"T is said that in the olden time Upon that spot a fearful crime

Of blood and wrong was wrought; And that in after-years there came A gray-haired man, bowed low with shame, Its faded trace who sought.

Here, 'mid repentance deep, and prayers,
He raised this cross, bedewed with tears,
And sighs in anguish given;

And pious pilgrims bend the knee,
Whene'er the sacred sign they see,
In prayer for one in Heaven!

But be the legend false or true,
Who feel not, as this cross they view,
Emotions strong arise?

And filled with hope, or bowed in fear,
Who lifts not in devotion here

The heart beyond the skies?

On Life's highway, who hath not known Some cross, all unexpected shown,

His heedless course to stay? And as the chastened spirit knelt, Like a peace-messenger hath felt The hallowed sign, to pray?

Sustaining grace who hath not found,
When like this vine the cross around
Each bitter grief was flung?

Its apex pointing to the sky,

Hath raised the drooping soul on high,
Which firmly to it clung.

Symbol of shame! whereon once died
The Lord of Life, with thieves beside,
And scoffing crowds below;

How changed thy destiny, since He,
To whom all nations bow the knee,
Was doomed thy pangs to know!

Symbol of Glory! now we turn
To countless spires on which upborne
Thy golden beauty plays;

Beneath the sun's meridian light,
Or through the starry veil of night,
And mark thy beacon rays,

Guiding the faithful near or far,
And shining now, as shone the star
Of Bethlehem, when of yore

The sages of the ancient days,
With firm resolve and steadfast gaze,
Followed its mystic lore.

They knew the holy herald led,
Though resting o'er a lowly shed,
To life's true source, within;
And urged by faith, impelled by love,
They strove the precious boon to prove,
Cleansing the soul from sin.

And taught by him* whose simplest word
Conviction won from all who heard,

a

We learn to honor thee;

The Cross of Christ, the crucified,

Our only hope, our only pride,
Our only glory be!

Hail, blesséd symbol of the faith,
Whose precepts o'er life's pilgrim hath
An influence strong as pure!
Bidding each wayward passion cease,
While to the careworn comes thy peace,
In hopes that must endure.

When danger frights, and courage fails,
And tempting vice the soul assails,
And years their trials bring,
Oh, how the faithful spirit yearns
In fondness to the cross, and turns,
Thus vine-like, there to cling!

Then gladly on his weary way,
Here let the traveller pause, and pay
The homage of his prayers;
For to his soul like landmarks given,
Guiding his wandering steps to heaven,
Each wayside cross appears.

* St. Paul.

THE CHILD AND THE CLOCK.

Child. "Tick! tick! How ye fly,
Little seconds, passing by!

Won't ye stop and tell me why?"

Clock. "Hearken to the song we sing,
While upon life's restless wing;
To your soul 't will wisdom bring!"

Child. "Tick! tick! close behind ye,

Time, with scythe and spear, to find ye
Speeds as though to catch, and bind ye!"

Clock. "Time is but a lazy pace,

He is weary of the chase,

We are fresh upon the race!"

Child. "Tick! tick! still ye fly,

Up and onward to the sky,
Where the stars in glory lie!"

Clock. "Farther than the stars we go,
Farther leave this world below:
Follow, if our course you'd know."

Child. "Tick! tick! Far above

Seem your twinkling wings to move
To the halls of Hope and Love!"

Clock. "Yes! To God we lift our flight;
Soon we'll leave you out of sight:
Follow, to the Throne of Light!"

Child. "They have gone! and never more
Come they back, but on before
Calling me, aloft they soar;

Bearing to the eyes of Love
All they witness as they rove,
Seeming thus in sport to move;

While upon the tale they show,
Everlasting weal or woe,

Many a throbbing heart shall know.

Little seconds aggregate

Till they reach a fearful weight,

On whose record, rests our Fate!"

A

JULIA PLEASANTS CRESWELL.

