M^^^- 
 

POEMS 
 
POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLI x\M BELCHER GLAZIER 
 
 HALLO WELL: 
 MASTERS, SMITH AND COMPANY, 
 
 ]\IDCCCLIII. 
 
T5 n4i 
 
 Entkkkd according to act of Congress, in tlic year l85xJ, 
 
 By WILLIAM B. GLAZIER, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Maine. 
 
TO 
 
 CHARLES COPELAND NUTTER, 
 
 I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME IN MEMORY OF AN OLD AND 
 
 UNFAILING FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 1* 
 
V 
 
INDEX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE HOSTEL 13 
 
 THE WILLOW BY THE BROOK ...... 20 
 
 SPRING VIOLETS 23 
 
 THE OLD man's CHRISTMAS REVERIE .... 26 
 
 NEARER TO THEE - 31 
 
 THE RIVER OF SLEEP 34 
 
 SNOW 36 
 
 FEVER 38 
 
 AT SEA 41 
 
 THE STATESMAN 43 
 
Vlll INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE EARLIEST IDOL . . , 45 
 
 PEMMAQUID LIGHT . 48 
 
 SOXXET TO A SWEET SINGER 51 
 
 grandmother's BIRTHDAY ...... 52 
 
 MARY 57 
 
 THE HUNTER 59 
 
 VALVINUM 62 
 
 SHE SLEEPS 65 
 
 FAIRY LAND 67 
 
 love's ANSWER 71 
 
 LOST ALICE 74 
 
 THE ITALIAN ORGAN PLAYER'S VESPERS . . . . 77 
 
 POOR ROVER 80 
 
 ADIEU Si 
 
 COLLEGE FRIENDS 83 
 
 love's dawn . 85 
 
 AN ORISON OF ABELARD 87 
 
INDEX. 
 
 IX 
 
 IX ABSENCE 
 
 BOTHWELL 
 
 VALENTINE 
 
 LEAVES AND HEARTS 
 
 THE CREMATION 
 
 THE ROSARY 
 
 CAPE- COTTAGE AT SUNSET 
 
 THY NAME 
 
 TO ONE AWAY 
 
 LAUNCHING 
 
 TO E. G. H., AN INFANT 
 
 OUR FLAG 
 
 THE HEALTH 
 
 THE SEA-SIDE 
 
INDEX 
 
 V.'EET THOU BUT 5IIXE 
 
 THE FLEMING S TRUE LOVE 
 
 LAXD-BREEZES 
 
 THE LOST PLEIAD 
 
 LITTLE XELL 
 
 A VAIN REQUEST 
 
 THE CHURCH-YARD AT HOME 
 
 THE LEE-SHORE 
 
 MARY S WALK 
 
 L EXVOY 
 
POEMS 
 
POEMS 
 
 THE HOSTEL. 
 
 Long ago in merry England, 
 
 Sheltered from the dust and heat 
 
 By old elms, a quiet Hostel 
 
 Near the road-side wooed retreat. 
 
 At the door a sign was swinging, 
 Blazoned with a quaint device, 
 
 Telling how good cheer and lodging 
 Might be had for little price. 
 
 'Neath its eaves the dripping water. 
 In a trough fell bright and chill, 
 
 There the panting, wearied horses 
 Of the wagoner drank their fill. 
 2 
 
14 THE HOSTED. 
 
 There the host, so red and burly, 
 
 Drew for all a cheering draught, 
 
 There the traveler, tired and dusty, 
 From the foaming flagon quaffed. 
 
 'Round the walls were hung the tankards. 
 
 Filled so oft with mighty ale, 
 On whose burnished sides the firelight 
 
 Fitfully would flash and fail. 
 
 And from old and oaken rafters, 
 Joints and flhches thickly hung, 
 
 There the pilgrim, faint and hungry, 
 Often longing glances flung. 
 
 Many a time to jovial carols, 
 
 Shook the windows, shook the floor, 
 Many a time the host so burly, 
 
 Ne'er till daybreak barred his door. 
 
 Once, a troop of weary travelers, 
 Faint and failing on the road, 
 
 Saw how, on the Hostel windows, 
 Red the summer sunset glowed. 
 
THE HOSTEL. 15 
 
 At the old and much worn door-sill 
 
 Stood the host, whose shining face, 
 
 Flushed and ruddy as the sunset, 
 
 Had for them a wondrous srace. 
 
 Frank and hearty was his greeting, 
 
 And they 'lighted from their steeds, 
 
 Entered in the ancient Hostel, 
 
 Pressed its floor bestrewn with reeds. 
 
 Then was broached the oldest hogshead. 
 Then was served the choicest fare. 
 
 Then arose the jest and laughter, 
 Then was stifled every care. 
 
 They were guests of different station. 
 Knight and yeoman, rich and poor. 
 
 But the grades of rank and riches 
 Vanished at the Hostel door. 
 
 There they sat until the shadows 
 
 Lengthened of the elm trees old, 
 
 There they sat until the moonrise 
 
 Made the tankards shine like gold. 
 
16 THE HOSTEL. 
 
 Timidly the door was opened. 
 
 And a vagrant minstrel pressed. 
 
 With a faltering step, the threshold, 
 Seeking shelter, seeking rest. 
 
 But a stalwart knight, arising, 
 
 Said " Sir Minstrel, never fear ! 
 
 Enter in and sit beside us, 
 
 Thou art gladly welcome here." 
 
 He was young and slightly fashioned. 
 With a face, as woman's, fair, 
 
 And adown his neck and shoulders. 
 Fell his long and golden hair. 
 
 Then they placed him at their table. 
 Gave to him the highest seat, 
 
 Filled for him the foaming flagon. 
 Set before him wine and meat. 
 
 There he sat amid the yeomen, 
 
 'Mid the Knights so stout and tall. 
 
 And his soft and wondrous beauty 
 Fell, like sunshine, on them all. 
 
THE HOSTEL. 
 
 Lovingly the moonlight lingered 
 O'er his long and waving hair, 
 
 Stealing on his gentle features, 
 
 Making fairness still more fair. 
 
 But at length their meal was ended, 
 And they made him this request, 
 
 *' Sing to us, oh gentle Minstrel, 
 Sing, before we go to rest." 
 
 In his hand his harp is lying, 
 
 O'er its strings his fingers sweep, 
 
 And the music that had slumbered 
 In its chords awakes from sleep. 
 
 Then his voice with it is blended, 
 Laden with a warlike strain. 
 
 How the flower of England's warriors 
 Conquered on the battle plain. 
 
 Close liis listeners press around him. 
 
 For, within each good knight's breast, 
 
 Memories of hard fought battles 
 Waken from their wild unrest. 
 2* 
 
18 THE HOSTEL. 
 
 Now his strain is lower, sweeter, 
 
 Love is lingering on the strings, 
 
 'Tis a tale of burning passion, 
 
 That the vagrant minstrel sings. 
 
 And from many a quivering eyelid, 
 And on many a manly cheek. 
 
 Falls the tear that tells their secret, 
 Secret that they may not speak. 
 
 Slower, slower steals the measure, 
 And, amid the breathless calm, 
 
 From his harp ascends to Heaven, 
 A devout and holy psalm. 
 
 Then is traced upon each bosom 
 Of the cross the holy sign, 
 
 Then awaken in each spirit, 
 
 Yearnings sacred and divine. 
 
 And the moonlight filled the Hostel, 
 With a strange and solemn light ;. 
 
 With its rays the music mingled, 
 Making mystical the night.. 
 
THE HOSTEL. 19 
 
 Ceased the minstrel ; but the echoes 
 Yet were throbbing in the room, 
 
 As when after flowers are withered, 
 Still there lingers their perfume. 
 
 Ere his listeners knew his absence. 
 
 From their midst the bard had gone, 
 
 Passed across the much worn door-sill. 
 Went out in the night alone. 
 
 O'er the guests of that old Hostel, 
 Fell, that night, a sleep serene, 
 
 And the memory of the minstrel 
 
 In their hearts, till death, was green. 
 
 Thus, along life's weary journey. 
 
 Song, a gift from Heaven, is thrown, 
 
 Strong to rouse each generous passion, 
 Sweet in memory when 'tis flown. 
 
THE WILLOW BY THE BROOK, 
 
 Still it groweth with golden branches, 
 In that quiet, shadowy nook, 
 
 Still it bendeth to kiss the water, 
 When by the west wind shook, 
 
 Still the wealth of Summer is lavished 
 On that Willow bv the Brook. 
 
 Long ago I lingered beneath it, 
 
 When my cheek was hot with youth, 
 Ere Falsehood and Change had entered 
 
 In the field of Love and Truth, 
 Ere my spirit became a gleaner 
 
 For the scattered ears, like Ruth. 
 
 It was through your pendulous branches, 
 
 In a blessed night of June, 
 That the beautiful stars of evening, 
 
THE WILLOW BY THE BROOK. 21 
 
 As they heralded the moon, 
 Saw a hope in my heart arising, 
 A hope that set too soon. 
 
 Softly, softly hurried the waters 
 As they sought the silent lea ; 
 
 They were bearing upon their bosom 
 A blossom dropped from thee, 
 
 In my heart a current was flowing 
 That bore how much from me ! 
 
 Is there never a word of warning 
 
 That can come from lifeless things ? 
 
 Must the flower that tells your passion 
 Ne'er breathe the woe it brings ? 
 
 Why did not your boughs, Oh Willow ! 
 Fold me 'round like Angel wings ? 
 
 Though the hand was clasping and gentle. 
 And the lip was soft and sweet, 
 
 Though the heart was hastily throbbing, 
 That upon my bosom beat. 
 
 Why was not that brook a barrier 
 Over which we might not meet ? 
 
22 THE WILLOW BY THE BROOK. 
 
 Years have vanished, but yet the willow 
 Is fringed as then with leaves, 
 
 Still, through its tremulous branches, 
 Shadow with sunlight weaves, 
 
 And the brook, those branches caressing, 
 Still over its pebbles grieves. 
 
 And the bees in the innermost foliage, 
 Make a pleasant dreamy sound ; 
 
 In the heart of every blossom 
 
 They have stores of richness found ; 
 
 And they fly but slowly homeward 
 With their fruit of labor crowned. 
 
 So, amid thy leaves, Oh Willow ! 
 
 Does Memory's music ring, 
 And under thy drooping branches, 
 
 I feel once more life's spring, 
 And dreams of the Past to my spirit 
 
 Their fragrant treasures bring. 
 
SPRING VIOLETS. 
 
 What tender thoughts around the heart will cling ! 
 
 What memories the spirit will beset ! 
 Whene'er we find the nursling of the Spring, 
 
 Its first, young Violet. 
 
 Dear prophet of the Summer time thou art. 
 
 And, though the April wind is bleak and cold, 
 
 A ray of sunshine glances through my heart, 
 Shot from thy leaves' blue fold. 
 
 The gaudier rose hath not put forth her buds. 
 The buttercup is no where seen to bloom, 
 
 Undecked by leaves still stand the wintry woods, 
 But thou, the meek, hast come ! 
 
24 
 
 SPRING VIOLETS. 
 
 How hast thou borne in all thy gentleness, 
 
 The clouds and rain that frowned upon thy birth, 
 
 And yet, unwithered, kept thy power to bless 
 The weary ones of Earth ? 
 
 Who loves thee not ? — the sturdy son of toil 
 Gazes with fondness in thine upturned eye. 
 
 And, where thy quiet beauty glads the soil, 
 His step goes lightly by. 
 
 Let him, worn down with manhood's strivings, say 
 If thy calm beauty, pure and undefiled, 
 
 Recalleth not the happy, heedless day 
 He plucked thee, when a child. 
 
 How oft hast thou become to loving hearts, 
 A symbol of their passion and desire, 
 
 To such thy very timidness imparts 
 Strength to their hidden fire. 
 
 For, in thy soft and fragile beauty, they. 
 
 As in a vision, see the loved one's charm, — 
 
 " This hue but mimics her sweet eye," they say, 
 " This gracefulness her form." 
 
SPRING VIOLETS. 25 
 
 A lesson to my spirit thou dost bring, 
 
 Sweet Violet ! wet with April's fickle shower, 
 The heart, like Earth, must ever have its spring. 
 
 And Love is its first flower. 
 
 Long ere Ambition opes its gaudy flowers. 
 
 Ere Worldly Pleasures waft their sweet perfume. 
 
 Or buds of memory burst 'neath sorrow's showers, 
 Thou, first, fond Love ! dost bloom. 
 
 Thy petals may be wet with bitter tears. 
 
 Thy leaves be ruflled by the saddest sighs. 
 
 And still thy blossom timidly uproars 
 Beneath the darkest skies. 
 
 And, from that blossom, in the starless night. 
 
 Gleams out a promise of Hope's cloudless noon. 
 
 Thus trembles in the Eastern skies the light 
 Of the unrisen moon. 
 
 Still bloom, ye Violets ! and make glad the earth 
 With blest foreshadowings of sunny days. 
 
 Still in the heart, oh First Love ! may thy birth 
 A light in darkness raise. 
 3 
 
THE OLD MAN'S CHRISTMAS REVERIE. 
 
 I'm getting old, the locks that once about my temples 
 
 curled, 
 Are growing thin and silvery with much rubbing 'gainst 
 
 the world ; 
 And there are wrinkles on my brow, and crows-feet 'round 
 
 my eyes, 
 Enough to give to me the look of being old and wise ; 
 And yet, when Christmas comes along with all its mirth 
 
 and joy, 
 Upon my word, I can't resist this feeling like a boy ; 
 The same old passions waken at the belfry's merry chime. 
 That stirred me fifty years ago at happy Christmas time. 
 
 How still the snow is falling, and how lightly it comes 
 
 down, 
 And covers with a stainless sheet the landscape dull and 
 
 brown ; 
 
THE OLD MAN S CHRISTiMAS REVERIE. )i i 
 
 But stiller and more lightly fell the snow of age on me, 
 And it covers with as chill a sheet Life's sere and withered 
 
 tree ; 
 The summer sun shall bare the Earth and bid its blossoms 
 
 blow, 
 No sun of youth can ever melt Time's frost from off my 
 
 brow ; 
 But what of that, my heart ne'er felt of age the winter 
 
 time, 
 For it beats as fast as ever at the merry Christmas chime. 
 
 I remember, when a restless boy, I used to count the days 
 Before, whhin the fire place huge, the Christmas log would 
 
 blaze ; 
 How countless pies and mighty joints would crowd my 
 
 busy dreams. 
 And Christmas sports would ever fill my school-indited 
 
 themes ; 
 How, early in the morning, while the night still fought 
 
 with day, 
 I arose, and sought the chambers, where my elders, 
 
 slumbering, lay, 
 And shouted out a fragment of some rough and ancient 
 
 rhyme 
 " Awake, nor longer slumber, for 'tis happy Christmas 
 
 time." 
 
