DREAMS. DREAMS OF LIFE. OH! there is a dream of early youth, And it never comes again; 'Tis a vision of light, of life and truth, That flits across the brain; And love is the theme of that early dream, So wild, so warm, so new, That all our after years, I deem, That early dream we rue. Oh! there is a dream of maturer years, More turbulent by far! 'Tis a vision of blood, and of woman's tears, For the theme of that dream is war; And we toil in the field of danger and death, Till we find that fame is a body less breath, Oh! there is a dream of hoary age, 'Tis a vision of gold in store Of sums noted down on the figured page, And we fondly trust in our glittering dust, Till our limbs are laid on that last dark bed, 17 18 DREAMS. And is it thus, from man's birth to his grave In the path which all are treading? Is there nought in that long career to saveFrom remorse and self-upbraiding? O yes, there's a dream so pure, so bright, That the being to whom it is given, Hath bathed in a sea of living light MEMORY. 19 MEMORY. A PEN-to register; a key That winds through secret wards, As aptly, also, might be given A pencil to her hand; That, softening objects, sometimes even That smooths foregone distress, the lines And clothes in brighter hues. Yet, like a tool of fancy, works That startle conscience, as she lurks Within her lonely seat. Oh! that our lives, which flee so fast, In purity were such, That not an image of the past Should fear that pencil's touch! Retirement then might hourly look Contented and serene: With heart as calm as lakes that sleep To their own far-off murmurs listening. WORDSWORTH. BEAUTY IN AGE. YOUTH hath its beauty,-lip and smile, It strikes the admiring glance awhile, But age, with hoary wisdom crowned, And walks in love with all around, Hath higher beauty still. MRS. SIGOURNEY. SKETCH. 21 SKETCH. то MRS. THIS day, Time winds the exhausted chain, To wheel the equal, dull routine. * * * * * * * And blooming Keith 's engaged with Gray ;) Another year And what is this day's strong suggestion? |