Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 30

"The Nestling Swallows,"--_Celia Thaxter_.

MRS. CELIA (LEIGHTON) THAXTER, a famous American poet, was born at Portsmouth, N. H., June 20, 1836, and died in 1894. She has written: "Poems for Children," "Idyls and Pastorals," "Poems," "Drift-Weed," "The Yule Log," "Letters," "An Island Garden," "Among the Isles of Shoals,"

"Stories and Poems for Children," etc.

Woman's love is writ in water!

Woman's faith is traced on sand!

"Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers"; "Charles Edward at Versailles,"--_W. E. Aytoun_.

WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN, a noted Scottish humorist, was born in Edinburgh, June 21, 1813, and died at Blackhills, near Elgin, August 4, 1865. He wrote: "Ballads of Scotland," and his most famous work, "Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers." With Theodore Martin he wrote the celebrated "Bon Gaultier Ballads."

With the multiplication of books comes the rapid extension and awakening of mental activity.

"Const.i.tutional History of England,"--_William Stubbs_.

WILLIAM STUBBS, a noted English historical writer, was born at Knaresborough, June 21, 1825, and died April 22, 1901. His most famous work is: "The Const.i.tutional History of England." He also published: "Lectures on Mediaeval and Modern History."

Hopkins sought to add to the five points of Calvinism the rather heterogeneous ingredient that holiness consists in pure, disinterested benevolence, and that all regard for self is necessarily sinful.

"History of the United States of America," Vol. II, p.

597,--_Richard Hildreth_.

RICHARD HILDRETH, a renowned American historian, was born in Deerfield, Ma.s.s., June 22, 1807, and died in Florence, Italy, July 11, 1865. Among his works are: "History of Banks," "Theory of Morals," "Theory of Politics," and his most noted work, "History of the United States."

My two favourite novels are d.i.c.kens' "Tale of Two Cities" and Lytton's "Coming Race." Both these books I can read again and again, and with an added pleasure. Only my delight in the last is always marred afresh by disgust at the behaviour of the hero, who, in order to return to this dull earth, put away the queenly Zoe's love.

"Books which Have Influenced Me," p. 67,--_Haggard, H. Rider_.

SIR HENRY RIDER HAGGARD, a celebrated English novelist was born in Norfolk, June 22, 1856. Among his numerous works are: "Cetewayo and His White Neighbors," "Dawn," "The Witch's Head," "King Solomon's Mines,"

"She," "Jess," "Allan Quatermain," "Cleopatra," "Allan's Wife,"

"Beatrice," "Nada, the Lily," "The People of the Mist," "Heart of the World," "Joan Haste," "Rural England," "Pearl Maiden," "The Way of the Spirit," "Benita," "Fair Margaret," "The Yellow G.o.d," "Regeneration,"

"Red Eve," "Marie," "Child of Storm," "The Holy Flower," "The Ivory Child," "Love Eternal," "Moon of Israel," "When the World Shook," etc.

At some disputed barricade, When Spring comes back with rustling shade And apple-blossoms fill the air,-- I have a rendezvous with Death When Spring brings back blue days and fair.

"I have a Rendezvous With Death,"--_Alan Seeger_.

ALAN SEEGER, a noted American poet, was born in New York City, June 22, 1888, and was killed on the field of Belloy en Santene, France, July 4, 1916. He will always be remembered for his famous poem, "I Have a Rendezvous with Death."

If but one friend have crossed thy way, Once only, in thy mortal day; If only once life's best surprise Has opened on thy human eyes; Ingrate thou wert, indeed, if thou Didst not in that rare presence bow, And on earth's holy ground, unshod, Speak softlier the dear name of G.o.d.

--_Lucy Larcom_.

LUCY LARCOM, a noted American poet, was born at Beverly, Ma.s.s., June 23 (?), 1826, and died in Boston in 1893. Her works include: "Poems," "An Idyl of Work, a Story in Verse," "As It Is in Heaven," and "The Unseen Friend."

The world still needs Its champion as of old, and finds him still.

"The Epic of Hades: Herakles,"--_Sir Lewis Morris_.

SIR LEWIS MORRIS, a distinguished British poet, was born at Penbryn, June 23, 1833, and died November 13, 1907. His poetical works include: "Songs of Two Worlds," "The Epic of Hades" (his best-known work) "Songs Unsung," "A Vision of Saints," "The Ode of Life," "Idylls and Lyrics,"

"The New Rambler," and "Gwen."

Time is short, your obligations are infinite. Are your houses regulated, your children instructed, the afflicted relieved, the poor visited, the work of piety accomplished?

--_Ma.s.sillon_.

JEAN BAPTISTE Ma.s.sILLON, a renowned French preacher, was born at Hyeres, June 24, 1663, and died at Clermont, September 18, 1742. His sermons have been translated into English, also the funeral oration on Louis XIV. (London, 1872.)

A gla.s.s is good, and a la.s.s is good, And a pipe to smoke in cold weather; The world is good, and the people are good, And we're all good fellows together.

"Sprigs of Laurel," Act. II. Sc. I,--_John B. O'Keefe_.

JOHN B. O'KEEFE, a famous Irish dramatist, was born in Dublin, June 24, 1747, and died at Southampton, February 4, 1833. Among his plays are: "The Young Quaker," "The Poor Soldier," "Peeping Tom," "Wild Oats," "The Castle of Andalusia," "Sprigs of Laurel," etc.

Of all the duties, the love of truth, with faith and constancy in it, ranks first and highest. Truth is G.o.d. To love G.o.d and to love Truth are one and the same.

--_Silvio Pellico_.

SILVIO PELLICO, an ill.u.s.trious Italian poet, was born at Saluzzo, in Piedmont, June 24, 1788, and died at Turin, January 31, 1854. Among his tragedies are: "Iginia of Asti," "Ester of Engaddi," "Leonerio of Dertonia," "Laodicea," "Eufemio of Messina," "Gismonda da Mendrisio,"

"Thomas More," "Herodias," and "Francesca da Rimini," his most celebrated tragedy.

Put away all sarcasm from your speech. Never complain. Do not prophesy evil. Have a good word for every one or else keep silent.

--_Henry Ward Beecher_.

HENRY WARD BEECHER, a distinguished American clergyman, was born in Litchfield, Conn., June 24, 1813, and died in Brooklyn, New York, March 8, 1887. He wrote: "Freedom and War," "Norwood, or Village Life in New England," "Eyes and Ears," "Star Papers: or Experiences of Art and Nature," etc. His "Sermons" were edited by Dr. Lyman Abbott in 1868.

Who can refute a sneer?

"Moral Philosophy." Vol. II, Book V, Chap. 9.--_William Paley_.

WILLIAM PALEY, a noted English divine and philosopher, was born at Peterborough, June 25 (?), 1743, and died May 25, 1805. He published his lectures, revised and enlarged under the t.i.tle of "The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy"; also "Deity Collected from the Appearances of Nature."

Dryden's practical knowledge of English was beyond all others exquisite and wonderful.

"The Diversions of Purley,"--_John Horne Tooke_.