[BORN at Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, Nov. 4, 1771, and was the son of a Moravian preacher; was educated at the Fulneck School, Yorkshire, apprenticed to a grocer, but ran away in 1789, and in 1792 became clerk to Joseph Gales, a famous journalist of Sheffield, who having been accused of treason was compelled to escape to the United States. Montgomery then founded the Sheffield Iris, a paper devoted to peace and reform principles, which he edited thirty-one years, 1794-1825. He began in early youth to write poetry, in which he won great popularity. In 1835 he received a pension, and declined the professorship of rhetoric at Edinburgh. Died at Sheffield, April 30, 1854. Mr. Montgomery is best known as a hymn writer and devotional poet.] The clouds and sunbeams, o'er his eye That once their shades and glory threw, Have left in yonder silent sky No vestige where they flew. The annals of the human race, Their ruins, since the world began, Of him afford no other trace Than this- there lived a man! PRAYER. PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire That trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, Prayer is the simplest form of speech Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice The saints in prayer appear as one, Nor prayer is made on earth alone: The Holy Spirit pleads; O Thou, by whom we come to God, [WALTER SCOTT, the son of a Writer to the Signet, was born in Edinburgh on August 15, 1771, and was educated at the High School and the College. In 1792 he became an advocate, but soon began to occupy himself seriously with literature, publishing in 1799 a translation of Goethe's Goetz von Berlichingen, and in 1802 his Border Minstrelsy. As Sheriff of Selkirkshire he went in 1804 to live at Ashestiel on the banks of the Tweed, and there produced The Lay of the Last Minstrel, 1805; Marmion, 1808; The Lady of the Lake, 1810; Don Roderick, 1811: Triermain and Rokeby, 1813. Át his new house at Abbotsford he wrote The Lord of the Isles, 1815; and Harold the Dauntless, 1817. Before these last two were published Waverly appeared, and henceforth Scott wrote no more poetry, save a few short lyrics, ending with his Farewell to the Muse, 1822. He was made a baronet in 1820, but in 1826 commercial disaster came upon him, and his last ten years were a time of struggle and overwork. He died at Abbotsford, September 21, 1836.] THE OLD MINSTREL. And he, neglected and oppress'd, Old times were changed, old manners gone; A stranger filled the Stuarts' throne; Had call'd his harmless art a crime. |