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Show ... '-.?'BTBy. BRUCE AND THE SPICIER. Fos Scotland and for freedom'! right The Bruce his part has playd, la five successive fields ol fight Been conquered ard dismayed; Once more against the English host Bit band he Ted, and once more lost The meed tor which be fought ; And now from battle faint and worn, The hosaeless ugUive forlorn i. A hut's lone shelter sought- And cheerless was that resting-place For him who claimed a throne : Sis canopy, devoid of grace, The rude, roagh beams alone: The heather couch his only bed, Yetwell I ween had slmmber fled From couch of eider-down! Through darksome nlht. till dawn of day, Of Scotland and her crown. The sun rose brightly, and its gleam Fell on that hapless bed, - . - - - And tinged with light each sbadeless beam Which roofed the lowly 6hed: 1 When, looking up with wistful eye, The Kruce beheld a spider fry " -His filmy thread to fling kw-v.frojn. - tobeam of that rude cot; v ' . Acd we!f the iflsecf Kiowe lot :.-.. . Taught Scotland's fnture WAV . gii times a gossamery thread - ' The wary spider threw ; In vain the flimy line was sped, For powerless or untrue ; ', Xach aim appeared and back recoiled, -. ; The patient insect six times foiled. And yet unconquered still: . . And soon the Bruce with eager eye, iW him prepare once more to try His courage, strength, and skill. . . Oae effort more, hi seventh" and laet! The hero hailed the sien 1 ' - And on tho wished-for beame hung fast ' ... That slender, silken line ; Slight as it was his spirit caught The more than omen, for his thought . . " The lesson well could trace, Which even "He who runs may read," That perseverance gains Its meed, Ana patience wins the race. |