A Prayer in the Prospect of Death. Thou unknown, Almighty Cause Of all my hope and fear! In whose dread presence, ere an hour, If I have wandered in those paths Of life I ought to shun; As something, loudly, in my breast Thou know'st that Thou hast formed me Has often lead me wrong. Where human weakness has come short, Or frailty steps aside, Do thou, All-Good!-for such thou art In shades of darkness hide. Where with intention I have erred, No other plea I have, But, Thou art good; and goodness still on the WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. WILLIAM WORDSWORTH was born April 7, 1770, and serene, pose, find its He 1839, In was a graduate of Cambridge University. Oxford University recognized his ability by con ferring upon was and him the degree of D. C. L. In 1843, he made poet-laureate of England. Wordsworth studied Shakespeare, Milton, Spenser Chaucer, as models. He was the founder of the "Lake School" of poets, composed of Wordsworth, Cole ridge and Southey. As public notice in two poems, An Evening Walk, and Taken During a Pedestrian Tour Descriptive Sketches among the Alps. The simplicity, refinement, and ori ginality shown in these poems attracted general atten tion. The Excursion is, without doubt, Wordsworth's finest and most important production. Most of the poet's life was devoted to a special study of poetry. means of support. His desire was to secure simpli city of language. The first efforts were so extremely simple that they were considered simple by all. This apparent silliness was ridiculed and laughed at by Jeffrey. He is now loved and admired by all the world. His poetry is completely emancipated from the artificial. As Coleridge says, "He is austerely accurate in the use of words." By common consent, we place Wordsworth on the list of great poets, next to Milton, where his "all-embracing humanity" will forever shine. From "The Excursion." HE mountain-ash, Decked with autumnal berries that outshine Spring's richest blossoms, yields a splendid show, By a brook-side or solitary turn, How she her station doth adorn; the pool |