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diff --git a/old/7lays10.txt b/old/7lays10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d83f43 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7lays10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5005 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lays from the West, by M. A. Nicholl + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!**** + + +Title: Lays from the West + +Author: M. A. Nicholl + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6972] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 19, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LAYS FROM THE WEST *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by Sergio Cangiano, Juliet Sutherland, +Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +LAYS FROM THE WEST + +BY + +"STELLA"--M.A. NICHOLL + + +Then the spirit reached her fingers, + Taper things of rosy snow, +Took my songs, and as she took them, + "Tiny germs," she whispered "go! +Root among the coming hours, + Seeds are ye of many flowers, +Which from out the winds will grow!" + + * * * * * + + +Dedicated + +WITH MUCH GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION + +TO + +_MRS. T. SPOTISWOOD ASH,_ + +THE MANOR HOUSE, + +BELLAGHY, IRELAND. + + * * * * * + +IN THE NORTHWEST. + + +"I'll not forget Old Ireland, were it fifty times as fair." + +In myriads o'er the prairie + Bright flowers bloom strangely fair, +There's beauty in the clear blue sky, + There's sweetness in the air; +And loveliness, with lavish hand, + Decks dell and dingle gay; +Yet still I love my native land-- + The Green Isle, far away. + +The poplar quivers in the breeze, + And by the blue lake's side. +The regal iris, tall and fair, + Blooms in her native pride; +But I dream of the broad beeches' shade + In glens beside Lough Neagh +And my longing thoughts go back to thee, + O, Green Isle, far away! + +Strange birds, in painted plumage gay, + In hundreds haunt the grove; +O'er marsh and moor, the loon and heron, + The coot and plover rove; +But I miss the lark's glad matin song, + And the thrush and blackbird's lay, +The summer songsters, sweet and wild, + In the Green Isle, far away. +Along the blue horizon line + The "bluffs" rise 'gainst the sky, +But in dreams I see Old Erin's coast-- + Her mountains wild and high +Slieve Gallon, with his hoary head + Gold-crowned at close of day, +When sunset lights the grand old hills + In the Green Isle, far away. + +There's beauty in the woodland wilds + With their varied foliage fair, +But, cowering from the light of day, + The grim wolf shelters there. +Ah! dear old woods, where I have roamed + At eve of summer day, +No hidden dangers haunt your glades, + In the Green Isle, far away. + +The clear Assiniboine winds free + Through many a fertile vale; +The antlered deer and graceful hind + Bound o'er the wooded dale; +But I miss the quiet rural scenes-- + The farm-house, thatched and grey, +That memory fondly pictures now + Of the Green Isle, far away. + +The Sabbath morn its holy calm + Breathes o'er the prairie lands, +And the answering heart hears Nature's psalm + And the wild woods clap their hands. +But I long to hear the church bell's sound + Tell to these wilds that day, +When thousands meet to praise and pray + In the Green Isle far away. + +Here life lays hold of brighter things + For the fair years to be, +But the deathless Past and all her dreams, + Old land, belong to thee! +The buried love, the buried hope + Of youth's glad summer day, +That blend with unforgotten scenes + Of the Green Isle, far away. + +And while we love this pleasant land + And own it good and fair, +Our hearts' first love goes backward + And fondly lingers there-- +Back to the dear home country, + Then forward to that day +When all shall meet together, + From the Green Isle pass'd away. + + + + +SONG. + + +"In the gloaming Oh, my darling." + +Oh! green-bosomed Isle, as the summer day's gloaming, + Lies dreamy and dun on the prairie's wild breast +There my worn, wayward heart o'er the wild waves is roaming + Far, far to the scenes that are dearest and best. + +As by bluff and by woodland, by swamp and by meadow, + The gloom gathers round in its dim, mystic pall, +Then my fancies come forth, spirit-children of shadow, + Slow gliding from haunts where the lone night-birds call. + +When the wind, ardent lover, in songful