28 THE OLD man's CHRISTMAS REVERIE, 
 
 When boyhood fled and youth came on, then Christmas 
 day to me 
 
 Still brought its old delights again, still wore its look of 
 glee; 
 
 But stormier passions svv'ept my soul and love was in my 
 heart, 
 
 A love that maketh even now my memory's dearest part ; 
 
 The mistletoe hung on the wall, and, in the firelight's flush, 
 
 A gentle maiden turned her lips to mine with many a 
 blush ; 
 
 Its branches waved above us and aroused a love sublime 
 
 That erst had slumbered in my heart till that sweet Christ- 
 mas time. 
 
 Years spent on land and sea rolled by, and home again 
 
 once more. 
 And kindly hearts and welcome hands still met me at the 
 
 door; 
 But there was one whose gentle cheek grew crimson at my 
 
 voice, 
 Whose low, soft tones of greeting made my heart the most 
 
 rejoice ; 
 The same old revels came again, but with a holier joy 
 Than that which filled my spirit when a wild and wanton 
 
 boy; 
 
THE OLD man's CHRISTMAS REVERIE. 29 
 
 For at home I found a treasure that enriched no other 
 
 clime, 
 And I won, as well as wooed my bride, at happy Christmas 
 
 time. 
 
 Another Christmas came apace, but came 'mid storm and 
 snow. 
 
 And a chilling sense of sorrow was upon my pulse's flow ; 
 
 For my heart's sweet flower was blighted, my light of life 
 had fled, 
 
 The bride I won at Christmas time, at Christmas time was 
 dead ; 
 
 The house was hushed with loneliness, no sound of mirth 
 was there. 
 
 And in its place there only rose the low sob of despair ; 
 
 But my breaking heart felt lighter at the old bell's joyous 
 chime. 
 
 For I thought of Him. who came to save, of old, at Christ- 
 mas time. 
 
 Time lightens every sorrow, and, although it still remained. 
 The memory of the lost one no more my spirit pained ; 
 And as each Christmas came along, when, gathered 'round 
 the board 
 
 3* 
 
30 THE OLD man's CHRISTMAS REVERIE. 
 
 We prolonged the merry carol, or exchanged the friendly 
 
 word, 
 I filled a cup in silence, and drained it with a tear. 
 To her, who, now an angel, had on earth been very dear ; 
 And then the happy influence of the belfry's merry chime 
 Came o'er me like a blessing, and I blessed the Christmas 
 
 time. 
 
 We have grown old together, dear friend, and we have 
 known 
 
 No coldness in each other's hearts, or in each other's tone ; 
 
 There have many sunk beside us who in youth were gay 
 as we. 
 
 And we hang upon Life's branches like those dry leaves 
 on that tree ; 
 
 This Christmas day may be our last, so pile the blazing 
 fire, 
 
 Fill up the quaint old tankard, and draw each other nigher ; 
 
 And list the toast I give you, " May the old bell's joyous 
 chime 
 
 Ne'er fall on hearts less glad than ours at this sweet Christ- 
 mas time !" 
 
NEARER TO THEE. 
 
 Years, years have fled, since, hushed in thy last slunibor, 
 They laid thee down beneath the old elm tree ; 
 
 But with a patient heart each day I number, 
 Because it brings me nearer still to thee. 
 
 The twilight comes and robes in softened splendor 
 All that is beautiful on land or sea, 
 
 And o'er my spirit flings an influence tender, 
 For in that hour I nearer seem to thee. 
 
 The night is gone, and, as the mists of morning 
 Before the Day God's burning presence flee. 
 
 Then in my heart a welcome light is dawning. 
 That cheers me as I nearer press to thee. 
 
32 NEARER TO THEE. 
 
 I sometimes think thy spirit kindly watches 
 Over the heart that loved so tenderly, 
 
 For there are rapturous moments when it catches, 
 As if in dreams, a blessed glimpse of thee. 
 
 In those sweet seasons thou dost come before me, 
 With loveliness that Earth may never see, 
 
 I feel thy presence like a blessing o'er me, 
 And then I know I nearer am to thee. 
 
 When from these dreams I tearfully awaken, 
 Colder than ever seems the earth to me ; 
 
 But yet all hopes have not my heart forsaken, 
 Am I not drawing nearer, nearer thee ? 
 
 Thou wert Life's angel ! how I loved, adored thee. 
 Ere death had set thy gentle spirit free ; 
 
 And now thou know'st how oft I have implored thee 
 To bring me nearer, nearer still to thee. 
 
 Nearer to thee ; — to night the stars are burning 
 In skies that must thy blessed dwelling be ; 
 
 Thou canst not leave them, unto Earth returning, 
 But I am pressing nearer still to thee. 
 
NEARER TO THEE. 33 
 
 Nearer to thee ; — how long, how long encunabered 
 
 With mortal fetters must my spirit be ; 
 With but one wish, one hope through Life I've slumbered. 
 
 The wish, the hope to be yet nearer thee. 
 
 Nearer to thee ; — I know my prayer is granted, 
 I know thy spirit now is close to me ; 
 
 Not, not in vain this hope my heart hath haunted, 
 Each pulse-beat brings me nearer, nearer thee. 
 
THE RIVER OF SLEEP. 
 
 In the Land of Dreams there floweth 
 
 A river with gentlest wave, 
 And there walk on its farther border, 
 
 Those who have slept in the grave ; 
 There, where the flowers are sweetest. 
 
 Where the storm and the night ne'er come, 
 They have buried the Past and its sadness. 
 
 In the bliss of that Dream-land home. 
 
 And never upon that river, 
 
 Is heard the dip of an oar. 
 And never the foot of a boatman. 
 
 Is pressed on its pebbly shore ; 
 You may gaze across the water, 
 
 At the fields, all gemmed with flowers, 
 You may catch the breath of the fragrance, 
 
 That floats from the sacred bowers : 
 
THE RIVER OF SLEEP. 35 
 
 But a viewless arm and mighty, 
 
 Is ever about you thrown, 
 And you never may cross that river, 
 
 But listen and gaze alone. 
 
 In the Land of Dreams, an Angel, 
 
 Who seemeth a watch to keep. 
 Will lead you down to the river. 
 
 That must ever, unruffled, sleep ; 
 And a whisper, soft and haunting. 
 
 And a fair and holy hand. 
 Will utter the names of the loved ones. 
 
 Will point you to where they stand. 
 
 Across that river there wander, 
 
 The beautiful, true and brave. 
 And the sound of their well known voices 
 
 Comes dreamily over the wave ; 
 Those tones from lips are stealing, 
 
 You never may kiss again ; 
 Those forms that your strained eye blesses, 
 
 It blesses, alas, in vain ; 
 For a mortal foot may never 
 
 Be set on the farther shore, 
 And the sight that the Angel showeth, 
 
 Perchance she may show no more. 
 
SNOW. 
 
 Fall thickly on the rose bush, 
 
 Oh, faintly falling snow ! 
 For she is gone who trained its branch, 
 
 And wooed its bud to blow. 
 
 Cover the well known pathway, 
 Oh, damp December snow ! 
 
 Her step no longer lingers there, 
 When stars begin to glow. 
 
 Melt in the rapid river. 
 
 Oh, cold and cheerless snow ! 
 She sees no more its sudden wave. 
 
 Nor hears its foaming flow. 
 
SNOW. 37 
 
 Chill every song bird's music, 
 Oh, silent, sullen snow ! 
 
 I cannot hear her loving voice, 
 That lulled me long ago. 
 
 Sleep on the Earth's broad bosom. 
 
 Oh, weary, winter snow ! 
 Its fragrant flowers and blithesome birds 
 
 Should with its loved one go. 
 
FEVER. 
 
 Thou hast been ill, and I was never nigh thee, 
 
 I, whose existence by thine own was fed ; 
 I did not watch in patient silence by thee, 
 
 I did not pray beside thy fevered bed : 
 True, there were gentler forms about thee moving. 
 
 And softer hands were fondly clasped in thine, 
 But yet there beat not there a heart more loving, 
 
 There was no keener agony than mine. 
 
 Could I have kneeled beside thee, and have told thee 
 
 All my full heart would gladly have outpoured. 
 Had it been granted in these arms to fold thee, 
 
 Gazing into thine eyes without a word, 
 Or to have kissed thy cheek, so hot and throbbing, 
 
 Or to my own thine aching forehead pressed, 
 Or to have soothed thy low and half heard sobbing. 
 
 Thou hadst been happy, I had been too blest. 
 
FEVER. 39 
 
 I could have hushed my breath while thou wert sleeping, 
 
 And, when thine eyes from slumber should unclose, 
 The same fond glance should meet them, dimmed with 
 weeping, 
 
 As that which met them ere they sought repose : 
 And if the wing of Death had o'er thee hovered, 
 
 With its slow motion swaying Life's dull tide, 
 From its chill shadow I had thee recovered. 
 
 Or in it sunk, unshrinking, at thy side. 
 
 Alas ! thou might'st have died, and yet, beside thee. 
 
 Have never seen my form, or heard me speak. 
 Love's last fond accents might have been denied thee, 
 
 Love's latest kiss have never pressed thy cheek ; 
 1 might have mingled in the world, and never 
 
 Have felt the blessing that thy dying prayer 
 Was for the one that soon from thee would sever, 
 
 Was, that he yet thy happiness might share- 
 
 The midnight came, and I could never slumber, 
 
 The morning came, and brought the night's unrest ; 
 
 The thought that thou in pain the hours must number, 
 Filled with a deeper pain my quickened breast. 
 
 And when, at eve, the stars, so calm and holy. 
 
 Looked on the earth, there came the bitter fear 
 
40 FEVER. 
 
 That thy pure soul, unmeet for mine so lowly, 
 Must seek their sky, its only fitting sphere. 
 
 But thou art spared me, oh ! this stubborn spirit, 
 
 Unbent before, is meek and thankful now ; 
 The garland of thy love I did not merit. 
 
 And yet it is not plucked from off my brow : 
 And in my dreams thy semblance, like an Angel, 
 
 Smiles gently on me, bids me not to fear ; 
 Into my spirit sinks the blest Evangel, 
 
 And echoes sweetly, " Be thou of good cheer." 
 
 'I 
 
AT SEA. 
 
 The shafts of sunset quivered 
 In the bosom of the wave, 
 
 As if thus the heavenly archer, 
 
 Pointed out the sick man's crave. 
 
 There were faces bending o'er him, 
 As the step of Death drew nigh 
 
 You might hear that fearful footfall, 
 In the sufferer's labored sigh. 
 
 There were tears upon each eyelid, 
 
 And a sadness in each breath, 
 
 For a common heart is beating 
 
 At the common bed of Death. 
 4# 
 
42 AT SEA. 
 
 At the silent group he looketh, 
 
 With a glance that seems to say, 
 
 " I had friends I left behind me, 
 
 " I am dying, where are they ?" 
 
 Hearts ! that throbbed for him at twilight, 
 Eyes ! that watched for him at morn, 
 
 Felt ye then no pang or dimness, 
 
 That might tell you, " He is gone ?" 
 
 Where the golden light had quivered, 
 In the bosom of the wave, 
 
 Strange hearts and hands have left him, 
 Sinking, sinking in his grave. 
 
 ii 
 
THE STATESMAN. 
 
 Across Katahdin's sullen brow. 
 
 Old centuries of storm have swept ; — - 
 The look of pride he weareth now, 
 
 He hath for ages kept. 
 
 The strength of wind, and rain, and snow. 
 The strength of the Eternal Hill ! 
 
 The one hath withered long ago, 
 The other liveth still. 
 
 A nmightier mountain meets with scorn, 
 Insensate clamor hissing by, 
 
 Its top may be obscured at morn. 
 At noon it cleaves the sky. 
 
44 THE STATESMAN. 
 
 The strength of envy, falsehood, hate ; 
 
 The strength of the Immortal mind ; 
 That, basely born to baser fate, 
 
 This, by its God designed. 
 
 The bigot to misshapen creeds. 
 
 Between whom and the Truth is hung 
 A veil of doubt and falsehood, reads 
 
 With slow and stammering tongue. 
 
 The Statesman looks with keenest sight, 
 Through Error's sad and dim eclipse, 
 
 And speaks Truth's words of living light, 
 With firm, unfaltering lips. 
 
 Still beat, oh, great and noble heart ! 
 
 Within the bosom of the laws, 
 And still be strong, oh, stoutest part 
 
 Of Truth's most holy cause ! 
 
THE EARLIEST IDOL. 
 
 The heart hath many memories, 
 It treasures up with miser care, 
 
 And 'midst them, like a jewel, lies 
 
 That of first Love, the brightest there. 
 
 Ah, who hath not remembrance sweet 
 Of hours that passion made its own. 
 
 When youth and loveliness would meet, 
 And give to Life a magic tone. 
 
 Such hours were mine, the light they cast. 
 Gleams in the chambers of my mind. 
 
 And, by its fitful beam, the Past 
 
 I see in Memory's cell enshrined. 
 
46 THE EARLIEST IDOL. 
 
 The heart's first love, — when daylight sets. 
 
 And evening bringeth memories dear, 
 Then she, whom Passion ne'er forgets. 
 
 Uncalled, unbidden, stealeth near. 
 
 She gazeth on me, her brown hair 
 Is parted crosswise on her brow, 
 
 The golden halo lingereth there, 
 
 Which once I loved, but may not now 
 
 And tearfully her gray eyes look 
 
 Upon me as in days of yore, — 
 
 No more, no more, — I cannot brook 
 To see thee thus when hope is o'er. 
 
 Still, let me fondly summon up 
 
 Some traces of that tender dream ! 
 
 Thus do I pledge it in the cup. 
 
 For wine must quicken Memory's stream. 
 
 We met, 'twas in the summer time. 
 
 The blessed time of birds and flowers, 
 
 When Love at birth leaps to his prime. 
 Nor lingers through his infant hours. 
 
THE EARLIEST IDOL. 47 
 
 We both were young ; Life's cloudless sky 
 Was bright and glorious, in its hue 
 
 We saw our hopes reflected lie, 
 Like lilies in the waters blue. 
 
 We loved ; the spirit's hoarded store 
 
 Fell from the heart as fast as rain ; 
 
 Fond heart ! how dost thou now deplore 
 
 The wealth that conaes not back again. 
 
 With every word that died in air, 
 
 There rose another twice as kind ; 
 
 With every sigh that trembled there, 
 Another followed close behind. 
 
 Then parting came, its hopes and fears, 
 
 Its oft repeated, sad farewell. 
 Vows heart-coined, struggling up through tears, 
 
 Came with it, and thus broke the spell. 
 
 One niche is empty in my heart. 
 
 One chord forever hushed and still 
 
 I often enter there, apart, 
 
 To miss the note that once could thrill. 
 
PEMMAQUID LIGHT. 
 
