42 A VISION. Some cold in death, and some, alas! we fancied could not chill, Living to self and to the world, to us seem colder still; With mournful, retrospective glance we look to brighter years, And tread with solitary steps the thorny vale of tears. Then wasting pain and slow disease trace furrows on the brow, The grasshopper, alighting down, is felt a burthen now, The silver cord is loosening fast its feeble, slender hold, The fountain's pitcher soon must break, and bowl of purer gold; Oh were it not for that blest hope which even death endears, How weary were our pilgrimage through this dark vale of tears! ANON. TIME GROWS NOT OLD. 43 TIME GROWS NOT OLD. TIME grows not old with length of years; Stars in perennial rounds return, We are not for one hour the same. Spring flowers renew their sweet perfume, Our life is longer than their bloom, Our bloom more precious-yet we die ! Yet stars, like flowers, have but their day, And Time, like stars, shall cease to roll ;We have what never can decay, A living and immortal soul ! Lord God! when Time shall end his flight, Stars set, and flowers revive no more, May we behold thy face in light, Thy love in Christ may we adore. ANON. TIME speeds away-away-away: Another month-another year- Time speeds away-away-away: And sweeps from our distracted breast The friends that loved-the friends that bless'd; And leaves us weeping on the shore, ANON. THOSE WE LOVE. 45 THOSE WE LOVE. THOSE We love are passing from us- Vainly shall we list for voices Made by absence doubly dear; And remorse will sternly question, "Didst thou cherish them when here?" O, in sorrow-in vexation In all trials, let us prove, By the purest, tenderest duties, Thus life's parting pangs a solace MRS. SCOTT 46 INNOCENT PLEASURES. INNOCENT PLEASURES. FEW rightly estimate the worth Of joys that spring and fade on earth; As proofs and types of joys above." ANON. BEST WISHES. THINE be the love, refined from sense, And be thy best affections given To Him, who loved thee first, in heaven. Beneath a bright and cloudless sky. ANON. |