THE LOST DAY. LOST! lost! lost! A gem of countless price, And graved in Paradise; Lost where the thoughtless throng A golden harp to buy, Such as the white-robed choir attune To deathless minstrelsy. Lost! lost! lost! I feel all search is vain; That gem of countless cost Can ne'er be mine again. I offer no reward For till these heart-strings sever, I know that Heaven's intrusted gift Is reft away for ever. But when the sea and land Like burning scroll have fled, I'll see it in His hand Who judgeth quick and dead; And when of scathe and loss, That man can ne'er repair, The dread inquiry meets my soul, What shall it answer there? SIGOURNEY. THE WRECK. ALL night the booming minute-gun Had veiled her top-sails to the sand, The queenly ship! brave hearts had striven, And true ones died with her! We saw her mighty cable riven Like floating gossamer: We saw her proud flag struck that morn, A star once o'er the seas; Her helm beat down, her deck uptorn- We saw her treasures cast away- And gold was strewn the wet sands o'er, And gorgeous robes-but, oh! that shore We saw the strong man, still and low, Yet, by that rigid lip and brow, Not without strife he died! And near him, on the sea-weed, lay- But well our gushing hearts might say, For her pale arms a babe had pressed 58 Billows had dashed o'er that fond breast, Her very tresses had been flung To wrap the fair child's form, Where still their wet, long streamers clung, And beautiful, 'midst that wild scene, In melancholy grace. Deep in her bosom lay his head, Oh, human love! whose yearning heart, So stamps upon thy mortal part Surely thou hast another lot, There is some home for thee, Where thou shalt rest, remembering not The moaning of the sea! HEMANS. THE GRAVES OF A HOUSEHOLD. THEY grew in beauty, side by side, The same fond mother bent at night One, 'midst the forests of the West, The Indian knows his place of rest, The sea, the blue lone sea, hath one- One sleeps where southern vines are dressed He wrapt his colours round his breast, And one-o'er her the myrtle showers And parted thus they rest, who played They that with smiles lit up the hall, And nought beyond, O Earth! HEMANS. THE GREENWOOD SHRIFT. OUTSTRETCHED beneath the leafy shade Three little children round her stood, 59 "O mother!" was the mingled cry "O mother, mother! do not die And leave us all alone." My blessed babes!" she tried to say, But the faint accents died away In a low sobbing moan. And then life struggled hard with death, And fast and strong she drew her breath, And up she raised her head; And peering through the deep wood maze With a long, sharp, unearthly gaze, "Will he not come ?" she said. Just then, the parting boughs between, Who led a panting steed. "Mother!" the little maiden cried, Or e'er she reached the woman's side And kissed her clay-cold cheek "I have not idled in the town, But long went wandering up and down, The minister to seek. They told me here-they told me there— think they mocked me everywhere; And when I found his home, And begged him on my bended knee I told him how you dying lay, I begged him, for dear Christ, his sake, |