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Me this unchartered freedom tires;

I feel the weight of chance-desires :

My hopes no more must change their name, I long for a repose that ever is the same.

Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear
The Godhead's most benignant grace;
Nor know we anything so fair
As is the smile upon thy face:

Flowers laugh before thee on their beds
And fragrance in thy footing treads;
Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong;
And the most ancient heavens, through Thee, are fresh
and strong.

To humbler functions, awful Power!
I call thee: I myself commend
Unto thy guidance from this hour;
Oh, let my weakness have an end!

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Give unto me, made lowly wise,
The spirit of self-sacrifice;

The confidence of reason give;

And in the light of truth thy Bondman let me live!

20

THE LAST DAYS OF COLONEL NEWCOME

WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY

NOTE. - Of all Thackeray's characters Colonel Newcome is the most lovable. The kindly old man, whose life has been a series of disappointments, loses his money and comes to spend his last days at the Charter House, a hospital and school founded in the seventeenth century by a 5 London merchant. Clive is Colonel Newcome's son, and Ethel is his niece.

Our Colonel, we were all obliged to acknowledge, was no more our friend of old days. He knew us again, and was good to every one round him, as his wont was; especially when Boy came his eyes lighted up with simple 10 happiness, and with eager, trembling hands he would seek under his bedclothes, or in the pockets of his dressing gown, for toys or cakes which he had caused to be purchased for his grandson.

There was a little, laughing, red-cheeked, white-headed 15 gown-boy of the school, to whom the old man had taken a great fancy. One of the symptoms of his returning consciousness and recovery, as we hoped, was his calling for this child, who pleased our friend by his archness and merry ways; and who, to the old gentleman's unfailing 20 delight, used to call him "Codd Colonel."

66 "Tell little F that Codd Colonel wants to see him"; and the little gown-boy was brought to him, and the Colonel would listen to him for hours, and hear all about

his lessons and his play, and prattle almost as childishly about his own early school days.

The boys of the school, it must be said, had heard the old gentleman's touching history, and had all got to know

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and love him. They came every day to hear news of 5 him, sent him in books and papers to amuse him, and some benevolent young souls-God's blessing on all

honest boys, say I-painted theatrical characters and sent them in to Codd Colonel's grandson. The little fellow was made free of gown-boys, and once came thence to his grandfather in a little gown which delighted the 5 old man hugely. . .

So weeks passed away, during which our dear old friend remained with us. His mind was gone at intervals, but would rally feebly; and with his consciousness returned his love, his simplicity, his sweetness. He would 10 talk French with Madame de Florac, at which time his memory appeared to awaken with surprising vividness, his cheek flushed, and he was a youth again, -a youth all love and hope,- a stricken old man, with a beard as white as snow covering the noble, careworn face.

15

At such times he called her by her Christian name of Léonore; he addressed courtly old words of regard and kindness to the aged lady; anon he wandered in his talk, and spoke to her as if they still were young. Now, as in those early days, his heart was pure; no anger remained 20 in it; no guile tainted it; only peace and good will dwelt in it. .

The days went on, and our hopes, raised sometimes, began to flicker and fail. One evening the Colonel left his chair for his bed in pretty good spirits, but passed a 25 disturbed night, and the next morning was too weak to rise. Then he remained in his bed, and his friends visited him there.

One afternoon he asked for his little gown-boy, and the child was brought to him, and sat by the bed with a very awe-stricken face; and then gathered courage, and tried to amuse him by telling him how it was a half-holiday, and they were having a cricket match with the St. Peter's boys 5 in the green, and how Greyfriars was in and winning.

The Colonel quite understood about it; he would like to see the game; he had played many a game on that green when he was a boy. He grew excited; Clive dismissed his father's little friend, and put a sovereign into 10 his hand; and away he ran to say that Codd Colonel had come into a fortune, and to buy tarts, and to see the match out. Go, run away, little white-haired gown-boy! Heaven speed you, little friend.

After the child had gone Thomas Newcome began to 15 wander more and more. He talked louder; he gave the word of command, spoke Hindoostanee as if to his men. Then he spoke words in French rapidly, seizing a hand that was near him, and crying, "Toujours, toujours!" But it was Ethel's hand which he took. Ethel and Clive 20 and the nurse were in the room with him; the nurse came to us, who were sitting in the adjoining apartment; Madame de Florac was there.

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At the look in the woman's countenance Madame de Florac started up. "He is very bad, he wanders a great 25 deal," the nurse whispered. The French lady fell instantly on her knees, and remained rigid in prayer.

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