When summer decked the leafy bowers, And pranked the russet plain, She bore his cage where breathing flowers Inspired a tuneful strain; And now and then, through open door, Indulged a wish to roam, Though soon, the brief excursion o'er, The wanderer sought its home. She laughed to see it brush the dew From bough and budding spray. And deemed its snow-white plumage grew More beauteous, day by day. The rose of June was in its flush, And 'neath the fragrant shade Of her own fullest, fairest bush The favorite's house was staid, While roving, bird-like, here and there, Amid her flow'rets dear, She culled a nosegay, rich and rare, A mother's heart to cheer. A shriek! A flutter! Swift as thought Her startled footstep flew, But full of horror was the sight That met her eager view-- Her treasure in a murderer's jaws! One of that feline race Whose wily looks and velvet paws Conceal their purpose base. And scarce the victim's gushing breast Heaved with one feeble breath, Though raised to hers, its glance exprest Affection even in death. Oh, stricken child! though future years May frown with heavier shade, When woman's lot of love and tears Is on thy spirit laid-- Yet never can a wilder cry Thy heart-wrung anguish prove Than when before thy swimming eye Expired that wounded dove. [Illustration: THE LOST PET Engraved Expressly for Graham's Magazine Figure from I. M. Wright. Drawn with original scenery & engraved by Ellis.] FIEL A LA MUERTE, OR TRUE LOVE'S DEVOTION. A TALE OF THE TIMES OF LOUIS QUINZE. BY HENRY WILLIAM HERBERT, AUTHOR OF "THE ROMAN TRAITOR," "MARMADUKE WYVIL," "CROMWELL," ETC. (_Concluded from page_ 91.) PART III. For there were seen in that dark wall, Two niches, narrow, dark and tall. Who enters by such grisly door, Shall ne'er, I ween, find exit more.--WALTER SCOTT. It would be wonderful, were it not of daily occurrence, and to be observed by all who give attention to the characteristics of the human mind, how quickly confidence, even when shaken to its very foundations, and almost obliterated, springs up again, and recovers all its strength in the bosoms of the young of either sex. Let but a few more years pass over the heart, and when once broken, if it be only by a slight suspicion, or a half unreal cause, it will scarce revive again in a life-time; nor then, unless proofs the strongest and most unquestionable can be adduced to overpower the doubts which have well-nigh annihilated it.