Why lasts not the silvery brightness Half of joy, and half of dole; And we spoke-but soul to soul. Then your hand clasped mine more firmly, And our quick eyes spoke the secret For ah, we were but children, Jem! To better things above. With soberer years the dream may pass But an angel came to the green earth, For sure 'twas not a mortal lyre, And it breathed a tale of brighter land, O, blessings on the sinlessness Where holier stars down gleam; And brightens earth's most sordid things With a kind of fairy sheen. But best it is, it should not last, And if the bliss of perfect love But ever along life's fitful track, Still 'mid the music tone there blends For though our vows may be more loud, They will never be as true As the first words of earnest love, When life and we are new. Though in after years we may mask the heart, And garner its tenderness up There is never in love a draught so sweet As that in its earliest cup. HEART WISHES. I WOULD not wear a golden crown, I would not have a servile throng I would not have a sumptuous couch, But one dear arm to hold my form, I would not have proud marble piled But simple stone and grassy mound, I would, beloved, to thee and me, That thy true heart may meet mine own, HE CAME TOO LATE. IIE came too late!-Neglect had tried He came too late!-At once he felt Her heart and thoughts were free; He came too late!-The subtle chords Not by offence of spoken words, But by the slights that wound. That could the past repay, Yet she disdained his tardy vow, And coldly turned away. He came too late!-Her countless dreams No charms dwelt in his chosen themes, And when, with word and smile, he tried She nerved her heart with woman's pride, PRAYER FOR AN ABSENT HUSBAND. FATHER in heaven! Behold, he whom I love is daily treading O, thou most kind! break not the golden bowl. Father in heaven! Thou who so oft hast healed the broken-hearted, Down to the deep abyss of dark despair. Father in heaven! Oh, grant to his most cherished hopes a blessing- Let guardian angels watch his lonely bed. Father in heaven! Oh, may his heart be stayed on thee! each feeling And may that faith the joys of heaven revealing Till he shall praise thy name in realms above. TWO PORTRAITS FROM LIFE. I. On, what a timid watch young Love was keeping When thou wert fashioned in such gentle guise! How was thy nature nursed with secret sighs! What bitter tears thy mother's heart was steeping! Within the crystal depths of thy blue eyes A world of troubled tenderness lies sleeping, And on thy full and glowing lip there lies A shadow that portends thee future weeping. Tender and self-distrustful--doubting still Thyself, but trusting all the world beside, Blessing with woman's softness manhood's pride, II. PROUD, self-sustained and fearless! dreading naught From the high dreams that cluster round thy head: I know not what thy future lot may be, But, when men gather to a new crusade Against earth's falsehood, wrong, and tyranny, Thou wilt be there with all thy strength displayedThy voice clear-ringing mid the conflict's roar, And on thy banner, writ in stars, "Excelsior!?" SYMPATHY. LIKE the sweet melody which faintly lingers So the calm voice of sympathy meseemeth; But vain such dreams while pain my bosom thrilleth, E'en friendship's alchemy no balm distilleth, |