 VViNDETH the white and dusty way, 
 
 O'er uplands green, by low roofed homes, 
 
 Through forests where, in sunniest day, 
 Nought but a sleepy darkness comes. 
 
 Behind us lies the busy town. 
 
 Beside us flows the broad blue stream. 
 Before us fields, asleep and brown. 
 
 Of many a future harvest dream. 
 
 The hamlet and its noisy mill. 
 
 The valley and the sloping lea 
 
 Fly past us, we have reached the hill. 
 Its top is gained, and, lo, the Sea ! 
 
 >\ 
 
PEMMAQ,UID LIGHT. 
 
 49 
 
 But not without a struggle yields 
 
 Earth to her foe the right to reign ; 
 
 See where her hosts still bear their shields ! 
 See where the Isles defy the main ! 
 
 Oh, gallant band ! your brows are worn, 
 With the perpetual strife of years. 
 
 And but one sound is from ye borne, 
 Your laugh at Ocean's angry tears. 
 
 The waves are down, the winds have ceased. 
 The surging swells from foam are free, 
 
 And in the far and hazy East, 
 The sky is melted in the sea. 
 
 And, nearer yet, at anchor, ride. 
 
 The sturdy plunderers of the main, 
 
 I see the clear and glassy tide 
 
 Flash back each rope, each mast again. 
 
 Within this rough and rocky reach. 
 The little waves come up to play. 
 
 The round, worn stones that line the beach. 
 Are hardly sprinkled with their spray. 
 5 
 
50 PEMMAQUID LIGHT. 
 
 White as the angel wing of Hope, 
 
 Firm as the rock from which it springs, 
 
 The Light House crowns the rocky slope, 
 And o'er the sea its far glance flings. 
 
 Oh, lone, pale watcher ! when the night 
 Came on with hissing sleet and storm, 
 
 How hath the sailor hailed thy light, 
 
 How hath he blessed thine unseen form ! 
 
 What hast thou seen, what hast thou heard, 
 
 When wintry waves have talked with thee ? 
 
 Had not the winds a taunting word ? 
 Were there no voices in the sea ? 
 
 It may be, but thou answerest not ; 
 
 To day, with thine unwakened eye, 
 Thou hast in that stern sleep forgot 
 
 The smiles or frowns of sea or sky. 
 
 Thus thought I on that summer day. 
 
 When, with companions warm and true, 
 
 Upon the surf-beat rocks I lay 
 
 And gazed out o'er the waters blue. 
 
SONNET 
 
 TO A SWEET SINGER. 
 
 Still in my ear thy liquid voice is ringing, 
 
 Thou fair Enchantress of the reahn of Song ! 
 Still, 'mid remembered echoes of thy singing. 
 
 My spirit lingers eagerly and long; 
 What though from thy sweet lips comes now no sound, 
 
 The melody they uttered thrilleth on 
 In Memory's halls, as perfume clings around 
 
 The spot from whence the flower is plucked and gone. 
 Teach us, since from Remembrance we must borrow 
 
 Thy gentle face, the charm that in it slumbers, 
 Leave us the opiate for regret and sorrow 
 
 That lulled us listening to thy blessed numbers ; 
 So that, although thy feet another land have sought. 
 Thou wilt not carry from us all that thou hast brought. 
 
GRANDMOTHER'S BIRTHDAY. 
 
 Our river flows with wave as blue, 
 
 With tide as clear as on that day, 
 When, through the woods, a hardy few^ 
 
 Beside its steep banks bent their way ; 
 No change in its bright face is seen. 
 
 The dawning's blush, the sunset's flame. 
 Trembles each morn, and glows each e'en 
 
 Upon a mirror still the same. 
 
 You saw it long, long years ago, 
 
 When Youth was in your heart and eye. 
 You hailed its broad and placid flow 
 
 The dark pine forest sweeping by ; 
 To day you well might pause and think 
 
 Of what has been and ceased to be, 
 Since first you stood upon its brink. 
 
 And watched it gliding to the sea. 
 
GRANDMOTHER S BIRTHDAY. 
 
 Long years ago, — the silvered hair, 
 
 That thinly shades your temples now. 
 In clustered tresses, thick and fair, 
 
 Stole o'er your then unvvrinkled brow ; 
 No dimness crept o'er eyes as bright 
 
 As those that 'round you beam to day ; 
 For you had never known the night 
 
 Which flees not with the morning's ray. 
 
 Then, where your humble home was raised, 
 
 The cloud-swept pines were at your door, 
 And when at night your hearth-fire blazed, 
 
 It lit a wood unlit before. 
 Each sunny noon-day's breathless calm. 
 
 Each solemn hush of midnight's hour, 
 Hung 'round you like a viewless arm 
 
 Clothed with unutterable power. 
 
 The Indian urged his birch canoe 
 
 Upon this still and limpid wave, 
 His rifle flashed, his arrow flew. 
 
 Where now, perhaps, may be his grave ; 
 You heard his warwhoop ring at night. 
 
 And, trembling, barred the stout old door, 
 And you have heard his footstep light. 
 
 Grate on your cleanly sanded floor. 
 5* 
 
GRANDxMOTHER S BIRTHDAY. 
 
 Within the old and pathless wood, 
 
 Unscarred by axe, unscathed by fire, 
 You heard the bear with growling rude. 
 
 Answer the snarling wild cat°'s ire ; 
 The fox came fleetly bounding by 
 
 Your door, and sought the river's brink. 
 And, fearless, right beneath your eye. 
 
 The antlered deer came down to drink. 
 
 You lived when noble deeds were done, 
 
 That brightly shine in memory still. 
 When rose the smoke at Lexington, 
 
 When roared the guns on Bunker's Hill ; 
 And, after many a bloody fray. 
 
 Your heart was warmed, your eyes were wet, 
 When, on our land, you heard them say, 
 
 The seal of Liberty was set- 
 No longer treads the red man here, 
 
 No longer stand the forest trees, 
 Nor need you now to start and fear. 
 
 At every sound borne on the breeze ; 
 For, 'round you, every where, are thrown 
 
 The works that man's impression bear, 
 And this day's sun has never shone 
 
 Upon a scene more sweet and fair. 
 
grandmother's birthday. 55 
 
 Lo ! yonder is the church's sph^e, 
 
 And there the factory and mill, 
 And many a hearth with blazing fire, 
 
 Is near your own this season chill ; 
 Ere long, with many a glowing spark, 
 
 Whh roarings, clashings, dins and jars, 
 Close at your doorsill we may mark 
 
 The rushing locomotive cars. 
 
 Yes, change is writ on every thing. 
 
 Around your feeble steps to day. 
 And time can nothing to thee bring 
 
 Like that which he has borne away ; 
 Youth, with its bounding pulse, is flown, 
 
 Its kindling eye, its lithesome form, 
 And where its sun of gladness- shone, 
 
 Old Age has come with night and storm. 
 
 And yet, to day, have gathered near 
 
 Your side, a glad and smiling band, 
 Manhood, with sturdy strength is here, 
 
 Here those who at life's portal stand ; 
 Before thy feeble, failing sight. 
 
 Hath come the babe but newly born, — ■ 
 Old Age and Infancy, — the night 
 
 Flushed with the radiance of the morn ! 
 
56 GRANDMOTHER'S BIRTHDAY. 
 
 Not all are here, the breezes bear 
 
 Our voices o'er the ocean's brine, 
 And call the wanderers back to share 
 
 The smiles that 'round you sweetly shine ; 
 Not all are here, for loving hearts. 
 
 Once linked with yours, are still to day, 
 Yet memory, like an angel, starts 
 
 From mounds where rests their lifeless clay. 
 
 Your children, — though their paths are wide. 
 
 And far apart on life's wild sea, 
 Yet they, to day, have sought your side. 
 
 The scions of the parent tree ; 
 You, gazing on their forms to day, 
 
 With pride that nought can quench or mar, 
 Might, like the Roman mother, say, 
 
 " Behold, these, these my jewels are !" 
 
MARY 
 
 No sweeter name is ever breathed 
 Than that of Mary, soft and low 
 
 It falls upon the ear, enwreathed 
 
 With every spell that love can know, 
 
 With memories by those bequeathed 
 That bore it long ago. 
 
 It lingers 'round the old man yet, 
 
 Though other names long, long have fled ; 
 The sun of earlier days has set, 
 
 Youth, Love, no more their radiance shed, 
 Yet that dear name he'll ne'er forget 
 
 It calls Her from the dead. 
 
 Thus, when the moon was calm and bright, 
 
 I heard a faint and far off song, 
 That, stealing softly on the night, 
 
58 MARY. 
 
 Woke in my heart a passion strong, 
 Because the verse with cadence light 
 That name would oft prolong. 
 
 1 listened, and with that sweet word, 
 
 A thousand thronging memories came, 
 
 And with them, she, the loved, adored, 
 In starlike beauty all the same 
 
 As when, before her shrine, I poured 
 Love's incense on its flame. 
 
 Long, long ago, on such an eve 
 
 As this, I told my hidden love, 
 
 And strove my passion's tale to weave 
 In burning words her heart to move 
 
 Those vows she chid not to receive. 
 Are registered above. 
 
 And as the lute, though broken, sighs 
 Responsive to the minstrel's claim. 
 
 And yields its former melodies 
 
 With fitful note, yet still the same, 
 
 So, from my withered heart, arise 
 Old memories at that name. 
 
THE HUNTER. 
 
 The Hunter's hand is hard and tanned, 
 
 His frame is stout of mould, 
 His open face shuns no man's gaze. 
 
 His heart is frank and bold ; 
 No treachery in his smile is found. 
 
 No falsehood in his word ; 
 Erect and firm he treads the ground. 
 
 And calleth no one lord. 
 
 The city's life with tumult rife, 
 
 No pleasure seems to him, 
 He seeks the wood's deep solitude. 
 
 Where noontide light is dim ; 
 The forest old where he can hear. 
 
 For miles and miles around. 
 The sweetest music to his ear, 
 
 The baying of his hound. 
 
60 THE HUNTER. 
 
 He takes his gun at rise of sun, 
 
 And with his dog he goes, 
 To hunt the deer that's sheltering here, 
 
 In ambush thick and close ; 
 With active hmb and eager step 
 
 He follows on the track, 
 Though hills be steep and torrents deep, 
 
 No peril drives him back. 
 
 And fleet and free the fox may be, 
 
 There's one upon his trail. 
 With tireless frame and deadly aim, 
 
 That ne'er was known to fail ; 
 The wild duck on the glassy lake, 
 
 The pigeon in the wood, 
 The partridge in the leafy brake, 
 
 Must yield the hunter food. 
 
 So pass away the Hunter's days, 
 
 Alone, yet what recks he. 
 For truer friends his steps attend, 
 
 Than man could ever be ; 
 His dogs, that share his leafy couch, 
 
 That list his lightest word. 
 That patiently beside him crouch. 
 
 When seated at his board. 
 
THE HUNTER. 61 
 
 In death his sleep is calm and deep, 
 
 Where forest branches wave, 
 No sculptured stone is placed upon 
 
 His greenly growing grave ; 
 Yet honest hearts shall harm it not, 
 
 But keep it ever dear. 
 And say, whene'er they pass the spot, 
 
 " The Hunter resteth here." 
 
VALVINUM. 
 
 Wine ! in my beaker so brightly brimming, 
 
 Forbear, forbear your roseate glow ; 
 Bubbles of foam ! so lightsomely swimming, 
 
 Cease, cease awhile your wanton flow. 
 When ancient comrades and friends are parting. 
 
 No smile on cither's lip should play. 
 And so, while tears to my eyes are starting, 
 
 Thou shouldst not wear a look so gay. 
 
 Over Life's field we've journeyed together, 
 
 In days of joy, in nights of pain. 
 Though stormy or fair might be the weather, 
 
 Thy smile still cheered my heart and brain. 
 Each sigh awakened by grief or sadness, 
 
 Sunk in thy sympathetic tide, 
 And always thy glowing gleam of gladness, 
 
 To all my happy hopes replied. 
 
VALVINUM. 63 
 
 Reflected in thee, the well known faces 
 
 Of boon companions smile once more, 
 And memory's bark its way retraces 
 
 Across thy stream to Youth's far shore ; 
 Friends of the wine cup ! how rang our laughter, 
 
 While night's pale pilot waxed and waned, 
 What magic colors our far Hereafter, 
 
 Borrowed from every drop we drained. 
 
 Thou never hast failed me, Wine ! when bidden 
 
 To waken Life's first fond romance, 
 See, softer eyes in thy depths are hidden, 
 
 That woo me with their tender glance. 
 Love's wings were steeped, in that cloudless morning, 
 
 In dews that dwelt upon her lip ; 
 But when affection was changed to scorning, 
 
 He hastened in thy wave to dip. 
 
 Wafted on thy tumultuous pinion, 
 
 Beyond its dark and lowering sky, 
 Oft have I fled from that bleak dominion, 
 
 Whose shadows on the spirit lie : 
 With light of hopes that had fled forever, 
 
 Thou bathedst the top of memory's hill, 
 As sunset long in the West will quiver 
 
 And battle with the darkness still. 
 
64 VALVINUM. 
 
 Let this not be an idle libation 
 
 A vulgar draught, oh rarest Wine ! 
 But, rather, some sacred, sad oblation, 
 
 Poured out on Memory's holy shrine. 
 And may thy fragrance in air ascending, 
 
 Be fraught with Lethe for the Past, 
 Now art thou. Wine ! with my spirit blending, 
 
 In kiss the sweetest and the last. 
 
SHE SLEEPS. 
 
 The old tree sbadoweth the grave 
 
 Of her that was so good and fair, 
 
 And mournfully its branches wave 
 Sad requiems in the evening air, 
 
 And dewdrops closing flowerets lave, 
 That sweetest fragrance bear. 
 
 Beneath the welcome sky of night, 
 
 My frequent footsteps linger here ; 
 
 For sunbeams shed a garish light, 
 
 That seems to mock at sorrow's tear, 
 
 And I would shun the hour that miglit 
 Make memory less dear. 
 
 But now Remembrance pours its tide 
 
 Upon my spirit's eager shore, 
 And thoughts that are to thee allied, 
 6* 
 
II 
 
 66 SHE SLEEPS. 
 
 Come back and visit me once more, 
 And I, forgetting aught beside, 
 Recall tliem o'er and o'er. 
 
 When last I saw thee, not the flush 
 
 Of Life or Love was on thy brow, 
 
 Nor on thy cheek one lingering blush 
 
 Could whisper " She but s'eepeth now, — " 
 
 Ah no, a fearful, chilly hush 
 Was on thy pulses' flow. 
 
 Yet on that brow a light curl played, 
 
 A sweet smile seemed to check all fear, 
 
 Oh, there were countless traits that made 
 The dearly loved, too loved, too dear ; 
 
 But Love, regret were vain, they laid 
 Thy form in silence here. 
 
 The offerings that the night hath given 
 
 To deck thy grave, seem sweet to me. 
 
