But see, thy tender smile has cast My fear away: this thought of mine Is treason to my Love and thine; For Love is Life, and Death at last Crowns it eternal and divine! RECOLLECTIONS. S strangers, you and I are here; Where once, in years gone by, I dwelt No stranger in the land. Then while you gaze on park and stream, Let me remain apart, And listen to the awakened sound Of voices in my heart! Here, where upon the velvet lawn The cedar spreads its shade, And by the flower-beds all around, Bright roses bloom and fade; Shrill merry childish laughter rings, And baby voices sweet, And by me, on the path, I hear The tread of little feet. Down the dark avenue of limes, Warnings and counsels wise, And the quick questioning that brought Such gentle calm replies. Still the light bridge hangs o'er the lake, Where broad-leaved lilies lie, And the cool water shows again The cloud that moves on high;— And one voice speaks, in tones I thought The past for ever kept; But now I know, deep in my heart I hear, within the shady porch I might have striven, and striven in vain, Well known and yet forgotten; now The Present pales before the Past, As in a dream I stand, amidst Enough, so let us go, mine eyes A voice speaks to my soul to-day And yet the vision in my heart, Will fade into the silent past, ILLUSION. HERE the golden corn is bending, Where the chestnut woods are sending Leafy showers upon the grass, The blue river onward flowing Mingles with its noisy strife, The murmur of the flowers growing, And the hum of insect life. I, from that rich plain was gazing Towards the snowy mountains high, Who their gleaming peaks were raising Up against the purple sky. And the glory of their shining, For a home so pure and bright! So I left the plain, and weary, Fainting, yet with hope sustained, Toiled through pathways long and dreary, Till the mountain top was gained. Lo! the height that I had taken, Was a desolate, forsaken I am faint, my feet are bleeding, ૨ |