Three Wrshes. 69

The second looked up, and his eye of blue

Flashed prouder than his of the darker hue :

“ Boast of your slaves with their suppliant knee !

You and your peers bend your souls to me.

My life shall be like a beautiful dream ;

Toilless and careless by thine will it seem.

I will send my fancy on gossamer wings,

Roaming the earth for beautiful things.

But the pen I wield with my own right hand

Shall mightier be than your strongest band :

It shall master the heart with its exquisite skill ;

You shall laugh, you shall weep, hope or fear as
I will.”

But the third had silently stolen away
While his playfellows talked of the future day ;
For he feared, if he told his choice on earth,
Tt would only awaken their mocking mirth.
But a vision flitted across his thought

Of happiness, only by labour wrought.

Care and toil he would willingly prove,
Might it only be a “labour of love ; ”

For well he knew that the joys that spring
From the power to remedy suffering,

Come back to the heart in its hour of sorrow
With sweeter voice than fame can borrow,

Little ones, cease from your laughing glee,
Listen a moment, and answer me ;

Now, as I show these pictures three,
Which of them seemeth the best to thee 1

With love to Christ as the motive power,