BRIGHT thro' the valley gallops the brooklet; Hand-in-hand wander, shout, laugh, and sing; Lo, in their bosoms, wild with the marvel, Love, like the crocus, is come ere the Spring. Radiance of Eden unquench'd by the Fall; COVENTRY PATMORE. A PAIR OF LOVERS. 'NEATH vistas green and shady, I watch them wandering now As sweet a knight and lady. As ever whispered vow; A youth with eager flashes From blue, undaunted eyes; A maid 'neath whose long lashes A tender dream-world lies. The air with love is laden This luscious eve of May; Well may he urge the maiden To speed the bridal day. Shall caution's cold upbraiding Two loving souls dispart Till spring is past, and fading The bloom of cheek and heart? With swift impulsive tongue; But, darling, we must wait, And you are only eight! FREDERICK LANGBRIDGE. Gaslight and Stars. (Marcus Ward.) FIRST LOVE. My long first year of perfect love, I was a chubby boy. I wore a crimson frock, white drawers, Old-fashioned, but the soft brown hair A little maid with violet eyes, O, my child-queen, in those lost days How rich by merely giving! She went to school, the parlour-maid Across the road I saw her lift My Queen, and with a sigh A hoard of never-given gifts I cherished-priceless pelf; In church I only prayed for her- But when the hymn came round, with heart And there against her mother's arm The sleeping child was leaning, While far away the hymn went on, The music and the meaning. Oh I have loved with more of pain Yet could I almost be content A year or two, you murmuring elm, To dream a dream so sweet. Oh, Emily, pity my sorrow! Dear Emily, smile and be kind! D'ye think you could wed me to-morrow? You cannot be thinking of Harry, The ants have got under my stocking, Have done, then, with mincing and mocking, I've mustard and radishes growing, I've rabbits and guinea-pigs, too; Will do very well for a start; Songs in Sunshine. [From Time, by kind permission of Messrs. Kelly and Co.] Accidental, On the road; (Sentimental Episode.) I was gushing, You were shy, You were blushing, So was I. I was smitten, So were you. Not a bit. Rather funny, To be sure Was another In the way. What a heaven Vanished then ! (You were seven, I was ten.) That was many Years ago, Don't let any body know. EDWIN HAMILTON. Dublin Doggerels. (W. McGee, Dublin.) FIRST-LOVE'S RECOLLECTIONS. FIRST-love will with the heart remain And joy's first dreams will haunt the mind As summer leaves the stems behind On which spring's blossoms hung. Mary, I dare not call thee dear, I felt a pride to name thy name, How loath to part, how fond to meet, At sunset, with what eager feet I hastened unto thee! Scarce nine days passed us ere we met In spring, nay, wintry weather; Now nine years' suns have risen and set, Thy face was so familiar grown, I little thought that seeming jest Even loftier hopes than ours; LOVE-DRIFT. TURNING Over papers, Dead-leaf drift of years, JOHN CLARE. In the midst a letter, Face of any dead one Scarce had moved me so; There my First Love lying, Buried long ago! |