DOTH NOT A MEETING. 117 That's heard at distance in the grove; But all be beauty, peace, and love. Indulgent Time should never bring So gently o'er thy brow he'd fly; T. MOORE. AND DOTH NOT A MEETING LIKE THIS. For all the long years I've been wandering away ; To see thus around me my youth's early friends, As smiling and kind as in that happy day ? What softened remembrances come o'er the heart, In gazing on those we've been lost to so long! The sorrows, the joys, of which once they were part, Still round them like visions of yesterday throng. 118 DOTH NOT A MEETING. As letters some hand hath invisibly traced, sight, So many a feeling, that long seemed effaced, The warmth of a moment like this brings to light. And thus, as in memory's bark we shall glide To visit the scenes of our boy hood anew, Though oft we may see, looking down on the tide, The wreck of full many a hope shining through; Yet still, as in fancy we point to the flowers, That once made a garden of all the gay shore, Deceived for a moment, we'll ihink them still ours, And breathe the fresh air of life's morning once inore. So brief our existence, a glimpse, at the most, Is all we can have of the few we hold dear; And oft even joy is unheeded and lost, For want of some heart that could echo it near. Ah, well may we hope, when this short life is gone, To meet in some world of more permanent bliss, For a smile, or a grasp of the hand, hast’ning on, Is all we enjoy of each other in this. T. MOORE. SAMUEL. 119 THE INFANT SAMUEL. " Then Samuel answered, speak Lord; for thy servant heareth." In childhood's spring, -ah! blessed spring! As fowers closed up at even Unfold in morning's earliest beam, The heart unfolds to heaven. Ah! blessed child that trustingly Adores and loves and fears, And 10 a Father's voice replies, “Speak, Lord, thy servant hears." When youth shall come,-ah! blessed youth! If still the pure heart glows, And in the world and word of God, Its Maker's language knows;If in the night and in the day, 'Midst youthful joys or fears, The trusting heart can answer still, “Speak, Lord, thy servant hears." When age shall come,-ah! blessed age ! If in its lengthened shade, Recede and sink and fade,- Dawn on thy closing eye, PEABODY. 120 POWER OF MEMORY. POWER OF MEMORY. HER charm around, the enchantress, Memory, threw,A charm that soothes the mind and sweetens too! But is her magic only felt below ? Say through what brighter realms she bids it flow ! There thy bright train, immortal Friendship, soar, No more to part, to mingle tears no more ! And as the softening hand of Time endears The joys and sorrows of our infant years, So there the soul, released from human strife, Smiles at the little cares and ills of life, Its lights and shades, its sunshine and its show ers, As at a dream that charmed her vacant hours. ROGERS. HOME. 121 MY CHILDHOOD'S HOME. I HAVE tasted each varied pleasure, And drank of the cup of delight; In the halls of dazzling light. And stood in the court of kings; More rapid the flight of Time's wings. In the life of light or shade; And I turn with a sigh to my own dear home That home where my childhood played. And dazzling with their rays, In life's first early days. Ere day was turned to night; Instead of those jewels bright. Which never can bloom or fade; Hon. MRS. NORTON. |