Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

Hush! again, like waves, retreating

To the shore, it dies along:
Jubilate, Amen.

LOVE AND THE SUN-DIAL.

OUNG Love found a Dial once, in a dark shade,
Where man ne'er had wander'd nor sunbeam

66

play'd;

Why thus in darkness lie," whisper'd young
Love;

"Thou, whose gay hours in sunshine should move?”
"I ne'er," said the Dial, "have seen the warm sun,
So noonday and midnight to me, Love, are one."

Then Love took the Dial away from the shade,
And placed her where Heaven's beam warmly play'd.
There she reclined, beneath Love's gazing eye,
While, mark'd all with sunshine, her hours flew by.

66

Oh, how," said the Dial, " can any fair maid, "That's born to be shone upon, rest in the shade ?"

But night now comes on, and the sunbeam's o'er, And Love stops to gaze on the Dial no more. Alone and neglected, while bleak rain and winds Are storming around her, with sorrow she finds That Love had but number'd a few sunny hours, Then left the remainder to darkness and showers!

OH, SOON RETURN.

UR white sail caught the ev'ning ray,

The wave beneath us seem'd to burn,
When all the weeping maid could say
Was, "Oh, soon return!"

Through many a clime our ship was driven,
O'er many a billow rudely thrown;
Now chill'd beneath a northern heaven,
Now sunn'd in summer's zone:

And still, where'er we bent our way,

When evening bid the west wave burn,

I fancied still I heard her say, "Oh, soon return!"

If ever yet my bosom found

Its thoughts one moment turn'd from thee, 'Twas when the combat raged around,

And brave men look'd to me.

But though the war-field's wild alarm
For gentle Love was all unmeet,
He lent to Glory's brow the charm,

Which made even danger sweet.

And still, when vict'ry's calm came o'er

The hearts where rage had ceased to burn, Those parting words I heard once more, "Oh, soon return!-Oh, soon return!"

[graphic]
[graphic][merged small]

OW dear to me the hour when daylight dies,
And sunbeams melt along the silent sea;

For then sweet dreams of other days arise,
And memory breathes her vesper sigh to thee.

And, as I watch the line of light that plays

Along the smooth wave tow'rd the burning west,

I long to tread that golden path of rays,

And think 't would lead to some bright isle of rest.

A TEMPLE TO FRIENDSHIP.

(SPANISH AIR.)

TEMPLE to Friendship," said Laura, enchanted, "I'll build in this garden,-the thought is

divine!"

Her temple was built, and she now only wanted An image of Friendship to place on the shrine. She flew to a sculptor, who set down before her

A Friendship, the fairest his heart could invent; But so cold and so dull, that the youthful adorer Saw plainly this was not the idol she meant.

66

Oh! never," she cried, "could I think of enshrining
An image whose looks are so joyless and dim ;-

But yon little god, upon roses reclining,

We'll make, if you please, Sir, a Friendship of him." So the bargain was struck; with the little god laden She joyfully flew to her shrine in the grove : "Farewell," said the sculptor, "you're not the first maiden Who came but for Friendship and took away Love."

« VorigeDoorgaan »