Charles Dickens—A Lecture.

called Mr . Minns and his Cousin , dropped stealthily one evening at twilight , with fear ami trembling , into a dark letter box , in a dark office , up a dark court , in Fleet Street , appeared in all the glory of printon which occasion I

, walked doAvn to Westminster Hall , and turned into it for half an hour , because my eyes Avere so dimmed Avith joy and pride , that they could not bear the street , and Avere not fit to be seen there . I told my visitor of the coincidence ,

which Ave both hailed as a good omen , and so fell to business . '' It had been stated that Mr . Seymour had something to do Avith the composition of this work , Avhich Dickens distinctly and most emphatically denies . ( To be ceiiSimtfii . )

Courage.

COURAGE .

When hopes are fading fast , When dear dreams flit away , When mourafuhiess has cast Its pall o ' er us to-day ; When the brow is grave with care , When smiles give place to tears ,

When faces foni and fair Have fadod with the years , TJiere often comes to all Thus weary and forlorn , Mid the trials which befall , fly brooding cares o ' erborne ,

Some fooiisli doubts and fears AVith the shadows which depart , And trait half disappears In the murmurs of the heart .

To many it . is given , In the visions of each day , By dark misgivings riven , To watch brightness fade away ; To see the golden gleam Flit into darkness here ;

To know that the happy dream Is doom'd to disappear . And Ihen midst human si ghs , Ami then through earthly grief , linder the gloomy skies , \\ lien all seems beyond relief ,

There falls upon our race , As we keep our toilsome way , The smile of an unforgotten face , The glow of a brighter day ! \' es ! amid desponding sorrow ,

And amid depressing care , Amid a long to-morrow , Amid a dark despair , A voice seems gently greeting us , In accents full of love , " Think of a happier meeting ,

Remember rest above ! " Let faith and courage high Still rule thy heart and mind ' , Let not allliction's sigh

Affect thy will resigned ; 15 ut believe all firmly ever , Midst every care and fear , That nothing here can sever You , from God most near !

And from our mourning heart , And from our pining soul . The dark clouds seem to part , The heavy mists to roll ; The hanging wreaths have lifted From before our aching sight ;

The cloudy bank has shifted Its place , for streaks of light . Oh , then , courageous heart and will , Amid thy daily strife , Neath every form of good or ill ,

In the wilderness of life , 0 cheerfully lift up thy head , The time is speeding fast , The darker hours have fled , No move thy sky ' s o'ercaat . Ko ! all is full of light ,

And all is full of love , And all around is bright , Brighter thy sky above ; For iu courage good and true , Thou bast march'd on thy way , And before thy spell-bound view Lies God ' s own "Better Day I "

A . F . A . VV H