The garden roller, dreaded foe! -Just when the duck devoured the snail. Thus says the fable:-learn from hence, (A point we need not now discuss,). XXVIII. NOW AND THEN. IN distant days of wild romance, Of magic mist and fable; When stones could argue, trees advance, When shrubs and flowers were said to preach, "T was then, no doubt, if 't was at all' Engaged in sharp contention; THEN, was a sprite of subtile frame, Seemed borrowed from the distant blue. Now, rested on the solid earth, THEN, sang a wild, fantastic song, Where clouds of radiance, fringed with gold, O'er hills of emerald beauty rolled. Now, rarely raised her sober eye To view that golden distance; Nor let one idle minute fly In hope of THEN's assistance; She ate the sweet but homely fare Despised such bread and water: Now, venturing once to ask her why, "Alas," says she, "how hard you toil! "That fairy land that looks so real, "Ah, well," said THEN, "I envy not With thousands of my neighbors, Soon as I reach that golden hill ;' "But that," says now, "you never will." "And e'en suppose you should," said she ("Though mortal ne'er attained it)— Your nature you must change with me The moment you had gained it : XXIX. THE PILGRIMAGE OF LEARNING. THE temple of knowledge, that spacious and magnificent structure, towards which so many weary steps have been directed, appears at this moment a bright object in the distant horizon. The setting sun now illuminating its fair marble columns, reveals something of its elegance and splendor. Having pitched my tent beneath a spreading shade, in order to take needful repose, I have amused myself by noting down some of the adventures that befell me, more especially in the early part of my pilgrimage: although, being now advanced in years, and having commenced this adventure in early childhood, I retain but an imperfect remembrance of many circumstances, and can offer no more than a brief sketch of the journey. Nothing could be more easy and agreeable than my condition, when I was first summoned to set out on this career. Sporting upon flowery lawns, surrounded with glittering baubles, over whelmed with caresses, and meeting smiles in every face. Strange was the hour when I was snatched from the midst of these indulgences, to commence a toilsome pilgrimage; though at that time little aware of the lengthened and difficult course that lay before me. It was not, however, without letting fall a few ominous tears that I set the first step. Several companions of my own age and condition accompanied me in the outset; and we travelled pleasantly together a good part of the way. Our path, at first, lay through a ploughed field, which we no sooner entered than we were accosted by three diminutive strangers, who assumed a formidable aspect towards us. These we presently discovered to be the advanced guard of a Liliputian army, which was seen advancing towards us in battle array. Their forms were singularly grotesque; some were striding across the path, others standing with their arms akimbo, some hanging down their heads, others quite erect, some standing on one leg, others on two, and one, strange to say, on three; another had his arms crossed, and one was remarkably crooked; some were very slender, and others as broad as they were long. But notwithstanding this diversity of figure, when they were all marshalled in line of battle, they had a very orderly and regular appearance. Feeling disconcerted by their numbers, we were presently for sounding a re |