 Young flowers that, half blown, die at even, 
 The shadows of this guardian tree, 
 
 And brightest dewdrops sent from Heaven 
 To be exhaled o'er thee. 
 
 "I 
 
FAIRY LAND. 
 
 Love, those were wondrous days of old, 
 
 When fairies revelled on the earth, 
 Now dancing in the moonbeams cold, 
 
 Now hovering o'er the cottage hearth : 
 Now cradled in the perfumed beds. 
 
 To which moss roses oft would woo them, 
 Now, where the tall pines nod their heads. 
 
 Floating, like strains of music, through them. 
 
 Deep, deep within the forest dells. 
 
 Where foot of man had never trod. 
 Where old oaks stood like sentinels 
 
 Around the smoothly shaven sod, 
 Their merry bands would meet and sport, 
 
 Throughout the livelong summer day, 
 And there would Oberon hold his court, 
 
 Surrounded by each sprite and fay. 
 
68 FAIRY LAND. 
 
 Beneath their feet would fountains spring, 
 
 That cast above thera silver showers, 
 Wherein they laved each weary wing, 
 
 As delicate as leaves of flowers ; 
 The trees that bourgeoned at their side, 
 
 Were hung all o'er with rarest fruit ; 
 The breeze that wantoned wild and wide 
 
 Made music like the softest lute. 
 
 Above this strange sweet place, the sky 
 
 Hung tinged with glorious, golden hues, 
 Or, if a storm-cloud floated by. 
 
 It melted into fragrant dews. 
 Oh, for one glance at this bright spot ! 
 
 One moment on its soil to stand ! 
 But mortal eyes might view it not, 
 
 Nor mortal tread on Fairy Land. 
 
 They all have fled, those gentle sprites. 
 
 Within those haunted dells no more 
 Titania with her train alights. 
 
 The fairy revels all are o'er. 
 But there are spots my feet have pressed. 
 
 When summer suns were sinking low. 
 That seemed to me so calm, so blest. 
 
 That fairies well the iiaunt mi^ht know. 
 
FAIRY LAND. 
 
 Sit closer to me, sweet, the blush 
 
 Is manthng rarely in thy cheek, 
 I know full well that gentle flush 
 
 Betokens what thou may'st not speak ; 
 For memory summons to thy brain 
 
 The eve, when, with a happy band, 
 We crossed the fields and reached the plain 
 
 That thy dear lips named " Fairy Land." 
 
 Through slumberous woods the pathway steals, 
 
 That leadeth to this quiet scene, 
 And suddenly its close reveals 
 
 The hidden landscape smooth, serene. 
 On either side a gentle hill 
 
 To meet the plain comes greenly down, 
 And there, embosomed, hushed and still. 
 
 It lies, — a gem in nature's crown ! 
 
 Upon that eve the burning thought. 
 
 That in my bosom long had lain. 
 Rose up, and for expression sought, 
 
 And yet I hushed it down again : 
 For thou wert coy and shunned my side, — 
 
 Dearest ! thou wilt no I shun it now. 
 And Love, o'ermastered, quelled by Pride, 
 
 In vain had flushed my cheek and brow. 
 
 69 
 
70 FAIRY LAND. 
 
 We left that lovely spot, my heart 
 
 Throbbed high with Passion mixed with Fear, 
 And, oh, I felt the teardrop start. 
 
 To think that thou wert still so dear ; 
 Yet ere the moon began to wane, 
 
 That shone that evening in the grove, 
 I looked into thine eyes again. 
 
 And in those eyes read nought but love. 
 
 Thou lovest me, my heart has found 
 
 The rest that it hath sought so long. 
 Through grief and pain its pathway wound. 
 
 To happiness untold in song ; 
 And with thy dear form close to me. 
 
 Thus clasped in mine thy timid hand, 
 Oh, loved one ! canst thou doubt that we 
 
 Have found the spirit's Fairy Land ? 
 
 Above us, spreads the sky of Hope, 
 
 Beneath us, flow'rets wave and move, 
 Sweet flowers, whose dewy petals ope 
 
 To catch the welcome breath of Love : 
 Our footsteps tread on magic ground. 
 
 Our brows by fragrant winds are fanned. 
 Yes, yes, at last our hearts have found 
 
 The soil, the breeze of Fairy Land ! 
 
LOVE'S ANSWER. 
 
 Thou askest why I love thee, and in truth I cannot say, 
 Canst thou tell me why the sky-lark loves the morning's 
 
 golden ray, 
 Why the deer the greenwood loveth, or the violet the dew, 
 Or why in stormiest ocean gladly dips the wild sea-mew, 
 Why the sternest spirit yield eth to soft music's spell and 
 
 power, 
 Or why Love's words seem sweetest at the twilight's holy 
 
 hour ? 
 Thy gentle lips are silent, we feel but cannot tell. 
 And, darling, so I know not why I worship thee so well, 
 
 It is not that thine eyes are soft, nor that thy cheek is fair. 
 Nor is it that a thousand Loves lie tangled in thy hair, 
 Nor that thy voice is sweet and low, nor that thy dewy lips 
 Are argosies of passion, freighted rich as Indian ships ; 
 
72 
 
 Have I not gazed on eyes as bright, or forms as fair as 
 
 thine, 
 Must I trace Love's birth to Beauty ere I own his royal 
 
 line, 
 Must the heart be caught by glances shot from fringed and 
 
 lustrous eyes, 
 Must the loveliest ftice in Woman, be the spirit's dearest 
 
 prize ? 
 
 I had been out at sunset and Day's dying splendor stole, 
 
 Like a strain of sweetest music o'er my rapt and ravished 
 soul ; 
 
 The stars went to their places and their meek and saintly 
 ray 
 
 Falling through the depths of ether, on the waters, slum- 
 bering, lay ; 
 
 At that hour the strife and struggle of my worldly life was 
 stilled, 
 
 And my spirit spurned the chalice that its heartless mem- 
 ories filled ; 
 
 Then in the sky of Passion rose a loving, watching star, 
 
 Its radiance fell upon me, and I blessed it from afar. 
 
 I saw thee, and I loved thee, and I cannot tell thee more, 
 Though thy lips, with sweet perverseness, should ask me 
 o'er and o'er ; 
 
LOVE S ANSWER. 76 
 
 The heart hath many secrets that the mind may never 
 reach, 
 
 And the mysteries of Passion may not all be clothed in 
 speech ; 
 
 When the goblet brimmeth over with some rare and an- 
 cient wine, 
 
 Should we spill it if we knew not whose hand had reared 
 the vine ? 
 
 So if my love is precious, as thine, Sweet, is to me, 
 
 Take it all, nor ever ask me why I offer it to thee. 
 
LOST ALICE. 
 
 Alice, the veil is lifting, 
 
 From the passion haunted Past 
 Its forms, like snow-flakes drifting, 
 
 Gather around me fast ; 
 Though fair and heart-enthralling, 
 
 Some of the throng may be, 
 Yet I am seeking, calling. 
 
 Lost Alice ! only thee. 
 
 Alice, thou matchless maiden, 
 
 I loved thee in Life's spring, 
 Ere Hope, with grief o'er-laden. 
 
 Fluttered in flight her wing ; 
 Ere Sorrow in Love's chalice. 
 
 Or Falsehood, found a place, 
 Ere Coldness, Scorn or Malice, 
 
 Lost Alice ! left a trace. 
 
LOST ALICE. 
 
 Alice, 'twas golden summer, 
 
 When, in my open breast, 
 Young Love, the sweet new-comer 
 
 Sought smilingly a rest. 
 Then I spoke in accents burning, 
 
 And in broken tones to thee, 
 And thy lips, my vows returning. 
 
 Lost Alice ! answered me. 
 
 Alice, like dews of morning, 
 
 Upon the thirsty flower. 
 Came thy kisses without warning, 
 
 In that unforgotten hour ; 
 And thy long and silken tresses 
 
 Seem to mingle even now, 
 With mine in soft caresses, 
 
 Lost Alice ! o'er my brow. 
 
 Alice, thy lips pressed nearly, 
 
 Yet their kisses long have fled, 
 In thy heart that loved so dearly, 
 
 I know that love is dead ; 
 In thine eye there is a coldness, 
 
 And its sternness and its chill. 
 Rebuke my spirit's boldness, 
 
 Lost Alice ! loving still 
 
76 LOST ALICE. 
 
 Alice, the pallid ashes, 
 
 Alone are left of love, 
 And the tide of Lethe washes, 
 
 Its memory above ; 
 And I no more may render, 
 
 At thy once familiar shrine, 
 A worship now too tender, 
 
 Lost Alice ! to be thine. 
 
 Alice, though thy derision, 
 
 I never can forget, 
 The light of Youth's sweet vision. 
 
 Glows in remembrance yet ; 
 And dark and very lonely, 
 
 Life's weary path may be, 
 It is brighter if I only. 
 
 Lost Alice ! think of thee. 
 
THE ITALIAN ORGAN PLAYER'S VESPERS. 
 
 It is sunset, how the crimson flush is creeping up the sky, 
 It is sunset, and my heart is sad aUhough I know not why, 
 The freshening gale that cools my brow, a murmur hath, 
 
 like prayer, 
 A holy calm, a saintly spell, its wings, like incense, bear ; 
 Though in the church's turret high, no evening bell is 
 
 swinging. 
 Yet in my heart with liquid chime the Angel us is ringing ; 
 In many a land, at many a shrine, True Faith now bends 
 
 the knee, 
 Oh listen, Blessed Virgin ! to my vesper prayer lo tiiee. 
 
 Oh, holy, stainless Mother ! throughout the weary day. 
 Thy gentle love and tender care have been about my way, 
 My faltfring feet have found no snares upon Life's toilsome 
 road, 
 
 7* 
 
78 . THE ITALIAN ORGAN PLAYER's VESPERS. 
 
 And on my lip, from Life's full cup no bitter drop hath 
 
 flowed ; 
 Now, while the shades of evening deepen on my heavy 
 
 eye, 
 Be thou, oh dearest Mother ! still loving, fond and nigh ; 
 Watch o'er me in the darkness, bid each evil spirit flee, 
 Oh listen. Blessed Virgin ! to my vesper prayer to thee. 
 
 Beyond the dim horizon, 'neath another sky than this, 
 
 I have felt a father's manly care, a mother's sacred kiss. 
 
 And to-night, though their fond faces lit with love I can- 
 not see, 
 
 Still I know their hearts are throbbing with a fervent prayer 
 for me ; 
 
 Saintly Mother ! Holy Mary ! watch them kindly from 
 above. 
 
 Smooth their pillow, send sweet slumbers, fill their visions 
 with thy love. 
 
 Guard their dear ones 'round the hearth-stone, bring their 
 wanderer o'er the sea, 
 
 Oh listen. Blessed Virgin ! to my vesper prayer to thee. 
 
 Smile on the hearts that love me, if one pure and stainless 
 
 breast, 
 Keeps to night my image treasured, breathes my name at 
 
 hour of rest. 
 
79 
 
 Oh, guard that heart from sorrow, throw thine arm of love 
 
 and power. 
 About it in the darkness of temptation's fearful hour ; 
 Saintly Mother ! Holy Mary ! I have wandered far and 
 
 wide 
 From the path where thou would'st lead me, draw me 
 
 closer to thy side. 
 Look in pity on my errors, set me from sin's thraldom free, 
 Oh listen, Blessed Virgin ! to my vesper prayer to thee. 
 
POOR ROVER. 
 
 We weep when friends or kindred die, 
 
 And no one mocks the falling tear, 
 It soothes the bitter agony 
 
 We feel beside the loved one's bier ; 
 And, gazing on thy hfeless form, 
 
 I do not hide my tears or woe ; 
 Thine was a love as true and warm. 
 
 As even woman's heart could know. 
 
 For friends might leave thy master's side. 
 
 And kinsmen's love grow faint and dim, 
 Thy friendship was too staunch and tried, 
 
 For aught to sever thee from him ; 
 Thine honest love, thy noble worth, 
 
 Were in such boundless measure given, 
 That far, far more than some on Earth, 
 
 A soul like thine would merit Heaven. 
 
ADIEU. 
 
 Farewell, the tie that bound my heart 
 
 So close to thine, thyself hath broken, 
 The looks or words that bid us part. 
 
 Thine eyes have cast, thy lips have spoken ; 
 Let others guard and watch the flame 
 
 Of Love, that burns but dim and faintly. 
 And cloak indifference with the name 
 
 Of Passion that is pure and saintly, 
 I am not read in Plato's lore, 
 I love not when thy love is o'er. 
 
 The Parsee bows before the sun. 
 
 When clear and bright his God is burning, 
 But, hidden by eve's mantle dun, 
 
 No more his eyes are thither turning ; 
 
82 ADIEU. 
 
 And thus I worshipped while the light 
 
 Of thy warm love was flung around me, 
 
 But when it deepened into night, 
 
 The spell it owned no longer bound me, 
 
 My heart may yet love-lighted shine, 
 
 But 'twill not catch its flame from thine. 
 
 Thou shouldst not hate me, for the blame 
 
 Lies not with me if thus we sever. 
 And there will linger 'round thy name. 
 
 Kind thoughts and pleasant memories ever, 
 The tale is short, as well as old, 
 
 Love's tale in every clime and season, 
 We wildly loved till one grew cold. 
 
 And then the other woke to reason. 
 Her calmer magic broke the spell. 
 But not his heart, — once more. Farewell. 
 
COLLEGE FRIEiNDS. 
 
 When Day's last glances feebly fall aslant me, 
 
 When gathereth the twilight's tender gloom, 
 Dear old companions ! then your faces haunt me. 
 
 Then do your memories pervade the room : 
 I seem borne back on swift and shadowy pinion, 
 
 Into the regions of the golden Past, 
 I feel once more the rapturous dominion 
 
 Of Youth and Passion o'er my spirit cast. 
 
 We were a band as joyous and true hearted. 
 
 As ever sailed upon Life's summer sea ; 
 We knew no griefs for gorgeous hopes departed, 
 
 We shed no tears o'er some sad memory. 
 The world, a fairy land, was all before us. 
 
 Arrayed in hues like those of sunset skies. 
 The unquenched stars of Passion trembled o'er us, 
 
 Luring and lovely to our tearless eyes. 
 
84 COLLEGE FRIENDS. 
 
 Then were our restless hearts forever yearning, 
 
 To pierce the veil that o'er the Future hung, 
 Then, clothed in words most passionate and burning, 
 
 Our glowing day-dreams trembled on each tongue, 
 Of Fame, whose topmost heights should be ascended, 
 
 Of lavish W^ealth, of Pov/cr, and place of Pride, 
 And with these visions there was ever blended, 
 
 The Angel of Existence at our side. 
 
 Oh, sunny dreams, how have your glories faded, 
 
 Oh, youthful hearts, false prophets that ye were, 
 To some the Future yet with clouds is shaded, 
 
 To some the Past is but Hope's sepulchre, 
 And like the banners, purple-decked and trailing. 
 
