In this world nothing is constant save inconstancy. Nature changes all things, night and morn, and when she puts on again her former semblance, still it is only a semblance, and never the very same. Young ladies--when your lovers vow to be true forever to love--you may believe them; but whether they will be eternally true to you, admits of reflection. Such at least seems to have been the life-philosophy of him who penned the following poem: BY THE STREAM. Oh water that ever art roving! O fountain that never canst move! Oh fancy--some new flame still loving! O heart, ever constant to love! The waterfall rustled and glistened, Till it seemed like a musical flame, And I lay and I looked and I listened Till the nymph of the waterfall came. It was no Undine or Lurley (Though I thought her as beautiful still) That came in the evening early-- But a bare-footed maid from the mill. The pitcher too frequently laden Must break and be lost at the worst, But the young heart, when full of a maiden, Of the twain will be broken the first. But the pitcher, when cracked by a tumble, Must be laid, till repaired, on the shelf, While the heart, although shattered and humble, Will be mended in time by itself. And we vowed that we loved--but with laughter, And we kissed with our feet in the brook; She left me--my whistle rung after, To win from the maid a last look. And months have flown by since I missed her, For afar with another she's flown; And now I wait here for her sister, To vow that I've loved her alone. Oh water that ever art roaming! Oh fountain that never canst move! Oh fancy--some new flame still loving! Oh heart ever constant to--love! Sing it, reader, 'if thou canst sing.' A lady friend assures us that it goeth well unto voice and pianoforte. * * * * * YE JOLLIE POACHER. 'Twas I that kept a shoddy mill In starving Lancashire; And shaved the Yankees shamefully For many and many a year. The mill is stopped, I'm raving mad, As from the _Times_ you hear; Oh it's my delight to bark and bite At all times of the year. * * * * * The Continental Monthly.