JOHN ALPHONSUS LANIGAN.

DN. S., November 12th, 1854.

R. JOHN A. LANIGAN was born in Halifax,
He received

his early education in the College of Saint Sulpice,
Montreal, and in St. Mary's College in his native
city, from which latter institution he received the de-
gree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1870 he removed to
Buffalo, where he resided for three years, during
which time he published a volume of poems under
the title of "Leisure Hours," and a drama entitled
"The Siege of Armagh," which was produced in
old St. James Hall, in Buffalo, and also in Dun-
kirk. In 1873 Dr. Lanigan returned to his native
city, where he began the study of medicine, and in
three years afterwards again took up his abode in
this country, graduating as Doctor of Medicine from
the University of New York in 1877. He imme-
diately returned to Buffalo to practice his profession
and in 1878 was appointed one of the district phy-
sicians. Again in 1879 he was elected post-mortem
examiner of Erie Co. A year or so afterwards Dr.
Lanigan's health being somewhat impaired, he again
sought his native city of Halifax, where he prac-
tised his profession, and also found time to woo the
muses among the Acadian hills. Many fugitive
poems from his pen appeared in different maga-
zines and newspapers in this country and in Canada.
But the Doctor's heart yearned for his adopted
country, and in 1886 he returned to Buffalo, but
finally located in Niagara Falls, where he now re-
sides.
J. S. O.

MIGNON.

KNOWEST thou that land where the citron blooms so fair?

Amid the dusky leaves the gold-orange scents the air,

A mild and soothing breeze floats from out the azure sky,

The myrtle sweetly blooms, and the laurel towers on high,

Dost thou know it well?

Oh, there, oh, gladly there,

Would I could fly with thee, oh my beloved fair!

Knowest thou that house built on pillars broad and bold?

The hall gleams bright below, and the chambers shine in gold.

And statues tall and pale rear their forms and gaze

on me;

Tell me thou hapless child what have they done to thee?

Oh! would that I could be among

That blessed band the lowliest knight! To breathe the atmosphere of song Would be to me supreme delight.

A FRAGMENT.

I WAS sitting at eve by the river's green side,
As the waters flowed on to the sea;
And, like the warm zephyr that swept o'er the tide,
Came the memory, fair maiden, of thee.

My mind wandered back to the sweet days of yore,
To those times when we met in the grove;
And once, while still watching the billow's wild roar
Thou did'st pledge me thy heart and its love.

The moon 'rose up soft, as when, silent and lone,
We plighted our spirits in tears;

And all that dear sweetness I once thought my own
Stole back from the bosom of years.

I felt a warm influence steal o'er my soul,
And I knew not whence came it or how;
But I yielded my heart to its soothing control,
As even I fain would do now.

And, I saw like a spirit transcending in light,
Thy form bending over my face,

And it seemed I could yet, in that image so bright,
Some germ of affection still trace.

Nay, I thought that my heart was reflected in thine,
Like those flowers on the bank of a stream,
That softly to kiss their own image incline;
Yet, alas! it was only a dream.

For, when I awoke from my slumber so sweet,
And my dreams of that happier day,

I heard but the murmuring waves at my feet,
As they hurried along on their way.

But still in my memory's chalice I'll keep,
Thy form ever sacred and dear;
And when I depart to the valley of sleep,
That vision will follow me there.

MAYFLOWER.

I would not give thy maiden blush
For all the charms of earth I've seen;
For song of skylark, chant of thrush,
I would not cede thee, woodland queen!
The nightingale may court his rose,

And France may boast her fleur-de-lis,
But they can never e'en disclose

One half the charms that cover thee.
-To a Mayflower.

JEAN

JEAN LA RUE BURNETT.

EAN LA RUE BURNETT is just past his twenty-third birthday, and already considered among the most promising of the younger American writers. He was born in Canandaigua, New York, where he still resides. His education was begun in the schools of that place, and he was graduated by the Canandaigua Academy in 1889. After preliminary study he entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, from which instituation he was graduated in the class of 1892, with the Degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was examined before the Supreme Court of Michigan and admitted to practice the same year, and was admitted to the Bar of New York March 30, 1893. At present he is practicing Law in his native place with flattering success. Mr. Burnett's career as a producer of clever sketches and verse began when he was but a lad, and his poems and satirical productions found ready acceptance with Judge, Life, Puck and other of the humorous weeklies. From these the ambitious young writer drifted naturally into regular magazine work. He is not a rapid producer and although the first drafts of poems are usually written on inspiration, the verses are rewritten and polished over and over again before he is satisfied that the work is finished, from an artistic view. Mr. Burnett has made a study of the sonnet, and has produced many excellent examples of the descriptive sonnet, though probably his best work in verse so far has been shown in the graceful lyric. C. N H.

CRADLE SONG.

I'VE made a nest for dearie,
A snowy nest for dearie -
Nid-nod, nid-nod;

With golden strands by elfins spun
I've spread it o'er, I've spread it o'er
'Tis only big enough for one,

'Twill hold no more, 'twill hold ho more!

I've lined it all with misty dreams,

And tucked it in with slumber sweet, And where the yellow moonlight streams, To make the dainty thing complete, I've set an emerald star a-far

To wink and blink at dearie.

I've made a nest for bonnie, A silken nest for bonnieHo-hum, ho-hum;