 Which Sunset flaunts before Day's closing eye, 
 Some sadly saw Love, Wealth, Ambition, paling, 
 
 As Sorrow's night crept darkly down Life's sky. 
 
 Is there no rest for hearts worn out and broken .'' 
 
 No subtle anodyne to soothe their pain ? 
 Those gentle accents, by the Savior spoken, 
 
 " My peace I give you," were they breathed in vain ? 
 No, not in vain, the sighs wrung out by Sorrow, 
 
 Are calmed by thoughts of Childhood's sinless years, 
 From that sweet source the saddest heart can borrow 
 
 Relief from anguish, and a balm for tears. 
 
LOVE'S DAWN. 
 
 One thought is in my heart to-night, 
 
 Upon my lip one word of flame, 
 The memory of thine eyes' soft light, 
 
 Thy dear and haunting name ; 
 That glance I've striven to forget, 
 
 And from that name my soul to free, 
 Still in my heart are firmly set 
 
 Remembrances of thee. 
 
 There was no light in liquid eyes, 
 
 Till thine had turned on me their gaze, 
 There was no Star in Passion's skies, 
 
 Till thine lit up its rays ; 
 Oh, gentle eyes of tearful blue ! 
 
 To-night you seem to watch o'er me. 
 Oh, star ! whose soft light thrills me through, 
 
 I know no guide but thee. 
 8 
 
86 
 
 I cannot hush my throbbing heart, 
 
 I cannot bid its waves be still, 
 Thou only hast the magic art 
 
 To bend it to thy will ; 
 Smile, it will cease its burning pain. 
 
 Speak, each word shall an angel be, 
 Frown, it will not have loved in vain, 
 
 For it shall break for thee. 
 
AN ORISON OF ABELARD. 
 
 Though thou in saintly mansions art, 
 With trustfulness I bow my knee, 
 
 And offer from my earnest heart 
 An orison to thee, 
 
 Theresa. 
 
 Not for myself the sacrifice, 
 
 Of worship and of tearful prayer. 
 Not for myself the words arise, 
 
 Which ask thy holy care, 
 
 Theresa. 
 
 I pray for her who prays to thee. 
 
 For her, the best beloved of Earth, 
 
 I pray for her whose love for me 
 Thou guardest since its birth, 
 
 Theresa. 
 
88 AN ORISON OF ABELARD. 
 
 Forsake her not in Life's rude path, 
 Close at her side in peril be, 
 
 Let Trouble's storm and Sorrow's wrath 
 Break, not on her, but me, 
 
 Theresa. 
 
 By day let no sad hour eclipse 
 
 The sunlight of her waking bliss, 
 
 And press by night upon her lips. 
 Thy pure and angel kiss, 
 
 Theresa. 
 
 Thy name is breathed by many a tongue. 
 Thy praise by many a worshipper, 
 
 No prayer from deeper love is wrung. 
 Than this to thee for her, 
 
 Theresa. 
 
IN ABSENCE. 
 
 Afar from thee my spirit yearns 
 
 To lay its offering at thy feet, 
 The flame that on its altar burns, 
 
 Would yield an incense doubly sweet 
 Wert thou but near with smiles to greet 
 
 Thy votary, who alone, apart, 
 Would make the offering more complete, 
 
 With tears and with a broken heart. 
 Alas, nor smile nor glance of thine, 
 Upon my sad oblation shine. 
 
 Thy face with sad and mournful gaze. 
 
 Comes floating dimly through my dreams;, 
 And when I sing our once loved lays, 
 
 Thy voice to blend its sweetness seems ; 
 
90 IN ABSENCE. 
 
 My fancy every trait redeems 
 
 Of thine that made thee once so dear 
 But saddened by these transient gleams, 
 
 I murmur still, " Thou art not here." 
 Although, more blest than I can bo, 
 IMy heart forever dwells with thee. 
 
BOTH WELL. 
 
 On the ground the wounded trooper, 
 Lay with dinted, bloody crest, 
 
 And the Covenanter fiercely 
 
 Set his sword upon his breast. 
 
 " Die, believing nought, nor hopin*? !" 
 Burley through his set teeth cried, 
 
 Both well, with a look defiant. 
 
 Gasping, " Fearing nothing !" died, 
 
 His had been a life of battle, 
 Not alone in martial strife. 
 
 But where Sin with serried squadron. 
 Fights upon the field of Life. 
 
92 BOTHWELL. 
 
 Scars were on his stiffening body, 
 
 Got where soldiers win their fame, 
 
 Scars had been upon his spirit, 
 
 From the blows of Vice and Shame. 
 
 One, who knew the dauntless trooper. 
 Sought him where in fight he fell, 
 
 And upon his pulseless bosom. 
 
 Found a treasure guarded well. 
 
 Letters, writ when Life was early, 
 Letters, by the loved one traced, 
 
 Stained and worn and blurred the paper. 
 With the writing half effaced. 
 
 But upon them this inscription. 
 Told he never needed art 
 
 To preserve them, " 'Tis no matter, 
 For I have them all by heart/"' 
 
 All by heart, those loving phrases, 
 All by heart, each tender word, 
 
 Though her hand was cold that traced them, 
 And her pulse no longer stirred. 
 
BOTHWELL. 93 
 
 On his breast those outward tokens 
 Of that sinless love had lain ; 
 
 On his soul its pure remembrance 
 Slept, nor knew a spot or stain. 
 
 Who shall know how oft that angel, 
 Pleaded whh his stubborn heart ? 
 
 What resolves to deeds of goodness 
 At her gentle words would start ? 
 
 Through his wild, fierce life that Passion 
 Went with him 'mid every scene ; 
 
 Light ! upon the storm-cloud's edges ! 
 In the waste, the spot of green ! 
 
 Bothwell ! who shall say that mercy 
 Was not granted thee above ? 
 
 Since, on Earth, thy ruthless spirit, 
 Was so merciful to Love ! 
 
VALENTINE. 
 
 I MET thee once, and 'round my heart, 
 
 The light thy beauty left still plays. 
 Still through the mists of memory start, 
 
 The feelings wakened by that gaze ; 
 The seal that Passion once has set 
 
 Upon the heart will leave it never, 
 And Time in vain may say " Forget," 
 
 To one that must remember ever. 
 
 We met within the house of prayer, 
 
 Where hopes and thoughts should heavenward be, 
 I could not in the worship share, 
 
 I found my hope and Heaven in thee : 
 Within thine eye a light was dwelling 
 
 That seemed too pure for Life or Earth ; 
 
VALENTINE. 95 
 
 Within my heart a hope was swelling, 
 That of that holy glance had birth. 
 
 Our paths may never meet again, — 
 
 The light that over mine was thrown 
 By thy sweet face, must flash in vain 
 
 In Memory's halls, for thou art gone ; 
 Thou mayst not guess the hand that flings 
 
 This idle garland on thy shrine. 
 But do not scorn the heart that brings 
 
 Its worship. Gentle Valentine. 
 
LEAVES AND HEARTS. 
 
 Sighing through the tasselled pine, 
 Autumn winds are sadly stealing, 
 
 And, as dipped in blood-red wine. 
 
 Leaves are crimson tints revealing, 
 
 Wearing many a hue divine, 
 
 But at heart the cold frost feeling. 
 
 So, when all the spirit's chords, 
 By sad memories are shaken. 
 
 Light and gay may be our words, 
 
 Bright beams in our eyes may waken, 
 
 But the withered heart records, 
 
 " Life and Hope have thee forsaken." 
 
A SONG. 
 
 The sparkle on the wine-cup's brim, 
 
 The flash upon the wave, 
 Are bright a moment, then grows dim 
 
 The ghtter that they gave ; 
 And thus the Hght of woman's eye, 
 
 The magic of her smile, 
 May win a heart's idolatry, 
 
 And, winning, but beguile. 
 
 The melody the sea-nymph sings, 
 Falls softly on the ear, 
 
 Brave mariner ! beware, it brings 
 Death, if thou sailest near. 
 9 
 
'98 A SONG. 
 
 And thus the words of woman's tongue, 
 A charm, like music, weave, 
 
 But, fatal as that wooing song, 
 The trusting they deceive. 
 
 When woman's eyes are bright, beware ! 
 
 They hide most danger then ; 
 When sighs or smiles your heart might snare, 
 
 List not, nor gaze again ; 
 So shall you keep your bosom's rest, 
 
 Unmoved by beauty's spell, 
 So shall you shun the danger best, 
 
 Of loving and too well. 
 
THE CREMATION. 
 
 To-night my eyes, tear-laden, have wandered sadly oVr 
 The lines that told a passion, sleeping now to wake no 
 Diore. 
 
 From each mate and voiceless syllable are dreary memo- 
 ries born, 
 
 That, with fingers dim and spectral, point to days forever 
 2one. . 
 
 " Forever," oh, " Forever,^' ^twas the word you breathed 
 
 to me, 
 When your girlish faith you plighted, with the stars alone 
 
 to see. 
 
100 THE CREMATION. 
 
 False scroll ! and falser passion ! how it haunts me, lying 
 there, 
 
 Read into my deepest memory, treasured up to mock de- 
 spair. 
 
 Tears of joy have fallen on it, and again and yet again, 
 Have my lips sought out the places where your fingers 
 might have lain. 
 
 Foolish tears ! ye were but wasted, idle was the clinging 
 
 kiss, 
 Of the love that blazed so brightly there is nothing left but 
 
 this. 
 
 Ere this too be cold in ashes, let the voices of the Past, 
 Speak once more unto thy spirit, speak for this time and 
 the last. 
 
 We were young in Life, no shadows fell upon our light- 
 some way, 
 
 There was then no night of sorrow that would never break 
 in Day. 
 
 No passion, heart-inwoven, no memory so deep 
 That the wave of Lethe only could lull it into sleep. 
 
THE CREMATION. Id 
 
 Then I lingered in the sunlight of thy deep and pleading 
 
 eyes, 
 Then I felt from out the fountains of my heart a love 
 
 arise. 
 
 Not ungentle was thine accent, not of anger was thy 
 
 blush. 
 When the words, "I love you," came to break the twilight's 
 
 holy hush. 
 
 But the lip on mine that quivered, and the crimson on thy 
 
 brow. 
 Seemed to say with chiding fondness, " Canst thou doubt I 
 
 love thee now ?" 
 
 Doubt thee ! if from out the silence of the sicy a voice had 
 
 rung, 
 Saying " Doubt her," all the closer to thy heart I would 
 
 have clung. 
 
 Then the distant gleaming glory of the stars appeared to- 
 
 lie 
 Reflected in the lustre o-f thy timid, upturned eye. 
 9* 
 
102 THE CREMATION. 
 
 Then I seemed to hear Life's volume closed with soft and 
 
 muffled sound, 
 And a whisper saying, " Read no more, thou hast the secret 
 
 found." 
 
 But to-night the stars have lighted their mournful fires 
 
 again, 
 And to-night my heart is saying, " Did she love thee even 
 
 then ? 
 
 " Didst thou think in that sweet moment when her kisses 
 lightly fell, 
 
 That to-night the only accent on thy lips would be, Fare- 
 well ?'^ 
 
 Yet it must be, — through the midnight with a dreary, 
 
 hopeless tone. 
 The wind that word repeateth, and repeateth that alone. 
 
 I must sift tliee from my spirit, I must sever thee from 
 
 thought, 
 la the net of my remembrance must thy image ne'er 
 
 be caught. 
 
THE CREMATION. 103 
 
 There were hopes my heart had guarded, let them perish 
 
 in their prime, 
 Let no answer to their longings come from out the Future 
 
 Time. 
 
 There were springs that blessed life's journey, let me nev- 
 er of them taste, 
 
 There were green spots where we rested, let them be a 
 barren waste. 
 
 It was summer when I met thee, and with hues as bright 
 
 and gay, 
 As the summer's wooing blossoms, dawned Love's twilight 
 
 into Day. 
 
 It was autumn when we parted', when the flowers no more 
 
 were fair, 
 When the maple tossed his bloody arms upon the frosty 
 
 air. 
 
 So the Autumn of the spirit came with sudden step on 
 
 me. 
 And with hues, at death the brightest, fell the leaves from 
 
 Passion's tree. 
 
104 THE CREMATION. 
 
 Wherefore do I speak of Passion ? h^'e are vv'ords that 
 
 claim to rise, 
 From its hotliest blazing altar, from its purest sacrifice. 
 
 Did they spring from young affection, did they Truth's 
 
 impression bear ? 
 No ! the Falsehood looks from out them with a leaden, 
 
 mocking stare. 
 
 Brighter blaze, ye flames that flicker! fiercer yet, ye em- 
 bers ! glow, 
 While amid your red embraces this faithless scroll I throw. 
 
 All is dark: — amid the forest of the pines with sullen roar, 
 The midnight wind is saying, " No more, oh, never more !" 
 
THE ROSARY. 
 
 They sat together in the wood, 
 The maiden and the boy ; 
 
 And through the shade the sunlight fell. 
 Like sorrow crossed with joy, 
 
 So in their hearts Love's virgin ore 
 Was mixed with Grief's alloy. 
 
 "And take," she said, " this cross and chain, 
 And wear them on thy breast, 
 
 I've counted oft each bead and link. 
 To lull me to my rest, 
 
 And many a time this Uttle cross 
 Hath to my lips been pressed. 
 
 "Thou goest from me, — I no more 
 Shall watch about thy way, 
 
106 THE ROSARY. 
 
 I shall not see thy form at eve, 
 Or hear thy voice by day ; 
 
 Ail that my weakness leaves to me, 
 Is, for thy sake to pray. 
 
 " If Evil lure thee from the right, 
 If Conscience chide in vain. 
 
 Ah, like an iron link to Truth, 
 
 Heaven make this fragile chain. 
 
 And may its cross burn in thy heart, 
 Til thou art strong again. 
 
 " If bluer, softer eyes than mine, 
 Seem worlds of Love to thee, 
 
 If other lips and other tones 
 Crowd out my memory. 
 
 Still be this chain about thy soul 
 To draw thee back to me." 
 
 And so they parted ; — she, to wear 
 Above, an angel's crown ; 
 
 And he, to feel on land or sea. 
 In forest or in town, 
 
 A cross and chain upon his heart 
 From the far Heaven let down. 
 
CAPE-COTTAGE AT SUNSET. 
 
 We stood upon the ragged rocks, 
 
 When the long day was nearly done ; 
 
 The waves had ceased their sullen shocks, 
 
 And lapped our feet with murmuring tone, 
 
 And o'er the bay in streaming locks, 
 Blew the red tresses of the Sun. 
 
 Along the West the golden bars 
 Still to a deeper glory grew ; 
 
 Above our heads the faint, few stars 
 
 Looked out from the unfathomed blue : 
 
 And the far city's clamorous jars 
 
 Seemed melted in that evening hue. 
 
