Page 73 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

72 THIRD BOOK OF
And all the villag rain, om labour free,.
Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree; While many a pastime circled in the shade,
The young contending as the old survey'd;
And many a gambol olick'd o'er the ground,
And sleights of art and feats of strength went round!
4. And still, as each repeated pleasure tired, Succeeding sports the mirth l band inspired; The dancing pair, that simply sought renown, By holding out to tire each other down ;
The swain mistrustless of his smutted ce,
While secret laughter titter'd round the place.
These were thy charms, sweet village! sports like
these,
With sweet succession taught e'en toil to please; These round thy bow'rs their cheer l in uence shed; These were thy charms-but all these charms are ed.
GOLDSMITH.
THE DROWNING FLY.
1. IN yonder glass behold a drowning y;
Its little et how vainly does it ply!
Its cries we hear not, yet it loudly cries,
And gentle hearts can feel its agonies?
Poor helpless victim-and will no one save?
Will no one snatch thee om the threat'ning wave? Is there no iendly hand-no helper nigh,
And must thou, little struggler-must thou die?
2. Thou shalt not, whilst this hand can set thee ee; Thou shalt not die, this hand shall rescue thee! My nger's tip shall prove a iendly shore; There, trembler, all thy dangers now are o'er;