THE STAR OF THE MINE.

So shall deep quiet fill thy breast,
A joy in wood and wild;-
And e'en for this I call thee blest,
The gentle poet's child!

159

THE STAR OF THE MINE.

FROM the deep chambers of a mine,
With heavy gloom o'erspread,
I saw a star at noontide shine,
Serenely o'er my head.

I had not seen it 'midst the glow
Of the rich upper day;
But in that shadowy world below,
How my heart bless'd its ray!

And still, the farther from my sight
Torches and lamps were borne,
The purer, lovelier, seem'd the light
That wore its beams unshorn.

Oh! what is like that heavenly spark?
-A friend's kind steadfast eye;

Where, brightest when the world grows dark,
Hope, cheer, and comfort lie!

WASHINGTON'S STATUE.

SENT FROM ENGLAND TO AMERICA.

YES! rear thy guardian hero's form
On thy proud soil, thou western world!
A watcher through each sign of storm,
O'er freedom's flag unfurl'd.

There, as before a shrine, to bow,
Bid thy true sons their children lead:
The language of that noble brow
For all things good shall plead.

The spirit rear'd in patriot fight,

The virtue born of home and hearth,
There calmly throned, a holy light
Shall pour o'er chainless earth.

And let that work of England's hand,
Sent through the blast and surge's roar,
So girt with tranquil glory stand,
For ages on thy shore!

Such, through all time, the greetings be That with the Atlantic billow sweep!

Telling the mighty and the free

Of brothers o'er the deep.

TO THE MEMORY OF A SISTER-IN-LAW. 161

A THOUGHT OF HOME AT SEA.

WRITTEN FOR MUSIC.

'Tis lone on the waters

When eve's mournfull bell

Sends forth to the sunset
A note of farewell;

When, borne with the shadows
And winds as they sweep,
There comes a fond memory
Of home o'er the deep;

When the wing of the sea-bird
Is turn'd to her nest,
And the thought of the sailor
To all he loves best!

'Tis lone on the waters-
That hour hath a spell-
To bring back sweet voices,
With words of farewell!

TO THE MEMORY OF A SISTER-IN-LAW.

WE miss thy voice while early flowers are blowing, And the first flush of blossom clothes each bough, And the Spring sunshine round our home is glowing Soft as thy smile. Thou should'st be with us now.

With us? we wrong thee by the earthly thought. Could our fond gaze but follow where thou art, Well might the glories of this world seem nought To the one promise given the pure in heart.

Yet wert thou blest e'en here-oh! ever blest
In thine own sunny thoughts and tranquil faith!
The silent joy that still o'erflow'd thy breast,
Needed but guarding from all change, by death.

So is it seal'd to peace!-on thy clear brow
Never was care one fleeting shade to cast;
And thy calm days in brightness were to flow,
A holy stream, untroubled to the last.

Farewell! thy life hath left surviving love

A wealth of records, and sweet "feelings given," From sorrow's heart the faintness to remove,

By whispers breathing "less of earth than heaven.””

Thus rests thy spirit still on those with whom
Thy step the paths of joyous duty trod,
Bidding them make an altar of thy tomb,

Where chasten'd thought may offer praise to God.
April 1826.

'Alluding to the lines she herself quoted but an hour before her death:

"Some feelings are to mortals given,

With less of earth in them than heaven."

TO AN ORPHAN.

163

TO AN ORPHAN.

THOU hast been rear'd too tenderly,
Beloved too well and long,

Watch'd by too many a gentle eye-
Now look on life-be strong!

Too quiet seem'd thy joys for change,
Too holy and too deep;

Bright clouds, through summer skies that range,
Seem oft-times thus to sleep:-

To sleep in silvery stillness bound,
As things that ne'er may melt;
Yet gaze again-no trace is found
To show thee where they dwelt.

This world hath no more love to give
Like that which thou hast known;
Yet the heart breaks not—we survive
Our treasures-and bear on.

But oh! too beautiful and blest

Thy home of youth hath been!
Where shall thy wing, poor bird, find rest,
Shut out from that sweet scene?

Kind voices from departed years

Must haunt thee many a day;

Looks that will smite the source of tears,
Across thy soul must play.