ALFRED TENNYSON.

 ABOU BEN ADHEM.

“Abou Ben Adhem” has won its way to the popular heart because the
“Brotherhood of Man” is the motto of this age. (1784-1859.)

    Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
    Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
    And saw within the moonlight in his room,
    Making it rich and like a lily in bloom,
    An angel writing in a book of gold.

    Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold;
    And to the presence in the room he said,
   “What writest thou?” The vision raised its head,
    And, with a look made of all sweet accord,
    Answered, “The names of those who love the Lord.”

   “And is mine one?” said Abou.  “Nay, not so,”
    Replied the angel.  Abou spoke more low,
    But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
    Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.”

    The angel wrote, and vanished.  The next night
    It came again, with a great wakening light,
    And showed the names whom love of God had blessed;
    And, lo!  Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.

LEIGH HUNT.

 FARM-YARD SONG.

“A Farm-Yard Song” was popular years ago with Burbank, the great reader.  How the boys and girls loved it!  The author, J.T.  Trowbridge (1827-still living), “is a boy-hearted man,” says John Burroughs.  The poem is just as popular as it ever was.

    Over the hill the farm-boy goes,
    His shadow lengthens along the land,
    A giant staff in a giant hand;
    In the poplar-tree, above the spring,
    The katydid begins to sing;
        The early dews are falling;—­
    Into the stone-heap darts the mink;
    The swallows skim the river’s brink;
    And home to the woodland fly the crows,
    When over the hill the farm-boy goes,
        Cheerily calling,—­
     “Co’, boss! co’, boss! co’! co’! co’!”
    Farther, farther over the hill,
    Faintly calling, calling still,—­
     “Co’, boss! co’, boss! co’! co’!”

    Into the yard the farmer goes,
    With grateful heart, at the close of day;
    Harness and chain are hung away;
    In the wagon-shed stand yoke and plow;
    The straw’s in the stack, the hay in the mow;
        The cooling dews are falling;—­
    The friendly sheep his welcome bleat,
    The pigs come grunting to his feet,
    The whinnying mare her master knows,
    When into the yard the farmer goes,
        His cattle calling,—­
     “Co’, boss! co’, boss! co’! co’! co’!”
    While still the cow-boy, far away,
    Goes seeking those that have gone astray,—­
     “Co’, boss! co’, boss! co’! co’!”

    Now to her task the milkmaid goes. 
    The cattle come crowding through the gate,
    Lowing, pushing, little and great;
    About the trough, by the farm-yard pump,
    The frolicsome yearlings frisk