Poets' Corner.

at the court of the warrior King Edward the Third , and had for his patron aud friend no less a person than the great John o' Gaunt , Duke of Lancaster . The King granted him a pension of tAventy marks per year—that is , thirteen pounds

six shillings and eightpence—and made him a page at Court . Chaucer contracted one very good habit , Avhich Ave think very well worthy of imitation in these days . He used to go to rest Avith the sun , ancl rise Avith the lark , and there can he no

doubt that it is to this excellent habit we are indebted for the many beautiful descriptions of evening and day-dawn Avhich still charm us by their freshness and reality . He was sent to Italy , on some State business , and there he attended a

marriage feast , at which he met the great piet Petrarch , and other eminent Italians . But his life Avas not all so calm and prosperous as its earlier years . His genius aud his success made him the object of envy , and his enemies were powerful and malignant . He Avas forced to fly from his

country . He endured much hardship vehen poor and among strangers , but again returned to England , and threw himself upon the protection of King Richard the Second . This monarch granted him protection and gave him an annuity

, which helped to soften the evils of his later years , ancl he died on the 25 th of October , 1400 . He was buried in the spot where his ashes still remain . Just over his tomb a memorial Avindow of

stained glass has been erected , the pictures in which represent scenes from his great poem , " The Canterbury Tales . " We cannot leave this tomb Avithout referring to one other notable circumstance Avhich it brings to mind . " The Canterbury Tales " Avhich we have just mentioned Avere printed

b y William , Gaxton , the first English printer , and they were printed in this very Abbey . This is a fact which cannot fail to lend additional interest to this great building . , The first printing press ever raised in this- country was raised within

these walls ; the first printed book or page was here produced . This Avas the fountain , the spring of that mig hty ocean of literature , which has since poured on in an everincreasing tide , instructing , reforming , civilizing , and delighting the world . Just another monument demands a few moments '

Poets' Corner.

attention , and then we have done . This is the monument of Abraham Cowley . It is plain , but very expressive . That chaplet of laurel Avhich is tAvined around the urn , and the fire Avhich issues from the mouth of the urn , are proper emblems of the glory he attained b y his Avorks , aud

the fire and spirit they display . The inscription tells us that he Avas " the Pindar , Horace , and Virgil of England ; and the delight , ornament , ancl admiration of his age . " A very interesting spot for Englishmen is Poet ' s Corner , Westminster Abbey .

A Peculiar Case.

A PECULIAR CASE .

THE folloAving amusing sketch , taken from Seribner for December of a new Avorld " character " distinguished in every respect , has its interest for us all . We who live in the old Avorld fancy , and Avho can say that Aveare Avrong , that Ave have seen and know ,

yes , actually known , this very individual , if in another flesh and colour . Cyrus came well recommended to us ( by his own family ) , and , as the name he bore has still an interesting sound in Oriental history , we decided to employ him in our cool cottage "D OAVU East . " Our summer hut in those days overlooked the sea , and was one of the simplest resting-places

outside that quiet haven which , for mortal reasons , Ave are all destined , sooner or later , to occupy . The grounds belonging to our rudimentary domicile required only the smallest amount of work to keep them in order , so Ave cast about for a young and

inexpensive lad in the neighbourhood who would come every morning early and attend to whatever Avas necessary for our comfort and convenience on the premises . There Avas water to be pumped ; there were shoes to be cleaned ; the horse was

to be brought up from the village stable Avhen wanted for a drive ; a fevr flowers were to be weeded and sprinkled ; and various other small offices of a kindred nature required the daily ministration of some competent person Avho understood matters appertaining to ^ a household epitome like ours . Aud so it came to pass