Literary Extracts.

Tim and his truck , come into play ; and all the cheaper second-rate articles are carried off . When there is a glut of mackerel or herrings , when strawberries are deadripe , or cherries a penny a pound , there is gladness in costerdom—capital fish-dinners for thousands of poor families , aud luscious fruit puddings , that need no sugar ,

for half the ragged-schools within the bills of mortality . Without these rough but patiently-enduring and hardworking ministers of trade , a large portion of the people would never taste fresh fish , fruit , or vegetables . —The Old City , its Highways and Byways . FREDERICK THE GREAT ANDTIIS GRANDCHILDREN . —The

king was fond of children ; liked to have his grandnephews about him . One day , while the king sat at work in his cabinet , the younger of the two , a boy of eight or nine ( who died soon after twenty ) , was playing at ball about the room ; and knocked it once and again into the king ' s writing operation ; who twice or oftoner

flung- it back to him , but next time put it in his pocket and went on . " Please your Majesty give me ib back !" begged the boy—and again begged ; Majesty took no notice ; continued writing , till at length came in the tone of indignation . "Will your Majesty give me my ball , then ? " The king looked up , found the little

Hohenzollern planted firm , hands on haunches , and weaving quite a peremptory air . Thou art a brave little fellow ; they won ' t get Silesia out of thee ¦ " cried he laughing , and flinging him his ball . — -Carhje ' s History of Frederick II . OLD LONDON . —In no English history havo ive ever sean any explanation why the Romans chose the present

site of London for the foundation of an important mercantile city , but in an old French folio , published at Paris in the reign of Queen Elizabeth , a clear explanation is iully given . Tho French writer says that the Romans ¦ built a city on the present spot because ib is ab the

highest point up the river to which the trading ships could ascend in thoso days . Ib is just below the poinb at which the river became fordable , and ib presented high ground , elevated above tho marshes on the east aud south . Ib was also sufficienbly remote from the sea to be secure from the fleets of pirates that infested the coasts , not only in the Roman times , but for centuries

afterwards . AVhen the Roman city of London arose it began to absorb tho population of great cities then existing near ib . The indications of the ruins of three great cities are found on the south side of the Thames , and the Roman name of one of them , Noviomagus , is preserved , but the society of Noviomagians could never discover to which of those cities the name applied . On

the north , the population of St . Alban ' s gradually melted away , to the great indignation of the remaining inhabitants , who are said to have threatened to come and destroy the rising city of London , until tho Londoners advanced as far as Hamstead-heath , where they entrenched themselves , aud prepared to offer battle with their usual valour in defence of their homes . Ib does

not appear , however , that any battle took place , and though the remains of the enbrenchmenb are yeb poiubed oub , bhe inhabitants of St . Alban ' s submitted to the melancholy process of decay , until their ouce great city , with its palace and temples , became what it now is—¦ little more than a country village . Thus , at leasb four greab cibies that subsisted by the agriculture of the

country around them were absorbed by the young commercial city that prospered by introducing the new element of foreign trade , in consequence of the policy of of the Roman merchants and their government—in the same way that Rome itself absorbed the populations of the Etruscan cities , whose w alls yet remain upon the summits of hills . —New Monthly .

Poetry.

Poetry .

MASONIC PROCESSION . I saw a band of brothers move , "With slow and solemn tread , Their hearts were joined in ties of love , In charity were ived ; And types of lihts illumed the ray

g , Shone on the chastening rod , And in the midst , wide open lay , The Gospel of our God . I asked a man of fourscore years , Why after them he ran , He said—and melted into

tears—They feed the poor old man . He said—I once was sick and sad , My limbs were racked with pain , They came , they comforted and clad , The old man rose again . I asked a ing widow wh

weep y She followed those before ; She said—and wiped her weeping eye—They came unto my door : They came when all the world beside , Had turned from me and fled—They came my wants and woes to hide , They gave my children bread .

I asked an orphan boy why he His eager footstep bends ; He said—They smile on all like me , They were my father ' s friends ; Before he died they clothed and fed , , And all our gifts they gave , And when we wept for father dead , They threw gifts in the grave .

And such I said are Masons all , Friends to the needy poor ; They never view a brother ' s fall , They never shun his door . And though 'tis said they are not " Free , " "Virtue and love are twins , And the blest grace of charity ,

Hides multitudes of sins . They worship in the Lodge of God , Secret and solemn there ; They bow beneath Ids sacred rod , And breathe a heartfelt prayer . Freemasonry , like a woman ' s love , Is taught by private rules ; So deep that should it public prove , It would be snort for fools .

The Pass Of Death.

THE PASS OF DEATH .

It was a narrow pass , Watered with human tears , For Death had kept the outer gate , Almost six thousand years . And the ceaseless tread of a world ' s feet , Was ever in my ears , — Thronging , jostling , hurrying by , As if they were only born to die .

A stately king drew near , This narrow pass to tread , Around him hung a gorgeous robe , And a crown was on his head ; But Death with a look of withering scorn , Arrested him and said , '' In humbler dress must the king draw near , For the crown and the purple are useless here . "