108 CAPE-COTTAGE AT SUNSET. 
 
 Oh, sunset sky ! Oh, purple tide ! 
 
 Oh, friends to friends that closer pressed ! 
 Those glories have in darkness died, 
 
 And ye have left my longing breast : 
 I could not keep you by my side. 
 
 Nor fix that radiance in the West. 
 
 Upon those rocks the waves shall beat 
 
 With the same low and murmuring strain, 
 
 Across those waves, with glancing feet, 
 The sunset rays shall seek the main; 
 
 But when together shall we meet. 
 Upon that far-off shore again ! 
 
THY NAME. 
 
 It was not that the dizzy dance 
 
 Had made my senses swim, 
 It was not that my aching glance, 
 
 Beneath the lights grew dim ; 
 But o'er my cheek and o'er my brow 
 
 The fearful paleness came, 
 Because, with laugh at thy light vow, 
 
 I heard them breathe thy name. 
 
 I thought that time had lulled to sleep 
 
 The old and weary pain. 
 That Pride had made the grav» too deep 
 
 For Love to rise again ; 
 10 
 
110 THY NAME. 
 
 But ah, amid that scene of mirth, 
 With power and might the same 
 
 As when thy love made lovely Earth, 
 Fell on my ear thy name. 
 
 Where art thou, lost one ! — if there be 
 
 One spell to guide thy track, 
 I pray that Heaven would teach it me, 
 
 So I might call thee back ; 
 But no, I feel the angry flush 
 
 Light up my cheek like flame, 
 'Tis not the glow of Love, — I blush 
 
 Because I breathed thy name. 
 
 Not on my lips again in Life, 
 
 Those words shall ever dwell. 
 Ah, would that I could still the strife 
 
 Within my heart as well : 
 Hadst thou but kept thy plighted vow, 
 
 I had not known this shame. 
 Nor cursed the hour, as 1 do now. 
 
 When first I heard thy name. 
 
» 
 
 TO ONE AWAY. 
 
 The stars are in the cold, blue sky, 
 Their watch fires blaze as thick and high, 
 As when we turned a loving e3^e 
 
 From them to one more dear, Mary ; 
 I look on them to-night alone, 
 They shine not now as once they shone, 
 There is a glory from them gone, 
 
 For tliou no more art here, Mary. 
 
 Kind tones are lingering near me still, 
 Sweet echoes ring from Memory's hill, 
 Ah! once they woke a tender thrill, 
 
 Because they all were thine, Mary : 
 
1 12 TO ONE AWAY. 
 
 But now I cannot care to hear 
 A gentle word, an accent dear, 
 No loving hopes or fears ihey bear 
 From my heart unto thine, Mary. 
 
 There was a time when roses flushed 
 With starlight heard our voices hushed 
 To whispers, for thy fair cheeks blushed 
 
 To know I loved thee well, Mary : 
 There was a time when Passion poured 
 Its wealth o'er every gentle word. 
 Which thou nor I shall cease to hoard, 
 
 While Love its tale shall tell, Mary. 
 
 But novv^ the flowers have lost their bloom, 
 And vainly comes their sweet perfume 
 To woo away the deepening gloom 
 
 From scenes that once were fair, Mary 
 It is enough to know that thou 
 Art gone, that on my lip and brow 
 Can come no more the kisses now 
 
 That once would linger there, Mary. 
 
AT LAST. 
 
 Yes, the sleep that thou art sleeping, 
 
 Never has a dream of me, 
 And the watch that Death is keeping 
 
 Is more fixed than Love's could be ; 
 Yet I almost bless the coldness 
 
 Of the grave they show as tiiinc. 
 For it gives this thought of boldness. 
 
 Thou, in death at least, art mine. 
 
 Loving smiles and looks that won thee, 
 
 Do not haunt thy slumbers now, 
 Kisses that were rained upon thee. 
 
 Press no more thy lip or brow : 
 Rut my heart that gave no token 
 
 Of a love so deeply thine, 
 Now thy chords of Life are broken. 
 
 Murmurs "Thou, in Death, art mine. 
 10* 
 
LAUNCHING. 
 
 Well may they deck the ship to-day 
 
 With colors flaunting free, 
 Well may she wear her best array, 
 
 So soon a bride to be ; 
 Long hath the dainty beauty kept 
 
 Her lover from her charms, 
 But now her last lone sleep is slept. 
 
 We give her to his arms. 
 
 Ah, guard our darling from the storm, 
 
 Thy bosom never bore 
 A prouder or more faultless form, 
 
 A fairer love before : 
 Tame down thy billows' thundering shocks, 
 
 Thy foaming wrath, oh Sea ! 
 And keep her from the angry rocks 
 
 That lie along her lee. 
 
LAUNCHING. 1 15 
 
 Her home has been where green hills kiss 
 
 The river's rippling tide, 
 But, ah, our eyes must learn to miss 
 
 The Ocean's new made bride. 
 Where white capped waves forever rise, 
 
 Where sea-birds skim the foam, 
 Far off, beneath the sea-kissed skies. 
 
 Our Beauty seeks her home. 
 
 Ah, proud may be the mariners. 
 That stand upon her deck. 
 
 They little fear in strength like hers. 
 The tempest or the wreck : 
 
 And proudly may her ensign fly- 
 That bears the stripes and stars. 
 
 The peace that builds a ship like this, 
 ■ Is worth a thousand wars. 
 
 Float on, oh flag, and gaily stream 
 
 Above an honored name. 
 Though bright your starry folds may gleam, 
 
 Still brighter is his fame : 
 Not idle was the wish, or vain. 
 
 That styled alike should be 
 The bravest of the battle plain. 
 
 The proudest of the Sea ! 
 
TO E. G. H., AN INFANT. 
 
 Dear liitle stranger, thou perhaps mayst never 
 
 Gaze on the one who dreams to-night of thee, 
 And, where the ripples of thy calm life quiver, 
 
 My bark may seldom steer from stormier sea : 
 On me will rest the deeply printed traces 
 
 Of Time and Care, when, on thy spotless brow, 
 Dwells the pure love-light which Youth's angel places, 
 
 That love-light which is dawnins even now. 
 
 Still let me quell the sorrowful reflection 
 
 That Time to thee brings Youth, to me but Age ; 
 And let thine infancy awake affection 
 
 To guide my fingers o'er this idle page ; 
 For thou art of that band whose souls are stainless 
 
 As those who watch us kindly from on high ; 
 Thou art an infant, ah, the task is painless 
 
 For man to love wlien such as thou art niiili. 
 
I 
 
 117 
 
 Thou wilt go forth in Life, yet may its sadness 
 
 Ne'er hold ♦her sullen cup to thy sweet lip, 
 But in its glittering lake of glowing gladness 
 
 May thy youth's pinions ever lightly dip : 
 Alas ! the prayer is vain, for Time brings sorrow. 
 
 And thou canst never hope its path to shun. 
 Yet may'st thou in the dark hour Heaven's aid borrow, 
 
 As on the storm-cloud's edges shines the sun. 
 
 If thy unriddled Fate should ever order 
 
 That thou shouldst stray, where all have strayed before, 
 Beside that magic river's flower-gemmed border 
 
 Where Love's wild tide beats on the pebbly shore ; 
 May he whose hand is linked in thine be singied 
 
 From those whose hearts are manly, bold and true, 
 And may your lots in Life be gently mingled 
 
 As fades the sunset in the Vesper blue. 
 
 Enough, to-night fond eyes are watching o'er thee 
 
 Whose tenderness is spent on thee alone. 
 That fadeless love shall be a shield before thee 
 
 To guard and guide thee till its strength is gone. 
 And I, whose way in Life has led me near thee, 
 
 In spirit, steal beside thy slumbers light. 
 In spirit, leave this simple lay to cheer thee. 
 
 In spirit, whisper in thine ear " Good Night." 
 
OUR FLAG. 
 
 Where has it shone ! at Lexington, 
 
 Where fell the first blood of the free, 
 Where from each red drop spilt was won 
 
 A charm that gave us victory ; 
 It floated next on Bunker's Hill, 
 
 Where our old sires the Briton met, 
 His welcome was the bullet shrill, 
 
 And in his heart the bayonet- 
 
 Its folds were clogged with ice and snow, 
 
 Upon the frozen Delaware, 
 But Trenton's victory shed a glow 
 
 That warmed it into glory there : 
 Its long stripes glittered in the sun, 
 
 On Saratoga's tented plain. 
 Where the battalions of Burgoyne, 
 
 Saw England's glory fade and wane. 
 
OUR FLAG. 119 
 
 The Constitution's mast-head bore 
 
 That banner, floating full and free, 
 And took it from Columbia's shore 
 
 To gain new glory on the Sea. 
 It waved above the flame and smoke, 
 
 By the wild, battle whirlwind blown. 
 And when the light beneath it broke 
 
 It saw St. Geor2;e's cross go down. 
 
 On Palo Aho's bloody plain, 
 
 That dear, old banner still was there, 
 They guarded it from spot or stain, 
 
 And bore it blazing through the air : 
 Though pierced by balls and cursed by foes, 
 
 It still streamed on above the fray, 
 And blessed the dying eyes of those 
 
 Who fought and fell at Monterey. 
 
 God guard our flag, and keep each star, 
 
 Each stripe as bright as now they wave, 
 Still may it lead our bands in war, 
 
 Still float above each hero's grave ; 
 Death to the coward that would dare 
 
 To trail it through the dust of shame, 
 All honest hearts its lot will share, 
 
 And follow it to Death or Fame. 
 
JANET. 
 
 Let me too leave my offering, though the giver 
 
 Uncared for, and perhaps unwelcome be, 
 Yet, while through Life flows Memory's rapid river, 
 
 One wave shall ever bear a thought of thee ; 
 A. thought of those sweet days, though long departed, 
 
 When we were young, when thou wert fair as spring, 
 Such thoughts as come to bless the broken hearted 
 
 With dreams of joys that Life no more shall bring. 
 
 What can I wish thee, ah, how vain, how idle, 
 To wish a fate that time may never give, 
 
 How seldom dawns Hope's sunny day of bridal 
 With her fruition while on Earth we live. 
 
JANET. 121 
 
 Our path with flinty points may be encrusted, 
 
 Though it seemed smooth and soft in hopeful Youth, 
 
 And friends, whose faith we fearlessly had trusted, 
 May fail us when we sorest need their truth. 
 
 But yet I cannot doubt thy stainless spirit, 
 
 Must ever 'round it feel an arm of power, 
 Thine innocence must from its God inherit 
 
 A strength to save it in the darkest hour : 
 I cannot doubt that light will be around thee. 
 
 As warm as that which once in Eden fell, 
 I pray that Life may find, as it hath found thee, 
 
 Untouched by Care, unvexed by Grief, — Farewell. 
 
 11 
 
THE HEALTH. 
 
 When others pledge the one they love, 
 
 I do not breathe thy name, 
 The revelry that wine may move. 
 
 Its music would profane ; 
 But, stealing from the crowd apart, 
 
 Though bright the goblet be, 
 From the deep worship of my heart, 
 
 I fill a health to thee. 
 
 When other eyes around me shine, 
 
 When other lips are near. 
 With smiles, perhaps as bright as thine, 
 
 But, oh, not half so dear. 
 They can but wake the memory 
 
 Of thy last glance or tone. 
 And sweet those smiles or looks may be. 
 
 I think of thine alone. 
 
THE SEA SIDE. 
 
 He sits in the dolorous twilight, 
 
 And looks o'er the mocking sea, — 
 
 " And, oh, but the days are weary, 
 
 Wilt thou never come back to me. 
 
 Come back with the tender love-light, 
 In the depths of thy hazel eye, 
 
 Come back with the olden fondness, 
 And the love of days gone by.'' 
 
 " Should I come if the light had faded. 
 In eyes that have wept for thee ? 
 
 Should I come if the heart was broken, 
 That had loved so faithfully ?" 
 
124 THE SEA SIDE. 
 
 Did that voice float over the water, 
 Or was it the sigh of the sea ? 
 
 But he said — " If thy heart is broken, 
 Then, darling, come back to me." 
 
 A step on the beach beside him, 
 
 And an arm about him thrown, 
 
 And the loved, but the lost of Youth-time, 
 Comes back to him, all his own. 
 
STANZAS. 
 
 When wilt thou think of me ? — Perhaps forever 
 
 My lip of thine hath taken its farewell, 
 Perhaps upon Life's mystic current never 
 
 Our hearts together thus may own its spell, 
 The light of Youth is warmly sleeping 'round thee, 
 
 The hopes of Youth within thy heart are high. 
 But when the cares and griefs of Time have found thee, 
 
 Say, wilt thou waken earlier memory. 
 
 And sometimes think of me? 
 
 When wilt thou think of me r — When there are glances 
 Of eyes that to thy heart must find a way, 
 
 When there are words shall lap thee in sweet trances, 
 Where Love shall hold a strong but rapturous sway, 
 
 When other forms beside thee shall be kneeling. 
 Hanging upon thy lightest look or tone, 
 11* 
 
126 
 
 STANZAS. 
 
 Or with their passionate words the hope revealing, 
 That ne'er before their spirits dared to own, 
 
 Thou needst not think of me. 
 
 But when the vows that wayward lips have spoken, 
 
 Like the bright dreams they wakened, melt away, 
 When change and coldness young Love's wand have 
 broken. 
 
 And Passion's idols break like Gods of clay. 
 Thou mayst, perchance, recall the long fled vision. 
 
 That far away in memory's keeping lies. 
 When Life to me was clad in hues Elysian, 
 
 Caught from the lustre of thy liquid eyes, 
 
 And kindly think of me. 
 
 llcmcmber, I have often been beside thee, 
 
 Though dearer ones have since been lingering there, 
 Think that, though weary miles from me divide thee, 
 
 Nor space nor time can check the spirit's prayer. 
 Dream that a fond heart yet is clinging to thee 
 
 Whose faith hath known, can know no chill or 
 change. 
 For, from the sacred hour when first I knew thee 
 
 Its hopes have sought, have found no higher range, 
 Than but to dream of thee ! 
 
WERT THOU BUT MINE. 
 
 I DREAM sweet dreams, and, in their blessed light, 
 I seem to feel thy soft arms 'round me twine. 
 
 The vision fleeth with the shades of night, 
 
 But not my earnest prayer, " Wert thou but mine.'^ 
 
 " Wert thou but mine," — in those fond words is kept 
 The secret where Life's wildest hopes combine. 
 
 All other passions in my heart have slept. 
 
 This ever wakes, and sighs " Wert thou but mine." 
 
 " Wert thou but mine," — to-night the stars are set 
 In the blue Heaven, but dim and cold they shine. 
 
 Oh, they were brighter on that eve we met. 
 
 That eve I whispered, " Love, wert thou but mine." 
 
