92 TO A SISTER. But be its zest those charms that have their flow Fresh from the source of feeling and of thought; And full of all that pure and vivid glow Which speaks them born above, though spent on earth below. BARTON. TO A SISTER. My sister, companion and friend, The return of this festival day! While many in solitude walk, Together we travel along; Or hang like twin buds on a stalk, (We may call ourselves flowers in song.) The showers that kindly descend, Have nourished us both as they passed; And together we shiver and bend, Assailed by the winterly blast. TO A SISTER. But let every sigh be repressed, Since mutual our pleasures must be : The ivy that clings to its breast Is reckoned a part of the tree. And oh! may we never divide, Till closed is this turbulent day. Should I lose you, my sister and guide, How dreary the rest of the way! JANE TAYLOR. 93 94 DEAR то MEMORY. OH! DEAR TO MEMORY ARE OH! dear to memory are those hours I bless the days of infancy, When, stealing from a mother's eye, On that celestial field, the ground. Then shone the meteor days of youth, And precious, bright those sunbeams were Without one atom of alloy. Oh! ne'er in mercy strive to chase Such dazzling phantoms from their place; However trifling, mean, or wild, The deeds may seem of youth or child, Should be but gentle in its sway, Nor rend the magic veil away. DEAR то MEMORY. I doubt if it be kind or wise To quench the light in opening eyes, As all that we can meet below. I ne'er respect the ready tongue To knock their fairy castles down? ELIZA COOK. 95 96 A BALLAD. A BALLAD. THOU art plucking spring-roses, Genie, But the roses will live and die, Genie, Ere thou hast unfolded quite, Genie- Thou art looking now at the birds, Genie, Be not soon thence beguiled, Thou wilt ne'er find a second, Genie; Never be twice a child. Thou art building towers of pebbles, Genie— And leave them to follow a bee, Genie, But if thy towers fall down, Genie, And if the brown bee is lost, Never weep-for thou must learn, Genie, That soon life's schemes are crost. |