MISS JULIA PARDOE.

culiar situation of the castle with memories | thereat, in 1741 he issued a volume of Esof Hero, Leander and the Hellespont, and, says Moral and Political, the success of confirmed in their error by its modern appel- which emboldened him to publish, in 1748, lation of Guz Couli, without hesitation chris- his Inquiry Concerning the Human Underten it ""Leander's Tower." By whatever standing. These and other works were prename it may be called, it is a very pleasing paring his pen for its greater task, the mateobject from both shores, and stands amid the rial for which he was soon to find. In 1752 waves like the guardian of the strait. he was appointed librarian to the faculty of advocates-not for the emolument, but with the real purpose of having entire control of the books and material in the library; and then he determined to write the History of England. The Tory character of this work is very decided; he not only sheds a generous tear for the fate of Charles I., but conceals or glosses the villanies of Stuarts far worse than Charles. The liberties of England consist in his eyes of wise concessions made by the sovereign, rather than as the inalienable birthright of the Englishman.

DAVID HUME.

FROM "ENGLISH LITERATURE CONSIDERED AS AN
INTERPRETER OF ENGLISH HISTORY."

H

UME was born in Edinburgh on the 26th of April, (o. s.) 1711. His life was without many vicissitudes of interest, but his efforts to achieve an enduring reputation on the most solid grounds mark him as a notable example of patient industry, study and economy. He led a studious, systematic and consistent life.

Although of good family-being a descendant of the earl of Home-he was in poor circumstances, and after some study of the law and some unsuccessful literary ventures he was obliged to seek employment as a means of livelihood. Thus he became tutor or keeper to the young marquis of Annandale, who was insane. Abandoning this position in disgust, he was appointed secretary to General St. Clair in various embassies to Paris, Vienna and Turin, everywhere hoarding his pay until he became independent, "though," he says, "most of my friends were inclined to smile when I said so; in short, I was master of a thousand pounds." His earliest work was a Treatise on Human Nature, published in 1738, which met with no success. Nothing discouraged

Hume is rather a collector of facts than
a skilful diviner with them. His style is
sonorous and fluent, but not idiomatic. Dr.
Johnson said, His style is not English;
the structure of his sentences is French".
an opinion concurred in by the eminent
critic Lord Jeffrey. But, whatever the
criticism, the History of Hume is a great
work. He did what was never done before.
For a long time his work stood alone, and
even now it has the charm of a clear, con-
nected narrative which is still largely con-
sulted by many who are forewarned of its
errors and faults. And, however unidio-
matic his style, it is very graceful and
flowing, and lends a peculiar charm to his
narrative.

Hume's death occurred on the 25th of
August, 1776.
HENRY COPPEE, LL.D.

"GAVE ME THE SOLACE OF A PLEASANT

CHILD."

NE time my soul was pierced | And He who gave me all, my heart's pulse

Gave me the solace of a As if still secret dews its life that cherished
Were drop by drop withheld, and day by

When home I turned, a weary man of And daily to my board at noon and even

Marking how each the other fondly cher- | 'Twas my first hansel and propine to

Still as he sickened seemed the doves too His wee hackit heelies are hard as the airn,

His mother found it when she rose, sad- That lo'e nae the locks o' the mitherless

Her spirit that passed in yon hour o' his

birth

Still watches his wearisome wanderings on
earth,

Recording in heaven the blessings they earn
Wha couthilie deal wi' the mitherless bairn.

Oh, speak him na harshly: he trembles the while

He bends to your bidding, and blesses your smile;

In their dark hour o' anguish the heartless

shall learn

Do you hear me, Baby Louise?

I have sung your praises for nearly an hour, And your lashes keep drooping lower and lower,

And you've gone to sleep like a weary flower,

Ungrateful Baby Louise!

MARGARET EYTINGE.

THE MASTER'S DAUGHTER.

I.

That God deals the blow for the mitherless WISE o master-builder wrought and

bairn.

WILLIAM THOM.

WT of heart and cunning of hand,

The

planned;

Many fair houses builded he
That should still be stout and strong,
Standing after centuries long

Amidst the men that then should be.

The master-builder wrought and planned
Till he grew famous in the land,

And the high nobles on him wait;
He built them houses great and fair,
With spacious courts and carvings rare,

And turrets high and halls of state.

And when to God a house he made,
The master-builder wrought and prayed;
Before they set a single stone
Master and men to church repair,
To begin their work with prayer

To Him who giveth strength alone.

Then rose apace the holy pile,
Wall and buttress and pillared aisle,
Under the master's watchful eye;

With a flush of delight to hear the words But the chisel drove and the mallet fell,

said,

"I love you," Baby Louise.

And the busy trowel plied as well,

To work his will when he was not nigh.