 " Wert thou but mine," — I have no other prayer, 
 I bow my knee before no other shrine, 
 
 Each spot is holy if thy form is there, 
 
 Earth would be Heaven itself, wert thou but mine, 
 
STANZAS. 
 
 The song you sang is thrilling yet 
 
 With all its sweetness in my mind, 
 Ah ! in that echo I forget 
 
 The broken hopes I leave behind ; 
 Sing it once more, — yet no, that spell 
 
 I would not have disturbed again, 
 Where those dear tones of music fell, 
 
 Have fled forever grief and pain. 
 
 The glance that through your lashes stole. 
 
 Burns in my heart with quenchless ray ; 
 Ah, thus the speech of soul to soul, 
 
 In silent utterance finds its way : 
 Look on me now, — yet no, those eyes 
 
 Should with their lids be curtained o'er, 
 A colder look in coldness dies. 
 
 That love-glance lives forever more. 
 
I 
 
 THE FLEMING^S TRUE LOVE. 
 
 He lay beside the river, 
 
 In the yellow, cold moonshine, 
 " What walks between the waves and me ? 
 
 Is't thou, true love of mine ? 
 
 " And have you crossed the ocean. 
 And have you crossed the land. 
 
 That I may kiss thy ruddy lips. 
 
 And press thy warm, soft hand ?" 
 
 " You shall kiss my lips so ruddy. 
 
 You shall press this hand of mine, 
 
 I knew that I should find thee here. 
 In the yellow, cold moon-shine." 
 
130 THE Fleming's true love. 
 
 The maiden's lips he kisses, 
 
 He takes the maiden's hand, 
 
 But they are cold as winter's snow, 
 And white as the sea-sand. 
 
 " True love, thy lips have chilled me, 
 Cold is this hand of thine," — 
 
 And the Fleming lay all stark and still, 
 In the yellow, cold m.oon-shine. 
 
LAND-BREEZES. 
 
 Down some bright river hast thou never drifted, 
 
 And marked on either side, 
 Green fields and slopes with cedarn valleys rifted. 
 
 That met the wooing tide ; 
 
 Fair groves, all panoplied with summer's armor, 
 Knolls, where the wild bee roams, 
 
 And, o'er the whole, a deeper light and warmer. 
 The light of happy homes ? 
 
 And as thy bark was downward dropping slowly. 
 
 By spots and scenes like these, 
 Upon thy brow, with kisses calm and holy, 
 
 Lingered the warm land-breeze. 
 
132 LAND-BREEZES. 
 
 The river widened, and its sandy verges, 
 
 Crept from thee, either way. 
 And on thine ear were borne the ocean's surges, 
 
 Upon thy lip its spray. 
 
 In its tumuhuous strife and ceaseless tossing. 
 
 Its agony and storm. 
 From shores that thou hadst left, thy damp brow crossing. 
 
 Blew soft that land-breeze warm. 
 
 Unnoticed then were billows huge and dashing, 
 
 Unmarked the tempest's roar ; 
 Thou only heardst the waters crisply washing. 
 
 Upon the river's shore. 
 
 Down some bright stream of Song thy heart has floated, 
 
 And seen, each side inclined, 
 Far stretching plains, to noblest thought devoted. 
 
 Green hill-sides of the mind. 
 
 Fair groves, where earnest Hopes were boldly growing. 
 
 Gardens of Love and Truth ; 
 And o'er the whole the Poet's heart was throwing, 
 
 Its Passion and its Youth. 
 
LAND-BREEZES. 1 33 
 
 By bluffs of Wit, by nooks of Fancy glidings 
 
 Drifted thy bark along, 
 While o'er thy spirit, with a sweet abiding, 
 
 Dallied the breeze of Song. 
 
 Till the perpetual swell of fierce emotion. 
 
 Of restless care and strife. 
 Foretold that thou wert nearing that broad ocean. 
 
 The mighty sea of Life. 
 
 Across its waves forever high and crested, 
 
 Forever icy cold, 
 Fluttered that breeze from shores where once it rested, 
 
 And lapped thee in its fold. 
 
 Oh ! weary voyager on that Atlantic 
 
 Of human woe and wrong. 
 Didst thou not see its billows wild and frantic, 
 
 Lulled by the Breeze of Song ? 
 
 12 
 
THE LOST PLEIAD. 
 
 We never weary when the Poet sings 
 
 Of Love's deep wrongs, or of their just requital, 
 The tale a charm about our spirits flings, 
 
 Fresher with each recital. 
 
 For gentle influences fill the heart, 
 
 Though selfishness or pride had barred its portal. 
 And with their nameless power awake that part 
 
 Of us which is immortal. 
 
 And, as we read how young hearts loved in vain. 
 There comes a sympathy, a secret yearning, 
 
 That summons back our spirits' earliest pain 
 Through Memory's fields returning. 
 
THE LOST PLEIAD. 
 
 135 
 
 Or, if the page but tells of joy-lit eyes, 
 
 But speaks of hopes untinged with grief or sadness, 
 Remembrances of happy days arise, 
 
 When Life was Love and Gladness. 
 
 So if 1 weave in idle rhyme the tale 
 
 Of the Lost Pleiad, haply it may waken 
 
 Some strain of Memory's music, sweet though frail, 
 As the lute sives, breeze-shaken. 
 
 Long, long ago when Gods with mortals dwelt. 
 So runs the old and classic Grecian story. 
 
 When o'er the shrines at which their votaries knelt 
 Was flung their visible glory ; 
 
 When every forest echoed with the strains. 
 
 From some Pan's pipe in witching cadence ringing, 
 
 Whose music now in Grecian verse remains, 
 Like faint and far off sinfring; 
 
 When heroes who on Earth had nobly died. 
 
 Leaving a name that breathed of gallant daring. 
 
 Were by their wondering fellows deified 
 A War-God's title bearing ; 
 
136 THE LOST PLEIAD. 
 
 When from the heights of some vine-covered hill, 
 The sacred laurel 'round his temples wreathing, 
 
 Earth's daughters heard, with pulses hushed and still, 
 Apollo's love-song breathing ; 
 
 In that sweet time when Earth was fresh and young, 
 Unstirred by Time from out its infant slumbers. 
 
 Seven sisters in a Grecian valley sung 
 In sweet and rapturous numbers. 
 
 Their lyres were redolent of magic song. 
 
 And from their lips such blissful tones were falling, 
 Immortals listened eagerly and long. 
 
 Bound by the spell enthralling. 
 
 Such music was too beautiful for Earth, 
 
 So, on one bright and cloudless summer even, 
 
 The maids were placed, despite their mortal birth, 
 Among the stars of Heaven. 
 
 And there the notes that once were heard below. 
 
 Fell from their lyres and lips so wildly thrilling, 
 
 It seemed as if the glad and golden flow 
 Of Song the sky was filling. 
 
THE LOST PLEIAD. 137 
 
 And mortals gazing on the starry band, 
 
 As Hesper led them at the daylight's dying 
 
 Up to their place in Heaven, on Earth would stand. 
 At their departure sighing. 
 
 Each eve, a virgin choir, their vesper hymn 
 
 Throughout Jove's courts was softly, sweetly steal- 
 ings 
 
 Nor ceased till morning came, cold, gray and dim. 
 Their starry crowns concealing. 
 
 But ever when they met at night to sing. 
 
 Love came to listen to those accents holy, 
 
 Spell-bound, with fervent eye and folded wing 
 Charmed by their beauty solely. 
 
 For there was one, the fairest of the band, 
 
 With lustrous eyes and long and silken tresses, 
 
 Close to whose side the God would oftenest stand, 
 Seekins her sweet caresses. 
 
 And faint and fainter grew the notes that fell 
 
 From the sweet harp of that bewildered maiden, 
 
 Or if it woke a more harmonious swell 
 It was with passion laden, 
 12* 
 
138 THE LOST PLEIAD. 
 
 One night their song was hushed, for there was one, 
 Who of her flight had left a mournful token, 
 
 There at their feet was flung her starry crown, 
 Her harp was lying broken. 
 
 Nor in his place, where he was wont to be, 
 
 Was Love, as they of old had known him linger, 
 
 Charmed by the wild and wondrous witchery 
 Of that young, beauteous singer. 
 
 They mourned, but all in vain, no more, no more, 
 Came their fair sister to her place returning, 
 
 And in the skies where Seven had shone before. 
 One Star has quenched its burning. 
 
LITTLE NELL. 
 
 Thou standest in Life's morning ray, 
 
 A bright-eyed spirit, though a child. 
 Upon thy feet the sunbeams play. 
 And, glittering, trace a golden way. 
 
 With sorrow undefiled ; 
 With tearless gaze thy trusting eyes 
 Look out on scenes like Paradise. 
 
 Around thy path the roses spring, 
 
 And violets bathed with dews of Heaven, 
 Love o'er thy dear form spreads its wing, 
 Hearts beat for thee that still will clincr 
 
 o 
 
 To thine while life is given : 
 An angel walketh by thy side 
 Thyself to shield, thy steps to guide. 
 
140 LITTLE NELL. 
 
 Thou dwellest in a fairy land, 
 
 "With Childhood's roseate sky above thee, 
 Bright visions rise at diy command, 
 And soft-eyed spirits near thee stand. 
 
 Whose only care is but to love thee ; 
 Thou seest them, they fdl thy dreams 
 Like music born of woodland streams. 
 
 Time hurries on, its current strong. 
 
 Will bear thee down its ceaseless tide, 
 And, borne upon the breath of Song, 
 My prayers shall waft thy bark along. 
 
 Would that my hand could guide ; 
 So should it float o'er placid waves. 
 By banks whose flow'rets sunlight laves. 
 
 In romance thou wilt read of one, 
 
 Who bore thy loved and gentle name, 
 For her all clouded was Life's sun. 
 Life's blessings seemed her path to shun. 
 
 And grief her heart to claim ; 
 Yet, though a weary path she trod. 
 It reached at last the throne of God. 
 
 Not, not for thee her lot of tears, 
 
 Thy path in life should brighter be. 
 
LITTLE NELL. 141 
 
 But all that " Little Nell" endears, 
 All that so angel-like appears, 
 May it be found in thee ! 
 My prayer, my wish is told, Farewell, 
 God bless and guard thee, Little Nell. 
 
LENORE. 
 
 The weary night of Winter 
 
 Had closed the wearier day, 
 And he sat amid the firelight, 
 
 With a fancy far away ; 
 For the hrow in wrinkles knotted, 
 
 And the lip that quivered fast, 
 Told how his soul was smitten 
 
 By the sorcery of the Past : 
 Oh, wonderful Magician ! 
 
 Could I but read thy lore, 
 I should know what spell awakened 
 
 That vision of Lenoke. 
 
LENORE. 143 
 
 It was no longer Winter, 
 
 In that wondrous dream and rare, 
 But the eartli was green with Summer, 
 
 And Song was in the air, 
 The chain of age was loosened, 
 
 And his form was lithe and young, 
 Love's light was in his glances. 
 
 Love's words were on his tongue ; 
 He was walking by the river. 
 
 On its shelving, sandy shore. 
 In a summer's fragrant twilight. 
 
 And with him walked Lenore. 
 
 In his breast that sudden passion. 
 
 Had again its secret birth. 
 And he only saw one Being, 
 
 Heard one voice alone on Earth. 
 They walked together slowly, 
 
 And her hand in his was lain. 
 But the light touch of those fingers 
 
 Thrilled him through with pleasant pain 
 " I am sad, yet very happy ;" 
 
 This he said and nothins more. 
 But, in his eyes once looking. 
 
 She knew he loved Lenore. 
 
144 I>ENORE. 
 
 Oh, words of lowest cadence ! 
 
 Oh, glances filled with fire ! 
 Ye fill the sleeper's vision 
 
 With soft, renewed desire ; 
 Again each golden morning, 
 
 Again each tranquil night, 
 Bring back the olden rapture. 
 
 The tremulous delight : 
 Love's hands have filled Life's chalice, 
 
 And every drop they pour. 
 Is but a fresh oblation 
 
 To her, the loved Lenore. 
 
 It is Autumn in his vision. 
 
 And fade the leaf and flower. 
 And in his heart are fading 
 
 The hopes of Summer's hour ; 
 The rain is falling slowly. 
 
 Where Sunshine once had lain. 
 And tears are flowing, telling 
 
 The heart's unspoken pain ; 
 The birds are flying southward. 
 
 To seek a warmer shore. 
 Farewell to them and Summer, 
 
 Farewell to thee, Lenore ! 
 
LENORE. 145 
 
 Gone is the winged vision, 
 
 Its hopes, its fears, all gone, 
 And, awakened, he is sitting 
 
 In the firelight, all alone ; 
 Yet Slumber's gracious Angel 
 
 Hath blessed him ere it fled, 
 So, smiles that played while living. 
 
 Will beam on lips when dead : 
 No light gleams in the chamber, 
 
 Nor glows upon the floor. 
 But when shall die in darkness 
 
 That vision of Lenore ! 
 
 13 
 
FLIGHT. 
 
 He^ walking up the path. 
 
 It is the window, see, tlie rays 
 
 Shoot forth from her pale, beacon lamp ; 
 Warm on my heart falls that clear blaze. 
 
 And blesses this midnight dark and damp 
 Cover me close, oh, wide-winged night ! 
 And guide me, cresset flame ! aright : 
 And while my song the dusk air stirs 
 Reach, reach, oh Song! no ear but hers. 
 
 He, singing. 
 
 If thou hast slept, the cloudy sky 
 
 Must shed no opiates on thine eye ; 
 
 If thou hast dreamed, the winged dream 
 
 Must fly ; 
 
 For, oh, there comes a waking dream, 
 
 Since I am nigh. 
 
FLIGHT. 147 
 
 I bring the true heart, oh, how true, 
 That watches the long dayhght through, 
 And kisses, than which no lip more warm, 
 E'er knew ; 
 
 And the heart of truth and kisses warm 
 Are all for you. 
 
 What is the day, the dreary day, 
 To me since thou'rt away, away ! 
 But when there flows from raven skies 
 No ray, 
 
 I watch the rising of thine eyes, — 
 Awake, I pray. 
 
 He, speaking. 
 
 So, darling, close and closer yet, 
 
 Upon my lip thy red lip set, 
 
 And open the petals of thy heart, 
 
 Like the flushed moss rose-bud's, wide apart, 
 
 That, bee-like, I may shut me there, 
 
 Where the dews of passion, deep and rare, 
 
 May drown my sense and blind my sight 
 
 To all things, all but thee ; 
 
 Darling! who hates the lovely night! 
 
 It gives this gift to me. 
 
148 FLIGHT. 
 
 She, speaking. 
 