WONDERFULLY clever writer!" exclaimed a noted critic,

one who was well acquainted with her writings. The poetry of Mrs. Creswell is full of sweetness and gentleness; and, as has been said of Felicia Hemans's poetry, so can we truly say of the verse of the subject of this notice, viz.: "That it is of a soft, subdued enthusiasm, breathing, moreover, throughout such a trusting and affectionate spirit, that it must ever find a welcome and a rest in all true, loving hearts." Mrs. Creswell has a right to expect an inheritance of talent on both sides of her house. Her father belonged to the Pleasants family, of Virginia, which has contributed several distinguished names to the annals of that State. John Hampton Pleasants, of Richmond, who fell in the famous Ritchie duel; Governor James Pleasants, among the dead; and Hugh R. Pleasants, among the living, are not unknown to fame. The Pleasants are from Norfolk, an old family of England, which I judge, from its recurring in the pages of Macaulay and other historians occasionally, maintained an honorable position centuries back. The first emigrants to this country embraced the tenets of William Penn, and for more than a hundred years his numerous descendants, who have spread all over the United States, preserved that faith. Everything concerning the history of so gifted a woman as Julia Pleasants Creswell is interesting, and the following, relating to her ancestors, is of interest: "John Pleasants," says my Virginia correspondent, "emigrated to this country in the year 1665, the 'animus mirabilis' of Dryden, and settled in the county of Henrico. He left two sons: the younger inherited the estate called Pickernockie, now owned by Boyd and Edmond, on the Chickahominy. From this his descendants were called 'Pickanockies.'

From this younger branch of the family sprung the names I have mentioned above. The Pleasants blood has been blent with some of the finest old families in Virginia-the Jeffersons, the Randolphs, the Madisons.

Says my correspondent: "The family have generally been very hon

est people, and quite remarkable for intelligence; very few of them, however, have been distinguished in public life, their besetting sins being indolence and diffidence!"

Tarleton Pleasants, Mrs. Creswell's grandfather, was a highly educated and accomplished gentleman, to judge from his finely written letters. He was ninety-four years old when he died. His means were limited, and Mrs. Creswell's father left his home in Hanover county at the age of sixteen to push his own fortunes. He sojourned awhile in the Old Dominion State as printer's boy, and then as sub-editor. The Territory of Alabama was then attracting the Western world, and he went thither, landing at Huntsville, one of the earliest settlers. His popular manners won him golden opinions from all, and he was elected to the office of Secretary of State, Thomas Bibb being at that time Governor of the State. Mr. Pleasants married the second daughter of the Governor.

Julia was the second child of the marriage. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Pleasants abandoned politics, and engaged in mercantile life. Ex-Governor Bibb owned immense estates, and Julia was, so to speak, reared in the lap of luxury. Mr. Pleasants wrote with ease and facility, having a fondness for the pursuit. From childhood Julia was fond of fashioning her thoughts in rhyme, and her father fostered the inclination. He was especially solicitous to secure to his children all the advantages of which, in some measure, his own youth had been deprived, and Julia was indeed fortunate in having for eight years the instruction of a very superior woman. With pleasure I give the meed of praise to one of the many teachers with whom "teaching" is a noble employment, not mere drudgery, who deserve a great reward for their well-doing, albeit they seldom receive it in this life. Miss Swift (from Middleton, Vermont) was a remarkable woman who always acted on the broad ground that learning is dear for itself alone; and in her admirable school no prizes were held out to cause heart-burnings and deception-no dreadful punishments to intimidate the fearful and appall the wicked. The consciousness of having done well was the only reward, and the sweet satisfaction of knowledge gained the happiness. Miss Swift was selected by Governor Slade, of New York, to take charge of a Normal school, designed for the education of teachers for Oregon. Says Charles Lanman, in his "Adventures in the Wilds of America" 2 vols. 1854-alluding to the sub

ject of this sketch :

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