flowers his own hands had trained, his form was laid in its last repose. The minister was fervent in expressing the piety and the devotion of the old man; and pointing upward to the home of the righteous, said "There the weary are at rest; and there, we confidently trust, is the spirit of the departed, mingling its songs of praise with the loved ones of earth."

The Serenade.

BY EFFIE ELDON.

THE moonbeams are sleeping
On streamlet and lea,

The bright stars are keeping

Their watch, love, o'er thee;

Wake, lady, sweet lady! no light can I see
In planet or star until gazed on by thee.

The flowers are breathing

Their sweets o'er the scene,

Like incense up-wreathing

From censers unseen;

Wake, loved one! Their fragrance and beauty are thine, For thee the flowers blossom, for thee the stars shine.

My light barque is gliding

Unchecked toward the sea,
No hand its course guiding,

Fit emblem of me!

Oh! lady, fair lady! wilt thou deign to guide
The barque of my being o'er life's rushing tide?

The prow of the boat has touched the shore,
And the lover's song at once is o'er,

For, descrying his lady's form afar,
He flings from his hand the light guitar,
(The strain still trembling on its strings,)
And with eager step to the green bank springs.

The wondering thought, "Why is she here?"
Flies through his mind, and love and fear
Struggle for mastery in his soul,

But he pauses not the strife to control,
For, crushing the flowers with hasty tread,
To the lady's side unchecked he sped.

Lowly he bent as he reached the place,
Where she waited his coming with timid grace,
And veiling his fears with a lightsome air,
"Heard'st thou my song, oh! lady fair?”
He asked, "and art come in my boat to ride
Over this placid and moonlit tide?

"Come, fairest and dearest! I wait for thee,
My barque lies moored by our trysting tree,
And lightly with thee down the stream she'll glide,
My own Alina! my promised bride!

Nay, turn not away, beloved one! why-

Ah! why are those tears in thy beaming eye?"

Rudolph!" she said, and the whisper fell

Cold on his heart, "we must say farewell!