caressing, + Speaks low to the grasses that bend to his breath, +And the dew woos the rose with the balm of its blessing + And steals it with love from the shadow of death. + +Then I seek the wild glen, when the new moon is beaming + All weirdly and wan, through a cloud's fleecy haze, +'Till I stand, young and free, in the land of my dreaming, + Clasping hands with the phantoms of happier days. + +And then, oh! mavourneen, in grey distance flying + The present, the real, grows dimmer, and dies, +See but the moonbeams, but hear the winds sighing, + And bask, fancy bound, in the light of your eyes. + +My own! though the years in the gloom of their sadness + Stand, frowning, 'tween me and the light of my star, +And memory can feel the wild might of loves madness, + Or scoff as rude Time its first sweetness would mar. + +Again, by the banks where Moyola is flowing + We stray as the moonbeams smile sweet through the dell + +Unheeded the moments, unmarked in their going, + Nor dreamed we of woe in the sound of "farewell." + +Is it lost--all the light of the fair morning vision? + Is spirit to spirit unanswering, cold? +No, it never shall die, while in memory's Elysian + It lingers in beauty and brightness untold. + +Love is love, and though Fate blasts our hope vines may sever + From the stay which their tendrils in fondness entwine +Yet the past of our joy we must cherish forever + And spirit meet spirit at memory's shrine. + + + + +A MEMORY. + + +"Indulgent Memory wakes, and, lo! they live!" +--RODGERS + +Deathless, while the years are flying, +And all lesser hopes are dying. +To my widowed heart near lying + By a life-time's love embalmed, +Is a memory, dear and tender, +And in dreams its bygone splendour +Sweetest, holiest, balm can render + To my grief, by Time uncalmed. + +In life's morning, young and early +Glistening fair through dew-drops pearly, +Burst a bud that promised fairly + Through the length of future days. +Ah! it charmed my passion'd dreaming, +Bathed in beauty's brightness, beaming +Fadeless still, and deathless seeming + In fond Hope's delusive haze. + +And, as when in wild December, +June's calm twilights we remember, +So this dream in shadowy splendour + +Ever haunts my lonely way; +And I see in fond delusion, +Glowing as in light Elysian, +The entrancing, old-time vision + Doom'd so early to decay. + +Days when Hope, how false! still flaunted +Through my dreamings, love enchanted, +Framed by busy Fancy, haunted + By glad visions of delight,-- +Morns of light, and sunsets golden, +Dreams of legends, grand and olden, +Hopes for future years, withholden + From our youthful, yearning sight. + +Past and gone! Ah! vain my sighing,-- +Hope's dead leaves are round me lying, +But their fragrances, undying, + Like a hallowed incense rise; +And I feel, with joy unspoken, +That the spirit love unbroken +Leaves this Memory for a token + Of its truth, that never dies. + +In that land whose beauty vernal +Through tried ages blooms eternal +Thou, in bliss undreamed, supernal + Baskest in the glory-light +Where celestial joys inspire +All heaven's vast, unnumbered choir +With sweet songs that never tire, + Through the fadeless summer bright. + +Here, how sad this dreary roaming, +Through the shadows of earth's gloaming, +Waiting for the longed-for coming + Of the lingering Morning Star; +But swift time is onward fleeting-- +Backward is the past retreating, +Nearer, nearer draws our meeting + In the future, dim and far. + + + + +AFTER LIFE'S FEVER. + + +_Obiit, June, 1882_. + + --"And then, a flood of light, a seraph's hymn, + And God's own smile, forever, and forever." + +Oh! pale, calm face; eyes by the Death-kiss sealed, + Cold hands, upon the silent bosom folden; +Oh! soul, set free--of all sin's sickness healed, + Basking in light, from mortal eyes withholden, + _In coelo quies_. + +Still heart, that ached and throbb'd with human passion, + Locks, white with snow of many a winter past, +Tired body, weary after earth's poor fashion, + Sleep calmly till the waking trumpet blast-- + _In coelo quies_. + +All over now--the heart-ache and the burning + Of thoughts, so trammelled by this "mortal coil;" +The soul has cast behind its moans and yearning, + The hands are resting from the long life's toil,-- + _In coelo quies_. + +I, mournful gazer, watching by the portal + Whence thou, from death to life, hast entered in, +Would fain catch one stray gleam