Part 18 (1/2)

Owing, probably, to the strain of incessant work, Mr Dodgson about this period began to be subject to a very peculiar, yet not very unco fortifications Considering the fact that he spent a good twelve hours out of every twenty-four in reading and writing, and that he was noell over fifty years old, it was not surprising that nature should begin to rebel at last, and warn him of the necessity of occasional rest

Some verses on ”Wonderland” by ”One who loves Alice,” appeared in the Christmas number of _Sylvia's Home Journal_, 1885 They ritten by Miss ME Manners, and, as Lewis Carroll himself admired them, they will, I think, be read with interest:--

WONDERLAND

Hoeet those happy days gone by, Those days of sunny weather, When Alice fair, with golden hair, And ere young together;-- When first with eager gaze we scann'd The page which told of Wonderland

On hearthrug in the winter-time We lay and read it over; We read it in the summer's pri breezes fann'd, Murmured sweet tales of Wonderland

We climbed the mantelpiece, and broke The jars of Dresden china; In Jabberwocky tongue we spoke, We called the kitten ”Dinah!”

And, oh! how earnestly we planned To go ourselves to Wonderland

The path was fringed with flowers rare, With rainbow colours tinted; The as ”up a winding stair,”

Our elders wisely hinted

We did not wish to understand _Bed_ was the road to Wonderland

We thought ait till we should grow Stronger as well as bolder, But now, alas! full e know We're only growing older

The key held by a childish hand, Fits best the door of Wonderland

Yet still the Hatter drinks his tea, The duchess finds a ht their quarrel

The Walrus still weeps on the sand, That strews the shores of Wonderland

And other children feel the spell Which once we felt before the o'er thelorious realained Years more than twice eleven; Alice, dear child, hast thou remained ”Exactually” seven?

With ”proper aid,” ”two” could coo back in Wonderland

Or have the years (untouched by charht unto thy arms A dainty little maiden?

Another Alice, who shall stand By thee to hear of Wonderland

Carroll! accept the heartfelt thanks Of children of all ages, Of those who long have left their ranks, Yet still ic wand Called up the scenes of Wonderland

Long mayst thou live, the sound to hear Whichclear, And children's el-hand Draws back the veil of Wonderland

One Who Loves ”Alice”

Three letters, written at the beginning of 1886 to Miss Edith Rix, to who as showing the deeper side of his character:--

Guildford, _Jan_ 15, 1886

My dear Edith,--I have been nosticism, and other matters in your letter which I have left unnoticed And yet I do not know, much as what you say interestsseeker after truth, that I a that will be new to you and of any practical use

The Moral Science student you describe must be a beautiful character, and if, as you say, she lives a noble life, then, even though she does not, as yet, see any God, for whose sake she can do things, I don't think you need be unhappy about her ”When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee,”