points to certain other words, the initial and final letters of which form respectively the two principal words. Hence the name of Double Acrostic. These words are termed "lights."

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The two principal words may either be, as in the above instance, distinct words, having, however, some essential or accidental connexion, or else two words forming together a compound word, as in the ordinary charade. Whenever, in the following Double Acrostics, the Roman numerals I., II., III. are found, the numeral III. refers to the whole.

No. 1.

Search for my first the azure depths of heaven,
The wreaths of harebell and forget-me-not,
Or the dear eyes of one whose love is given
To smile upon thy home, and bless thy lot.
Search for my second in the hands of men,

Those rigid types of rule, and strongly bound,
Yet giving worlds of thought to tongue and pen,
In realms where boundless liberty is found.
But lo! my first and second joined in one-

Armstrong and Whitworth cannot reach its skill;
Though vast the weight of each inventor's gun,

Yet these reports shall live when theirs is still :
For speech may falter, oaths may pass away,
Divisions rend each human resolution,
Yet though our members perish day by day,
Each noble act outlives a dissolution.

1. Oh! give me but a bit, and I am yours,
Though far away from my own native moors.
2. A prison-house, I cannot tell you where,

'Tis not in middle earth, or heaven, or air.

3. Once was I known the famous home of mysteries,
Before Miss Braddon wrote her thrilling histories.
4. The northern hunter's horn, a cheerful sign!
But I will give him back no horn of mine.

"LOVE TOOK UP THE GLASS OF TIME, AND TURNED IT IN HIS GLOWING HANDS."

GA

ARRULOUS old age," said Mr. Lynch, who had gone out to gather a few wallflowers, which he now presented with a profound bow to Ethna. "Garrulous old age, as the poet says. My mother is taking too great an advantage of your condescension, Miss Moore; but old people love a listener, one that will step back with them to the past."

"I like to listen," answered Ethna. "Her past was a troubled one."

"Ah, see was it," said the old woman, rocking herself softly in her little sugan chair, "See was it, allanuv."

"Yes, she suffered many wrongs," replied the schoolmaster. "Many wrongs, so did and so do many of our fellow-countrymen, all arising from the unsatisfactory nature of our land laws. They would want to be rectified, Miss Moore, the condition of the Irish peasant requires amelioration, one man ought to be made independent of another man, as much as may be. There are few people naturally just, very few."

"Is that your opinion of human nature, Mr. Lynch ?"

"It is, Miss Ethna, I'm sorry to say it is the experience of fifty years. The strong man will take advantage of the weak, the weak will circumvent somebody weaker still. Self-interest induces. injustice, and we are all swayed by self-interest. The only thing is to have wise laws that protect the rights of the individual and the land-the land is the bone of contention."

"I wonder why they fight so much about the land in Ireland,' said Ethna. "You do not hear of it anywhere else."

"Because we have nothing else to live by, Miss Ethna, nothing else; no trade, no manufacture, all stamped out. There is

nothing but the soil; and the precarious hold we have of that disheartens us and weakens our best exertions. They talk of a change, 'tis badly needed; as people become enlightened, they become discontented with the unjust condition of things-very properly, I say, though I'm a man of peace."

"And I echo you, very properly," said Ethna. "With all my soul I would rebel against injustice; and it seems so easy to do the right."

66

'Ah, not so easy, my dear young lady. Not so easy, for the few that seek to accomplish a right end are impeded by the many; even their own party often obstruct them; were we indeed united Irishmen, we could carry the world before us. But we are not, it must be confessed; not, I contend, because we're Irish, but because we're human. Men only agree in disagreeing all over the world."

"It was a pity I was not born sooner," said Ethna, laughing, as she rose to leave. "I'd be hanged side by side with Emmet. I have a tendency to rebel against a great many things."

"You'll live to influence a worthy husband," answered Mr. Lynch," and raise up noble sons and daughters who will confer honour on Erin. You will transmit your own and the Madam's virtues into approaching generations."

"Oh, I never could look so far forward. Good-by, Mr. Lynch. Good-by, Molly."

"God speed you, allanuv," said the old woman.

"Good evening, Miss Ethna, but you will allow me the honour of seeing you out of the lane. Yes, Miss Moore, you will be a good influence, an elevating influence, by-and-by, with the help of Providence. And we will want such. I predict that we are on the eve of troubled times."

"Father Daly says we are on the eve of a rebellion," said Ethna. "He is always warning the people against secret societies."

"So do I, Miss Ethna, as far as is possible in my humble capacity. I was discussing the state of the country with the reverend gentleman, and we arrived at the conclusion that there are too many strangers going through the country without any ostensible business. When times are bad, there is tendency to disaffection; 'tis dangerous to trust them, very dangerous; they may be Government spies for all we know."