of light immortal, + To tell me, ever drowning earth's wild din, + _In coelo quies_. + +I might not hear the angel welcome ringing, + Nor see the pearly portals open wide, +Wherein the ransomed band, the new song singing, + In white robes wander by life's river side, + _In coelo quies_. + +"_In coelo quies_," while the storms are beating + Along earth's desert moorlands, wild and wide; +While skies shall lower, and angry waves are meeting + Thy bark is moored--thou art beyond the tide, + _In coelo quies_. + +"_In coelo quies_"--Rest, pure, deep, eternal, + Peace, in a perfect, blissful, endless calm; +Charmed by the beatific joys supernal, + Lull'd by the melody of seraph's psalm, + _In coelo quies_. + +Here, we but dream it all--the rest--the glory, + Here we but yearn for it in sob and pain; +Till knees wax weary and till locks grow hoary, + Still "westward journeying," at length to gain, + _In coelo quies_. + +But _thou_ mayest sleep; thy toilsome warfare ended, + The long, rough life-path has been nobly trod, +And with our lost ones, thou sweet songs hast blended, + To hail them found, beside the throne of God? + _In coelo quies_. + + + + +LIGHT AT EVENTIDE. + + +Round us in the stillness spreading, + Comes the night. +Mortal ears can't hear the treading + Of her footsteps, soft and light. + +Dusky veil that shades the valleys, + Bringing rest; +Shadowy glooms in greenwood alleys. + Twilight dreamings, sweet and blest. + +All the day-time cares are ended, + And instead, +Now by unseen bands attended, + Far, in fancy, we are led. + +Misty forms of mystic seeming + Hover near; +Memory's myriad tapers gleaming + Light old scenes and make them clear-- + +Morn's vain hopes, and noon's stern sorrows, + Tears and cares; +Days of toiling, and to-morrow's + Bringing less of wheat than tares. + +And the chequered, varied pages + Of life's book +Seem a sea whose calms and rages + Now the tired heart cannot brook. + +Evening calm! ah, best and purest + Time of peace; +Soothing balm, when hope is surest, + To bid all vain doubting cease. + +Pointing on, when near the pleasant, + Rest awaits; +When we leave this weary present + And have gained the pearly gates. + +And as evening shadows, creeping, + Gather round +Dim eyes, worn so weak with weeping, + Learn to smile as peace is found. + +In the hope so full of cheering + And delight-- +Home, sweet home! our rest we're nearing! + Evening time shall bring us light. + +Light of heaven! Earth's gloom adorning + With thy smile, +Earnest of the eternal morning + After this brief "little while." + + + + +CHRISTMAS EVE. + + +Ruddy bright the dying embers + In the glooming, glow and burn, +Scenes of olden-time Decembers, + Ashes now in Times' great urn, +That the heart so well remembers + At this haunted hour reborn:-- +All the fairy scenes Elysian + Born again in recollection, + Seen with mirror-like reflection, +Throng upon the wondering vision. +Once again I hear the river + In the darkness rush and roar, +See the pine-boughs wave and quiver, + Hear the oak trees, blasted, hoar, +Muttering, as their gaunt arms shiver, + "Come again, oh! days of yore!" +Come, oh times of hope and longing, + When the beauteous, pure ideal, + Seemed tangible and real-- + "Love the light of Truth's belonging." + +And the woodland walks, enchanted, + By the moonlight's mystic sheen, +Seen as near as when Hope flaunted + In the distance, dimly seen, +That the witched hour seems haunted + By the joys that once have been. +Dear old days! they seem returning. +Though their radiance long has vanished, + Though their rays stern fate has banished, +Fancy still can see them burning. + +See their magic, nameless graces, + Through the shadows flit and gleam, +See again beloved faces + Shine around as in a dream, +And the well-remembered places + Of the bygone, nearer seem, +Till all present melancholy, + Fades away, and sweet and tender, + Visions of life's spring-time splendour, +Gleam among the bay and holly. + +Hark! the Christmas bells are ringing + From the grey church-steeple near, +And the choir are sweetly singing, + "Nowel! Hail Messiah here! +Nowel! for He cometh, bringing + Unto all mankind good cheer." +Through the night the music stealing + Bringeth soothing sweet and pleasant, + Sheds a peace upon the present, +Future days in light revealing. + + + + +AT ANCHOR. + + + "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever" + HEBREWS