THE OLD STREET LAMP. 175

while ago—he had a letter on pink paper with a gilt edge. It
was so prettily written, as if by a lady’s hand. Twice heread it,
and kissed it, and looked up to me with eyes which said plainly,
‘I am the happiest of men!’ Only he and I know what was
written in this first letter from his true love. Yes, I remember
another pair of eyes. It is wonderful how our thoughts fly about !
There was a funeral procession in the street; the young beautiful
lady lay in the decorated hearse, in a coffin adorned with flowers
and wreaths; and a number of torches quite darkened my light.
The people stood in crowds by the houses, and all followed the
procession. But when the torches had passed from before my
face, and I looked round, a single person stood leaning against
my post, weeping. I shall never forget the mournful eyes that
looked up to me!”

This and similar thoughts occupied the old Street Lantern,
which shone to-night for the last time.

The sentry relieved from his post, at least knows who is to
succeed him, and may whisper a few words to him; but the
Lamp did not know its successor; and yet it might have given
a few useful hints with respect to rain and fog, and some infor-
mation as to how far the rays of the moon lit up the pavement,
from what direction the wind usually came, and much more of
the same kind.

On the bridge of the gutter stood three persons who wished to
introduce themselves to the Lamp, for they thought the Lamp
itself could appoint its successor. The first was a herring’s head,
that could gleam with light in the darkness. He thought it would
be a great saving of oil if they put him up onthe post. Number
Two was a piece of rotten wood, which also glimmers in the dark.
He conceived himself descended from an old stem, once the
pride of the forest. The third person was a glow-worm. Where
this one had come from the Lamp could not imagine; but there
it was, and it could give light. But the rotten wood and the
herring’s head swore by all that was good that it only gave light
at certain times, and could not be brought into competition with
themselves.

The old Lamp declared that not one of them gave sufficient
light to fill the office ofa street lamp; but not one of them would
believe this. When they heard that the Lamp had not the office
to give away, they were very glad of it, and declared that the
Lamp was too decrepit to make a good choice.

4it the same moment the Wind came careering from the corner
of the street, and blew through the air-holes of the old Lamp.

“What’s this I hear?” he asked. “Are you to go away to-
morrow? DoT see you for the last time? Then I must make
you a present at parting. I will blow into your brain-box in such
a way that you shall be able in future not only to remember every-
thing you have seen and heard, but that you shall have such