Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/90

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82

��POET'S CORNER IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

��After a few moments passed in general conversation, Hugh Ellis approached Al- lie and taking one of the slender, wasted hands in his own, he said tenderly —

"Allie, are you going to make me as happy as your good aunt is making Mon- tague?"

For answer, Allie raised her hlue eyes swimming in tears to her lover's face and aswered softly —

"Hugh, papa says you brought me back to life when all the rest thought me dead. I loved you very dearly before, and I am so glad to know that it is to you, under God, I owe my life, that I

��will give it into your keeping and try to make you happy, if I can."

Reader, shall I say more? I might tell how Allie grew stronger each day, and how on New Year's morning, there was a double wedding at the cottage, but my sto- ry is altogether too long and I will close.

There is a great deal of happiness in this world, after all, reader, and we should be very thankful that it is so, though, perchance, you and I do not find what seems to be our share, but let us hope that whether in this world or the world to come, we may find it "After Awhile."

��POET'S COBNEB IN WESTMINSTEB ABBEY.

��PY PROF. E. D. SANBORN.

[This article is given in place of the regular historical article by Prof. Sanborn, which, on account of the pressure upon his time of duties in connection with Commencement exercises at Dartmouth, he was unable to prepare.]

��Scott, in Marmion, speaking of West- minster Abbey, says :

'•Here, where the end of earthly things Lays heroes, patriots, bards and kings, Where, stiff the hand and still the tongue Of those who fought and spoke and sung; Here, where the fretted aisles prolong The distant notes of holy song, As if some angel spake again, 'All peace on earth good will to men.' "

England's "sea-girt isle" contains no monuments more precious than these. The Southern Transept is known as "Po- et's Corner," the most sacred and vene- rated spot in the whole abbey. Chaucer, the first great poet of England, died in 1400 in London, where, in old age, he came to arrange his affairs and set his house in order for his approaching end. He is said to have uttered on his death- bed, in great anguish, the "good coun- sel," which closes in these words :

"Here is no home— here is but wilderness. Forth, pdgriin ; forth, O beast, out of thy stall ! Look up on high and thank thy God of all. Control thy lust ; and let thy spirit thee lead ; And truth shall thee deliver ; 'Tis no dread."

Irving, in the Sketch Book, says that

��"visitors remain longest about the simple memorials in Poet's Corner." The immor- tal bards there commemorated are the friends, teachers and companions of all cul- tured men of all ages and climes. Chaucer leads the sleeping host. His ashes have been once removed; but have never been dishonored. He remained alone, in his glory, for more than a century and a half. Spenser was the next poet, buried near to Chaucer. He died in 1599. Beau- mont, Fletcher, Jonson and, probably, Shakespeare, were among his mourners in the funeral procession. Beaumont was next buried in the same place; and it was intended to lay the remains of Shakes- peare near his friends ; but the plan was frustrated, possibly, by the anathema contained in his epitaph, written by him- self, against any one who should "move his bones, or dig his dust." His dust re- mains in his original tomb in Stratford upon Avon. Ben Jonson objected to placing Shakespeare by the side of Chau- cer and others, saying :

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