what is thy request? It shall be given thee to the half of the kingdom." The prayers and fasting of the Jews had prevailed upon the Ruler of all hearts, and the first intimation of the glorious result was

now seen.

The queen desired the presence of the king and Haman at a banquet on the morrow, at which request Haman was greatly rejoiced, and prided himself on the honor, which, in his selfish heart, he thought was thus bestowed upon him. But -alas for Haman and his iniquitous designs!at this feast the king was rightly informed of his base character: with wrath he arose from the banquet, and the instrument of death which Haman had made for Mordecai became that of himself. And the order was revoked throughout all the land, and there was great joy and rejoicing in all the assemblies of the Jews.

Noble woman! Courageous in a good cause; thou triumphedst over the emissary of evil, and madest thyself a name glorious among men.

Queen Esther, standing in all thy womanly pride, with the merciless decree clasped in thy hands, resolved to do or die in the pursuit of right, thou art a pattern and an example to the people of every age, and thy success shall encourage all, who, with thy daring in a righteous cause, trust God and press onward.

SONNETS.

BY MRS. NEWTON CROSLAND.

I.

"AIM high and though you fail your mark to

reach,

Some quarry not to be despised you'll win!".

Advice fair sounding, that with wordy din Dulls the tired ear, till wakening mind impeach

Its truth, and seek for argument to teach

That often does the arrow back recoil

We shot too high; and find for only spoil The soul that hurled it forth with vaunting speech. A wall of adamant we do not see

May rise between us and the wish on high!
No middle hope—no less desire may be

Between us and the star for which we try.
They are earth-happiest, who small arrows fly
At small near toys, but never dare the sky!
23 *

II.

[In answer to an objection that was made to the foregoing Sonnet.]

Dear friend! I know not to unweave the thought
Whose meshes seem too tangled in thy sight:
I am not wrong; yet thou still more art right
In soul conviction, spirit wisdom fraught;
Thus much I grant. My words but idly sought
To show earth-happiest they the small-brained

With bounded wishes and aspirings few,

Who call it noon when twilight gleams are caught. Such are the heritors of this fair earth,

Who, by the strength of numbers, hold it still. I do not speak of other joys more worth

Which the mind martyrs upon earth may thrill, E'en while they bleeding lie, the theme for mirth And football for th' ignorant scoffers' will!

A FAIRY TALE OF THE OLDEN TIME.

BY E. M. R.

IN the days of chivalry, when life to the wealthy was a series of exciting enjoyments, and to the poor a hopeless slavery, a Fairy and a beautiful child lived in an old castle together. The owner of this large and neglected building had been absent on the crusade ever since the time which gave him a daughter and deprived him of a wife; but many an aged pilgrim brought occasional tidings of the glory he was winning in the distant land. At last it was said that he was wending his way homeward, and bringing with him a young orphan companion, who had risen, by dint of his own brave deeds alone, from the rank of a simple knight to be the chosen leader of thousands. The child had grown to girlhood now, and very bright upon her sleep were the dreams of this youthful hero, who was to love her and be the all of her solitary life. I said she had dwelt with the Fairy:

true, but of her presence she had never dreamed. Always invisible, the being had yet never left her. She whispered prayer in her ear as she knelt, morning and evening, in the dim little oratory; she brought calm and happy feelings to her breast, which the commonest things awoke to joy and life; she led her to seek and feel for the needy, the sick, and the suffering; she nurtured in her the holiest faith in God and trust in man: yet the maiden thought she breathed all this from the summer evenings, the flowers, the swift labors of her light fingers, and the thousand things which cherished the happiness growing up within her heart. It was night, and Ada slept; the moon's rays, gilding each turret and tower, crept in at the narrow portal which gave light to the chamber, and lingered on the sunny hair and rounded limbs of the sleeping girl. The Fairy sat by her side, weeping for the first time.

"Alas!" said she, "the stranger is coming; thou wilt love him, my child! and they say that earthly love is misery. Among us, we know no unrest from it; we love, indeed, each other and all things lovely; but ages pass on, and love changes us not. Yet they say it fevers the blood of mortals, pales the cheek, makes the heart beat, and the voice falter, when it comes; yet it is eternal, mighty, and entrancing.