 I thought of thee when on my sight the twilight creeping 
 Shut out the earth, and left me, dearest, sadly weeping ; 
 I thought of thee, when, timid at my bedside praying, 
 Thy blessed name through all my holiest thoughts was 
 
 straying ; 
 I dreamed of thee when the dim lamp began to flicker. 
 And on my soul the veil of Sleep fell heavier, thicker ; 
 I dreamed of thee when o'er my open casement ledges 
 The flowers, unseen by me, thrust in their perfumed edges ; 
 I woke to thee to hear thy sweet song upward stealing. 
 The passion that I dare not doubt to me revealing , 
 I woke to thee to wish thy clinging arms about me, 
 I came to thee, for, oh, I cannot live without thee. 
 
 He, speaking. 
 
 There's a flower that closes by day, by day. 
 
 Its lids of fragrance, but when the Sun 
 Has driven his fiery barbs away. 
 
 Is kissed by the stars alone, alone. 
 There's a gem that at noontide is dim, is dim, 
 
 And shames the finger it rests upon. 
 But seems in the night-time in light to swim, 
 
 Like the light of thine eyes alone, alone. 
 Sweet flower ! rich gem ! upon this breast. 
 When He who watches has gone to rest, 
 
FLIGHT. 149 
 
 Thy fragrance lingers, thy brilliance shines, 
 
 In seas of odor, in radiant lines. 
 
 List ! through the rose-environed alleys, 
 
 The night wind with the fragrance dallies; 
 
 You can hear the breezes — that bold brave band, 
 
 Lay on each flower their shadowy hand ; 
 
 They ruffle the leaves and petals, and steal 
 
 To the heart that the flower would fain conceal ; 
 
 So I, like the night-wind, have swept to thee 
 
 From my home far over the surging sea ; 
 
 I have clasped thy beauty, thy lips I kiss 
 
 Whh the long drawn kiss of Love, like this. 
 
 Ske^ speaking. 
 
 And, oh, to die with thee beside me, 
 
 Were not so much a death. 
 And, when my own breath was denied me, 
 
 To feel on my cheek thy breath ; 
 This, this to feel, and thy dear hand clasping 
 
 My own in the fearful strife, 
 And thine ear to catch my last low gasping. 
 
 It would not be Death, but Life. 
 But give me Life, if life with thee. 
 Or over the shore, or over the Sea, 
 And I follow, 1 follow, I follow, and He 
 
 Shall follow in vain; 
 13* 
 
150 
 
 FLIGHT. 
 
 For the might of Love that sets me free, 
 Will bafBe him back again. 
 
 She, singing. 
 
 Where, through leafy forest arches, 
 
 Silence, like a conqueror, marches. 
 
 Where the cloud-rack's shifting shadow 
 
 Staggers o'er the open meadow, 
 
 W^here the wave with treacherous hand 
 
 Strangles the unthoughtful sand. 
 
 Where the ocean smites the skies. 
 
 Till it blinds their starry eyes. 
 Through the forest, by the meadow, on the sand and o'er 
 
 the brine. 
 Will I follow thee and follow thee and follow to be thine. 
 
 He, sjjcaking. 
 
 See, where the small waves kiss the shore, 
 My light boat rocks and waits for thee, 
 And thou hast told me o'er and o'er. 
 That where I went was Home for thee ; 
 Thou wilt not fail me, — no, the blood 
 Of thy true heart flows up thy cheek, 
 Then come, — before us lies the flood 
 O'er which our home of love we seek. 
 
FLIGHT. 151 
 
 She, singing. 
 
 And so, Good-bye. 
 I leave behind me fields and flowers, 
 I leave the place of Childhood's hours, 
 I know not yet what home is ours, 
 
 But still. Good-bye. 
 
 A long Good-bye. 
 I know what arm is 'round me thrown, 
 I know what true lip meets my own, 
 Whose brown locks 'midst my hair are blown. 
 
 Yes, yes. Good-bye. 
 
 He, singing. 
 
 A long Good-bye. 
 I came, a reckless rover here, 
 I found and won all Life holds dear. 
 And now, light heeds the Buccaneer 
 
 To bid Good-bye. 
 
 Once more Good-bye. 
 I held Love's vigil while He slept, 
 I seized the prize He lightly kept, 
 And to His ear let thus be swept 
 
 My last Good-bye. 
 
152 FLIGHT. 
 
 Together^ on the sea. 
 
 Take our Good-bye 
 Oh land, where our young love ran rife ! 
 We dare the billow's storm and strife 
 Together, till in Death to Life 
 
 We bid Good-bye. 
 
A VAIN RP: QUEST. 
 
 " Forget me and be happy," Yes, 
 
 I might be, but thy form and face. 
 
 In all then' quiet loveliness. 
 
 Have left upon ray soul a trace 
 
 So deep. Time cannot dim, far less 
 A single line erase. 
 
 Forget thee ! how can I forget ? 
 
 No Lethe's current flows for me 
 To drink oblivion there, and yet 
 
 I would not from thy power be free ; 
 No, I would spurn the draught, nor let 
 
 It drown one thought of thee. 
 
154 A VAIN REQUEST. 
 
 Forget thee ! no, it gives not pain, 
 To call to life the buried Past, 
 
 To waken in my mind again 
 
 Those hours of love that flew too fast, 
 
 And firmly rivet Memory's chain 
 With thy last look, thy last. 
 
 Forget thee ! there is not a tone, 
 
 A glance, a sigh, a smile of thine, 
 
 That Passion has not made its own, 
 And reared for it a holy shrine ; 
 
 About thy very name is thrown 
 A magic half divine. 
 
 Forget thee ! no, around my heart, 
 
 Some memories cling that cannot fade, 
 
 And I must with existence part. 
 
 Ere they can lose their slightest shade ; 
 
 And so, where'er, whate'er thou art. 
 My love is deathless made. 
 
THE CHURCH-YARD AT HOME. 
 
 I do not feel the ruthless sleet, 
 
 I do not heed the cutting cold, 
 The wings of Memory o'er me meet, 
 
 And lap me in their soft, warm fold ; 
 There comes a long blown summer breeze, 
 
 There rustles grass with flowerets starred, 
 And fragrance of its locust trees 
 
 Floats to me from a green Church-yard. 
 
 Within the porch I stand again, 
 
 A boy, with griefless heart and eye, 
 I see the Sabbath-going train, 
 
 With old-time faces passing by ; 
 They walk amid the shadows flung 
 
 By trailing boughs on grassy sward. 
 And through the door, wide open swung, 
 
 They enter from the old Church-yard. 
 
156 THE CHURCH-YARD AT HOME. 
 
 I hear the loud voiced organ send, 
 
 Its tones of blessing o'er the throng, 
 I hear the hymns of praise ascend, 
 
 In notes of sweetness lingering long ; 
 The steps steal softly up the aisle. 
 
 The doors with no harsh clang are jarred. 
 And, through the panes, the sunbeam's smile. 
 
 Flows fair across the old Church-yard. 
 
 The sunbeams wander through the place, 
 
 And rest upon one gentle form, — 
 Oh, fairest form ! Oh, dearest face ! 
 
 Ye made the sunshine doubly warm ; 
 The loving glance to me that steals. 
 
 Hath all the prayer and preaching marred, 
 I only see who near me kneels. 
 
 She only hallows that Church-yard. 
 
 Yes, those who sung, and those who prayed, 
 
 And those who met at Sabbath morn, 
 And she, the long lost one, who made 
 
 That spot more holy, all are gone ; 
 Yet, could I cross the weary waste, 
 
 By which the past is from me barred, 
 'Twould be one moment to be placed, 
 
 In boyhood, in that dear Church-yard. 
 
BALLAD. 
 
 He met her in the forest glade, 
 
 Alone and poorly clad was she, 
 The rank and riches of the maid 
 
 Were truth and virgin purity ; 
 She was the violet, not the rose, 
 
 Her path and his were wide apart, 
 And pride of birth and wealth arose 
 
 To check the yearnings of his heart. 
 
 They parted, if her image kept 
 
 A brief enshrinement in his mind. 
 Passion and pleasure o'er it swept, 
 
 And scorched it as the desert wind ; 
 But she had looked and she had loved. 
 
 That love she knew was all in vain, 
 And even hope but mockery proved, 
 
 For they might never meet again. 
 14 
 
158 BALLAD. 
 
 They met again within the glade, 
 
 But rank and weahh were his no more, 
 And scorned, deserted and betrayed, 
 
 His faith in woman's love was o'er ; 
 Yet she to her first dream was true. 
 
 Her heart's tide throbbed as wild and warm 
 As when, 'neath Fortune's sun, she knew 
 
 The one who now had felt its storm. 
 
 And he has found that rank and wealth. 
 
 Can never buy so sweet a flower, 
 As that which bloomed, as if by stealth, 
 
 Within that humble forest bower : 
 She never mourns his fallen state. 
 
 The Exile's young and blushing bride, 
 Nor deems she that an adverse fate 
 
 Which linked his fortunes to her side. 
 
HOMELESS. 
 
 She stood alone on the sullen pier, 
 
 With the night around and the river below, 
 And a voice, it seemed to her half crazed ear, 
 
 Was heard in the water's plashing flow ; 
 " You are tired and worn, come hither and sleep, 
 Where your poor, dim eyes shall cease to weep. 
 And no morning shall break in sorrow." 
 
 The long grass hung from each wave-washed pile, 
 And the water amid its loose locks ran. 
 
 And she thought with a strange and ghastly smile. 
 Of a long fled day and a false, false man. 
 
 How her fingers had combed his damp, brown hair, 
 
 But he and the World had left her there. 
 
 With no friend but the beckoning water. 
 
160 HOMELESS. 
 
 Was Heaven so far that no angel arm 
 
 Might 'round the Homeless in love be thrown, 
 
 To keep her away from hurt or harm ? 
 Or was it, in truth, a mercy shown, 
 
 That left her at night, alone, to think 
 
 Of her manifold woes upon the brink 
 
 Of that deep and pitiless river ? 
 
 She looked to the far off town and wept, 
 
 And, oh, could you blame the poor girl's tear! 
 
 For she thought how many a maiden slept 
 With Love and Honor as wardens near ; 
 
 While she was left in the world alone, 
 
 With none to miss her when she was gone 
 
 Where the merciless waves were calling. 
 
 No human eye and no human ear 
 
 E'er saw a struggle or heard a sound. 
 
 And the curious never could spare a tear. 
 
 As they looked at morn on the outcast drowned ; 
 
 But, ah, had speech been given the Dead, 
 
 Perhaps those motionless lips had said 
 
 " No Homeless are found in Heaven." 
 
THE LEE-SHORE. 
 
 The blast is raging landward, 
 And the shore is on our lee, 
 
 And thy cheek is chilled with kisses 
 Of the rude and ravenous Sea. 
 
 Oh! when in storms we shuddered, 
 And grasped each other's hand. 
 
 Did we think the ship was sailing 
 
 Where we should curse the land ? 
 
 But I heard our staunch, old captain. 
 
 Saying, " In an hour or more, 
 
 " We shall need to cry, ' God help us,' 
 
 " For the ship will strike the shore." 
 14* 
 
162 THE LEE-SHORE. 
 
 So, clasp thine arm about me, 
 
 And clench this rope with me, 
 
 Let us live or die together. 
 
 On the land or on the sea. 
 
 I am thinking, (canst thou hear me 
 In this re-echoing roar?) 
 
 Of that day we walked together. 
 Where we shall walk no more. 
 
 The stream flowed fast beside us, 
 
 And we stopped in silence there, 
 
 While I pulled the water-lilies 
 And tied them in thy hair. 
 
 Now, the waves that flow beside us 
 Bring Death to thee and me. 
 
 And now thy hair is sparkling 
 
 With the salt foam of the Sea. 
 
 I am thinking, (canst thou see me 
 By the lantern's dying light ?) 
 
 How I told thee of my passion. 
 On that silent summer night. 
 
THE LEE-SHORE. 163 
 
 The roses were around us, 
 
 And the grass was at our feet, 
 And, in one kiss of rapture. 
 
 We felt our young hearts meet. 
 
 But now alone the tempest, 
 
 And the flapping sails are heard, 
 And I kiss but lips of coldness. 
 
 And I hear no answerins: word. 
 
 Drive on, oh fated vessel ! 
 
 Dash on the jagged shore ! 
 Two hearts are clung together 
 
 To part in Life no more. 
 
MAMIE. 
 
 From the rose-wreathed window falling, 
 I hear a sweet voice calling, 
 Saying " Come to me, my darling, 
 
 I have waited long for thee," 
 Ah, how can I lose my darling. 
 
 Whom the morrow hears from me. 
 
 Though I press her to me nearly, 
 Though I know she loves me dearly. 
 Still one thought of sorrow merely. 
 
 Through my saddened spirit thrills. 
 That my darling, loved so dearly. 
 
 Goes when morning lights the hills. 
 
MAMIE. 165 
 
 Closer to thy true heart press me, 
 
 With thy kisses still caress me, 
 
 With thy words of true love bless me, 
 
 Wind me in thy white arms' thrall ; 
 Ah, so soon to cease to bless me. 
 
 Must I, darling, lose them all ? 
 
 It is night, but still I borrow 
 From its darkness balm for sorrow. 
 Oh, I only dread the morrow 
 
 That will take my love away ; 
 For the dawn will bring but sorrow, 
 
 How I dread the coming day. 
 
 Not one good-bye word is spoken, 
 Nor is given a farewell token. 
 And the stillness is but broken 
 
 By the sigh of parting pain ; 
 But we know what love is broken. 
 
 Shall it e'er be whole again ? 
 
MARY'S WALK. 
 
 Here is the path we trod together, 
 
 Side by side, and hand in hand 
 In the beautiful summer weather, 
 
 When the roses were in the land ; 
 Little we cared for the golden summer. 
 
 Less for the roses that flaunted nigh, 
 Each to each was a dearer comer 
 
 Than odorous roses or summer's sky. 
 
 Here it was that the words were spoken. 
 
 Low in tone and in number few, 
 Blessino; us both with a tender token 
 
 How each fond heart to the other grew ; 
 Down in the bushes the birds were singing, 
 
 Down in the west the sun was low 
 But a dearer song in our ears was ringing, 
 
 And our hearts were warmer than sunset glow. 
 
L' ENVOY. 
 
 If aught here said or sung, 
 
 Has soothed one care to rest, 
 
 One hour from grief has wrung. 
 Or cheered one weary breast. 
 
 It is reward enough, and thus confessed. 
 
 So go, ye simple rhymes, 
 
 Go forth, and plead for me, 
 Tell how, when rung the chimes 
 
 Of Hope or Memory, 
 One heart, at that sweet sound, sought to be free ; 
 
 Sought to be free, and spoke 
 
 As it has spoken here ; 
 Not all in vain it broke 
 
 Through its repose, for near, 
 Another heart replies in words how dear! 
 
168 l' envoy. 
 
 " Oh, golden dreams of Youth ! 
 
 Oh, Life's glad morning prime \ 
 Oh, days of Love and Truth ! 
 
 Your long lost air and clime 
 Come back, to me at least, in this poor rhyme. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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