed to think of everything in an instant of time. He even thought of the glory of such an exploit, and of the delight of writing to his mother about it, when all was over. His plan was firmly outlined in his mind,-to plunge into the woods, and there, abandoning his horse, if necessary, to hide in the thickets from his pursuers, elude the rebel scouts, and make his way back at last, somehow, to the Union lines. The man Once more the spy's horse fell behind. with the pistols galloped on after his companions. "Let him pass that ridge!" thought Fred, thoroughly nerved for his purpose, "and then!" He examined the horseman's neck, and thought where he should strike. the "My boy, let me give you a word of advice," said spy, in a voice so calm and friendly that Fred felt compelled to wait and listen to him. Besides, the officer was not yet out of sight: nothing would be lost by a little delay. "Well, sir," said Fred, in a tone he vainly en "No, not very," said Fred, puzzled and astonished. He tried to remember where he had heard that voice. His guard was clad in the ordinary dress of a citizen, and he wore no sword. "I must tighten this girth a little, if my horse is to carry double," he said loud enough for the captain's ear, and halted. He seemed about to dismount. He of the pistols also drew rein, asking if he could be of any assistance. "No," said Daniels. "I reckon I'll let it go for the present." And he spurred on again, after endeavouring to tighten the girth without dismounting. During the brief halt the distance between them and the main body had materially increased. Moreover, something else had happened of deep interest to Fred. The horseman, tugging at the strap to which the saddle was buckled, had turned his profile towards his prisoner. Glimpses of the silver east, brightening through the trees, shone upon it, lighting for an instant the russet beard, the calm, resolute face, the deep, quiet eyes, shadowed by the felt-hat. It was the same profile Fred had daguerreotyped upon his memory the evening before, when the suspected stranger turned from him, and walked over the hill into the fiery eye of the sunset. "Joel was right: the man is a spy! 'Twas he that guided the rebels! He had examined our position, and knew just where to make the attack. But I may pay him yet!" The blood rushed violently to Fred's brain, and these were the thoughts that rushed with it. Come, Daniels, we shall be left quite behind!' called the officer. “I am with you,” replied Daniels, spurring forward. A desperate resolve flashed its light into the boy's soul. To be revenged upon this man, and at the same time to escape! Carefully he withdrew his right hand from the horseman's waist, carefully felt with it in his own pocket, and drew forth a knife. It was a stout knife, with a long, pointed blade. He opened it with his teeth, behind the shoulder of the spy. Then, with the handle in his grasp and the blade in his sleeve, he softly returned his hand, now closed, to the horseman's waist, and awaited his chance. "Perhaps the officer will ride on. Oh, to be one minute alone with this villain! I'll strike him with all my might in his neck, tumble him off, snatch the reins, and away!" Such were the boy's thoughts, not formed definitely in those words, but passing through his mind in electric flashes. He saw the possibility of escape clearly enough, provided the officer would take himself out of the way. True, the rebel pickets were passed long ago; it was now broad day; they were in the enemy's country, travelling the open road; and, although it was a good horse they mounted (as he was pleased to observe), he could not hope to gallop back to camp without encountering danger. He seemed to think of everything in an instant of time. He even thought of the glory of such an exploit, and of the delight of writing to his mother about it, when all was over. His plan was firmly outlined in his mind,-to plunge into the woods, and there, abandoning his horse, if necessary, to hide in the thickets from his pursuers, elude the rebel scouts, and make his way back at last, somehow, to the Union lines. Once more the spy's horse fell behind. The man with the pistols galloped on after his companions. "Let him pass that ridge!" thought Fred, thoroughly nerved for his purpose, "and then!" He examined the horseman's neck, and thought where he should strike. "My boy, let me give you a word of advice," said the spy, in a voice so calm and friendly that Fred felt compelled to wait and listen to him. Besides, the officer was not yet out of sight: nothing would be lost by a little delay. "Well, sir," said Fred, in a tone he vainly en good Devonshire family, and supported himself by the profession of the law, not relying wholly on dramatic literature for a living. His first plays were produced in partnership with Webster, Decker, and Rowley-the first, entirely his own, "The Lover's Melancholy," in 1628, and the others, "Brother and Sister," "The Broken Heart," "Love's Sacrifice," "Perkin Warbeck," "Fancies, Chaste and Noble," and "The Lady's Trial," at intervals down to 1639, about which time he is supposed to have died suddenly. Charles Lamb ranked Ford with the first order of poets. Of the reading we have given below Miss Mitford wrote, "Is there in English poetry anything finer ?"] PASSING from Italy to Greece, the tales To Thessaly I came, and living private, This youth, this fair-faced youth, upon his lute Nature's best skill'd musician, undertakes The challenge; and for every several strain The well-shaped youth could touch, she sang him down. He could not run divisions with more art Upon his quaking instrument than she, The nightingale, did with her various notes 1 Some time thus spent, the young man grew at last Whom art had never taught cliffs, moods, nor notes, Had busied many hours to perfect practice. The bird (ordain'd to be Music's first martyr) strove to imitate These several sounds; which when her warbling throat And brake her heart. It was the quaintest sadness To weep a funeral elegy of tears. He look'd upon the trophies of his art, Then sigh'd, then wiped his eyes; then sigh'd and cry'd "Alas! poor creature, I will soon revenge This cruelty upon the author of it. Henceforth this lute, guilty of innocent blood, THE POET AND THE ROSE. JOHN GAY. [John Gay, one of the most genial, gentle, and worthiest of our poets and dramatists, of whom Pope wrote: "Of manners gentle, of affections mild; In wit a man, simplicity a child," was born at Barnstaple, Devon, in 1688. He came of a good, but greatly reduced, family; and both parents dying when he |