WHILE ZEPHYRS FAN THE VERDANT

GROVES.

BY JOSIAS LYNDON ARNOLD.

WHILE zephyrs fan the verdant groves,

And flowrets grace the plain,
While shepherds tell the nymphs their loves,

And flaunt in pleasure's train ;
To yonder cottage of my fair

My anxious footsteps tend ; What joy

great as viewing there A lover and a friend ?

1

To her I fear not to disclose

The feelings of my heart ;
She bears a part in all my woes-

In all my joys, a part.
If e'er she weeps, I kiss the tear,

And bid her sorrows end ;
If she is pleased, joy shows me near

A lover and a friend.

She's youthful, innocent, and gay,

Of perfect mind and mien;
She quickly steals all hearts away,
Wherever she is seen.

But though each shepherd's heart she charms,

And they before her bend,
Round me alone she throws her arms,

A lover and a friend.

MARY WILL SMILE.

BY WILLIAM CLIFTON.

The morn was fresh, and pure the gale,

When Mary, from her cot a rover, Plucked many a wild rose of the vale

To bind the temples of her lover. As near his little farm she strayed,

Where birds of love were ever pairing, She saw her William in the shade,

The arms of ruthless war preparing. “Though now," he cried, “I seek the hostile plain, Mary shall smile, and all be fair again.”

She seized his hand, and “Ah !" she cried,

“ Wilt thou, to camps and war a stranger, Desert thy Mary's faithful side,

And bare thy life to every danger ? Yet go, brave youth! to arms away!

My maiden hands for fight shall dress thee, And when the drum beats far away,

I'll drop a silent tear and bless thee. Returned with honor from the hostile plain, Mary will smile, and all be fair again.

“The bugles through the forest wind,

The woodland soldiers call to battle,Be some protecting angel kind,

And guard thy life when cannons rattle !"
She sung, and as the rose appears

In sunshine, when the storm is over,
A smile beamed sweetly through her tears,

The blush of promise to her lover.
Returned in triumph from the hostile plain,
All shall be fair, and Mary smile again.

THE RUINS.

BY SELLECK OSBORN.

I've seen, in twilight's pensive hour,
The moss-clad dome, the mouldering tower,

In awful ruin stand ;
That dome, where grateful voices sung,
That tower, whose chiming music rung,

Majestically grand !

I've seen, mid sculptured pride, the tomb
Where heroes slept, in silent gloom,

Unconscious of their fame;
Those who, with laurelled honours crowned,
Among their foes spread terror round,

And gained-an empty name!

I've seen in death's dark palace laid,
The ruins of a beauteous maid,

Cadaverous and pale !
That maiden who, while life remained,
O'er rival charms in triumph reigned,

The mistress of the vale.

I've seen, where dungeon damps abide,
A youth, admired in manhood's pride,

In morbid fancy rave;
He who, in reason's happier day,
Was virtuous, witty, nobly gay,

Learned, generous, and brave.

Nor dome, nor tower, in twilight shade,
Nor hero fallen, nor beauteous maid,

To ruin all consigned
Can with such pathos touch my breast
As (on the maniac's form impressed)

The ruins of the mind !

I AM COME TO THIS SYCAMORE TREE.

BY WILLIAM MAXWELL.

I am come to this sycamore tree,

And lay myself down in its shade:
The world has no pleasure for me ;

The hopes of my youth are betrayed.
Flow on, thou sweet musical stream,

My murmurs shall mingle with thine ;
My spirit is wrapt in a dream,

The sadness I feel is divine.

Hope took me, a gay little child,

And soothed me to sleep on her breast, And, like my own mother, she smiled

O’er the dreams of my innocent rest. Then beauty came whispering sweet,

Every word had a magical power ; And pleasure, with eyes of deceit,

Enticed me to enter her bower.

There love showed his glittering dart,

Just bathed in the nectar of bees; While fancy persuaded my heart,

That his only design was to please. And fame held her wreath of renown,

All blooming with laurels divine ; And promised the flourishing crown, To circle these temples of mine.