fest an indifference toward them for
they are the life of the campaign, and
the campaign is the preparation of
men's minds for a wise and judicious
choice of ruler. Consider the matter,
for it is only by our own study of
political questions that we ever stand
independent.
THOUGHTS AT SUNSET IN A FOREST.
Ms near the hour of eventide,
The sun's last rays yet tinge the sky ;
The evening breezes gently glide
Through trees that bend and softly sigh
The robins sweet their carols sing
A farewell to the closing day,
And slow the coining shadows bring
The holy calm of evening's
.gray.
The leafing trees- r -stately and tall,
Grotesquely cast their shadows o'er
A scene that cloth to mind recall
Some picture found in fairy lore.
Each tree a huge pilaster, made
•
Its leafy castle to sustain,
That courtly fairies brightly au ay«l
Might fitly servo in Echo's train.
Eon as the vesper breezes glide,
Methinks I hear this wood-nymph's voice,
Softly and low—yet meant to chide
The false Narcissus of her choice.
It dies—but ah I how sadly sweet
It steals upon the listening ear,
Recalling thoughts we fain would greet,
If held less sacred and less dear.
From ancient myths and fairy lore,
From past and present thoughts I turn,
That I o'or deeper things may pore
THE FREE LANCE.
TROUI3ADOURS AND TROUVIRES.
In the poetry of Provenc, a Troubadour was
a highly polished and cultivated poet, who did
not make a trade of his muse, directly in opposi
tion to the musician and youngleur who won
dered about the country singing for money. Yet
this distinction only showed itself little by little.
At first all classes of the community were equally
rude and uncultured and the thing pleasing to the
peasant was attractive to the eye of the prince also . ;
but by degrees a superior refinement and sensi
bility manifested themselves in the tastes and
manners of courts, and this superiority found
poetical expression in a more artistic kind of
verse than had hitherto prevailed. Great nobles,
princes and kings who practiced verse -making
for their pleasure or out of chivalrous gallantry,
were always called troubadours; while inferior
knights, court attendants, and even citizens
and serfs who lived by their art, were called
youngleurs.
And thus of nature something learn—
Learn that beyond, above us all
Some unseen power, its laws enforce,
That from our lips unconscious fall
Praises to Him, of life the source. •
Who, that doth Nature truly love
Or searches Out her hidden ways,
Would dare deny there lives above
Him who her every law defines.
Each plant a living witness stands,
Each flower his handiwork displays,
The glowing tints by artist bands
But shows his power in various ways
Since in the huillan heart there dwells
A sense of Omnipresent force,
Can 1111111 whom Nature thus impels
Deny the soul this intercom's° 't
No I no I I say 'twould be in vitin
To rob the soul of this commune,
With Nature, that God cloth ordain
Shall be to man a constant boon,
At• all the courts in Southern France, Nor-