LOVE'S GENTLE HINT

May we live long to love, and have cause to love those for whom we long to live.

THOUGH Constant as the gentle dove

My loved one may appear;
Though when he speaks, his actions prove

That every word's sincere ;

Yet, as each moment that we live
Takes something from our youth,
At love's sweet shrine, O take and give
The recompense of truth!

Young Cupid feels a fond delight
Poor mortals to mislead;

But Hymen, with a constant light,
Rewards them in his stead.

By him relieved from anxious care,
We safely may repose;

But all our hopes a thorn must bear,
Till Hymen guards the rose.

LOVE'S RETURN.

Ar length they coldly met to part;

No love was in his eye

O! give me, give me back my heart,"
Was all that she could cry.

"In happy days, alas, gone by!

You breathed a loving vow;

(All fond and trusting then was I),
Do you forswear it now?"

She gazed upon his well-known form,

And on his cold, calm eye;

"O! give me back my whole, whole heart,"
Was all that she could cry.

He gave her back some trifling toys;

་་

A braid-
-a lock of hair-

"O! can you give me back my heart?"

She cried, in love's despair!

The gentle moon was shining down,
As the sweet moon only can;

And showed the lovers there estranged-
The maiden and the man.

"O! Edward, can you leave me so ?"

The maid heard no reply;

But saw that love was kindling
In the glances of his eye.

Why should just then, à friendly cloud,
The silver moon obscure ?

I thought I saw a fond embrace;
'Twas dark, I was not sure.

Again the gentle moon shone fair,
As the sweet moon only can;

The clock struck twelve; but still were there
The maiden and the man.

DISAPPOINTMENT.

SHE is gazing on the road-side,
She is looking o'er the lawn,
At the dim and distant cloud-line
Into which he long hath gone;
There are tears beneath her eyelids,
There are murmurs in her sighs,
And she thinks upon his promises,
And tears stand in her eyes.

All the flowers of spring have withered, All the meadow-furze turned brown, And the skies that first were tinted, Have been clouded with a frown; Gorgeous dyes of golden autumn

Have been hung upon the trees, And a whisper of deep sadness

Courses in every sighing breeze.

He hath said that when the hill-sides
Have grown golden with the corn;
And the tall and crowding tree-tops
Worn the colours of the dawn,-

He would cease then from his roving,
He would cease for evermore.

And return unto the maiden

That still loved him as before.

And her heart remembers sadly,
Every syllable that fell,
Like a true and trusty promise,

On the ear that heard it well;-
Therefore gazes she in silence,
Far across the distant lawn,—
Therefore peers into the cloud-line
Where her lover long hath gone.

But, alas! the shadows gather,

And the even's pall drops down,
And the ever-trusting maiden

Sees her helpless hopes all drown; Tears are streaming from her eyelids, Sobs are breaking from her breast, And she turns her sad way homeward, With her anxious fears oppressed.

THE LAST APPEAL.

Is there no hope? the convict cried
Within this narrow cell;

Must I within these gloomy walls
For ever, ever dwell?

Ah no, it cannot, cannot be

I must not perish here;

For one on earth does love me yet,

And that one is most dear.

Her thoughts are here within these walls, To cheer the convict's heart;

And nought but death-cold, bitter death, Can sever us apart.

Say, can I hope with unstained heart,

To e'er again be free?

Ah, yet there's one bright "star of hope," That "star of hope," is thee.

Could I but see again that face

Which beamed with hope and love,
Then would my heart be gladdened, girl,
Be gladdened by thy love.

"SMILE AGAIN."

SMILE again, for thy smile's like the brilliant glow,
Of the southern sun at the noontide hour,

As it flashes o'er waters that sparkling flow,
Or glows mid the flowers of the orange bower.

Thus sunshine for ever shall rest on the heart
That is blest with the smiles of thy love;
And the gladness of heart shall never depart,
Till exchanged for the glories above.

Then smile yet again, and the heart will forget
Earth's sorrows, its cares, and its fears;
"Twill forget that there is aught on earth for it yet,
But gladness, unmingled with tears.

TURN NOT AWAY!

TURN not away! I will not speak
The tender words of vanished years;
The roses slumbering on thy cheek
I will not wet again with tears.

My heart, poor foolish thing, shall not
Murmur again its useless prayer
To one who has its sighs forgot,
The breathings of its wild despair.

I will forget departed hours,

When our young bosoms heaved to love, As 'neath the vine-encircled bowers,

We watched the glittering worlds above.

But should my feeble brain give way,
And swear from thee it cannot part;
Thou must forgive the simple lay,

That wanders from a withered heart.

I know at times it will return,
To look within thy tender eyes,
As flowers their thirsty petals turn
To greet the raindrop in the skies.

And when I see thy tresses wave,
Like silken threads, upon the air,
Condemn me not, if still I brave
The anger of a breast so fair.

Think of the vow you murmured, when
Love's fond affection seemed to end;
You could not love, you said, but then
You e'er would own me as a friend.

I ask no more-till something new
Fans into fire the smothered flame;
That something will proceed from you---
Then blame not if I love again.

AMORE INFELICE.

LIKE a flash that lights the welkin,
Like a star whose course has 1 in,
Hope came into my spirit-
It came, and it has gone!
Like the torch of life extinguished,
Or a star sunk in the main,
Hope in my lonely spirit

Will never burn again.
Within the breast new passions
In after time may burn;
But first love's might and beauty
Can never more return.

Oft, on the brightest morning,
The gathering storm will lower,

Oft lingering winter seizes

The spring's first opening flower.

Thus doth the meteor wildly soar,

Then sink into the main;

Thus Love may light his bright torch once,

Yet light it not again;

And hope, that lives through many a night,

May thus expire in gloom,

And the heart that swells with youth's warm blood Find but a living tomb.