OH TAKE HER, BUT BE FAITHFUL STILL. BY CHARLES JEFFREYS. OH take her, but be faithful still, And warmly breathed as now. That binds her youthful heart; The joys of childhood's happy hour, The treasured scenes of early youth, The purest hopes her bosom knew, When her young heart was free- Her lot in life is fixed with thine, And well I know 'twill be her pride Mark only joy's increase, And may your days glide calmly on, POUR NOT THE VOICE OF GRIEF. BY ROBERT MORRIS. POUR not the voice of grier Hath lost its thrilling hue- And now-too soon a creeping thing, Will, like a leech, there feed and cling! Yet weep not for the dead Who early pass away, Ere hope and joy and youth have fled, Ere wo has wrought decay! Better to die in youth When life is green and bright, Than when the heart has lost its truth Then woes and years around us throng Life is a rifled flower When love's pure visions fadeA broken spell-a faded hourAn echo-and a shade! The poet's thirst for fame, Ambition's height, and honour's name, And man turns back from every goal Would I had died when young! The damp and cold earth lies, Pour not the voice of wo! Shed not the burning tear Into oblivion's tomb Like snow-flakes melting in the sea When rife with vestal bloom. Then strew fresh flowers above the grave, And let the tall grass o'er it wave! THE GOOD NIGHT. BY WILLIAM E. HURLBURT. GOOD-night-Good-night-bright moments fly Till hours have passed away— And even the wine that warms the heart Will not forever stay * And scenes like this must have their end, So splendid dreams and slumbers sweet We've twined fresh joys about these hours, Unwithered still and bright, And as we take the parting glass, Let's not forget the much-loved friends We'll think in what soul-cheering tones They'd crown each evening's flight; And wish once more for their return, To join in our Good-night. The sparkling fount has ceased to flow, Good-night-Good-night-we've often met, If life soon tires in this dark world, And sing the last Good-night. |