LINES.

THE hues of life are fading from her wan and wasted

cheek;

Her voice is as an infant's voice, a whisper faint and

weak;

But still we look and listen, for our hearts have never

known

Such sweetness in a countenance, such softness in a

tone.

She is passing from the world, from the weary world

away,

From the sorrows that afflict us, from the pleasures that betray;

And another Home-a fairer Home-is opened to her

sight,

Where the summer shines forever, where the roses know no blight.

I know that we shall miss her, in the evening and the

dawn,

In our converse round the fireside, in our walk

the lawn;

upon

I know that we shall miss her, in our mirth and in our

care,

In the breaking of our bread, and in the breathing of

our prayer.

And not the ring or brooch alone, but whatsoe'er we

see,

The river and the green hill-side, the cottage and the

tree,

Will bring her image back to us; there is not in our

heart

A single hope-a single fear-in which she has no part.

Yet weep not, if you love her, that her tedious toil is

done;

O weep not, if you love her, that her holy rest is

won!

There should be gladness in your thought and smiles upon your brow,

For will she not be happy then ?-is she not happy now?

And we will learn to talk of her;-and after many

years

The tears which we shall shed for her will not be

bitter tears,

When we shall tell each other, with a fond and thankful pride,

In what purity she lived, and in what peacefulness she died.

(MAY 26, 1830.)

A FRAGMENT.

HAST thou e'er watched and wept beside the bed
On which some dying friend reposed his head,-
Some loved and reverenced friend, from whom thy

youth

Learned its first dream of happiness and truth?
When those fast-fading eyes were closed on earth,
On its vain mourning, and its vainer mirth,
When the strong spirit in the painful strife
Already seemed to live its after-life,

Viewing the homes which are prepared above
With firmer knowledge and with fonder love,-
Oh then with what sad reverence didst thou dwell
On every word that from those wan lips fell!
How didst thou consecrate with grateful care
The half-told message and the half-breathed prayer!
And, when the soul was trembling to depart,
How was the look engraven on thy heart
Which turned to seek thee, ere the spirit pass'd,
And smiled a blessing on thee at the last!

(1830.)

HOPE AND LOVE.

ONE day, through fancy's telescope,
Which is my richest treasure,
I saw, dear Susan, Love and Hope
Set out in search of Pleasure:
All mirth and smiles I saw them go;
Each was the other's banker;
For Hope took up her brother's bow,
And Love, his sister's anchor.

They rambled on o'er vale and hill,
They passed by cot and tower;
Through summer's glow and winter's chill,
Through sunshine and through shower:
But what did those fond playmates care
For climate, or for weather?

All scenes to them were bright and fair,
On which they gazed together.

Sometimes they turned aside to bless
Some Muse and her wild numbers,

Or breathe a dream of holiness

On Beauty's quiet slumbers;

"Fly on," said Wisdom, with cold sneers; "I teach my friends to doubt you;" "Come back," said Age, with bitter tears. "My heart is cold without you."

When Poverty beset their path,

And threatened to divide them,
They coaxed away the beldame's wrath
Ere she had breath to chide them,
By vowing all her rags were silk,
And all her bitters, honey,

And showing taste for bread and milk,
And utter scorn of money.

They met stern Danger in their way,
Upon a ruin seated;

Before him kings had quaked that day,
And armies had retreated:

But he was robed in such a cloud,

As Love and Hope came near him, That though he thundered long and loud, They did not see or hear him.

A gray-beard joined them, Time by name And Love was nearly crazy,

To find that he was very lame,

And also very lazy:

Hope, as he listened to her tale,

Tied wings upon his jacket;
And then they far outran the mail,

And far outsailed the packet.