xiii. 8. + + +In life's young morning blue-eyed promise smiled + O'er a fair future of enchanting grace, +And sweet toned love the golden hours beguiled, + And Fortune's radiant smile illumed the place. + +But change, dread vulture, swooped upon her prey. + And seized my treasures as Time's car sped on, +Then traitor love took wings, and fled away. + And long ere noon I wept a setting sun. + +Then Phoenix-like, beside the smoldering pile, + Kind friendship rose with open, outstretched hands, +But, ere I grasped them, death with icy smile + Had rudely snapp'd in twain the three-fold bands. + +E'en while I mourned, I heard a thrilling voice + That said in stirring accents, "Up! arise! +Work, that in harvest time thou mayest rejoice!" + And Fame stood pointing to the brightening skies. + +Then dreams, false phantoms, filled the gloaming air + And lured me, spell-bound, by a labyrinth maze, +But morning beams awakened new despair-- + The meteor glories passed in mist and haze. + +Through shady groves I strayed, and on before + Walked high-browed Knowledge, calm-eyed and severe +Unwearied still, I trod his footprints o'er, + But fainting fell, the longed-for prize anear. + +Hard-smitten then, I wept; all woe-all gloom! + The heart-void still unfilled, ached keen and sore, +When through the inky darkness shot a gleam + Of new-born glory, unrevealed before. + +Dear Lord! How frail these bauble-toys of Time + When Thy "forever" dawns upon the heart; +Thy perfect fullness, Saviour, how divine, + E'en while we taste its blessedness in part! +Still yesterday, to-day, while ages roll + In grand, eternal vastness, still the same, +Oh! potent Healer! every whit made whole, + I sing glad Hallelujah to Thy name! + + + + + +THE OLD TRYSTING PLACE. + + +"Die erste Liebe ist die beste." + +Through the green boughs the golden sunshine falling + Glints on the glades and lonely woodland bowers; +Bird answers bird, through the wide woodlands calling, + In the deep hush of the calm summer hours. + +The limpid river winding through the meadows, + Laughing and sparkling in the sunny noon, +Takes peaceful tones here, 'neath the beeches' shadows, + And sings sweet idylls in low, fitful tune. + +Songs of the olden days, of hopes and pleasures, + Songs of the love of youth's glad morning times, +That sigh around our path like dream-world treasures, + Soothing as music of the vesper chimes. + +The rustic bridge, the leaves' soft shadows playing + Down in the water-depths, and from away +'Mong the blue hills, come mingled echoes straying, + The pleasant sounds that fill the summer day. + +Aburnum's gold, and quivering beech-leaves blending, + Sway, dancing in the breezes, to and fro; +Wild hyacinths, their blue heads lowly bending, + Listen the secrets of the winds to know. + +Oh! quaint old trysting-place! oh! lights and shadows, + And sounds that haunt the dreams of Life's glad May! +Dreams withered like the May-flowers in the meadows + Or roses of the Junes long passed away. + +Here, oft in dreams, I see my own true maiden, + The pure flower-face, the rippling golden hair; +Ah! many years have roll'd past, sorrow-laden, + Since blue-eyed Edmee waited for me there! + +Ah! murmuring brook, with waving willow fringes, + Ah! woodland picture, all your charmed glow +Is touched and changed by Truth's own sober tinges, + Tints that youth's eager eyes see not, nor know. + +Fraught with these gleams of old-time faith and feeling, + Fraught with the memory of "what might have been," +A still, small voice says all is God's wise dealing, + Behind the clouds is brightness yet unseen. + +Young love and hope in all their matchless glory, + Smile on our morning-time, then fade away; +Teaching unwilling hearts the sad, true story, + No lasting joy is here, all knows decay. + +"Die erste Liebe ist die beste," leaving + A holy radiance round the scenes we knew; +A potent power to point lone spirits, grieving, + To deathless Love whose charms are ever new. + +It ever shows, "in part," in sweet tuition, + What we shall know when we have gained the light, +When all our highest hopes fade in fruition, + Where the Eternal Summer beameth bright. + + + + +THY WORD IS A LIGHT UNTO MY FEET. + + +Oh! Light of Lights! dark, dark is earth's long way, +Cloud upon cloud looms o'er the path I stray; +Far-off and dim the heavenly Land appears, +Through the thick mist of weak distrust--and fears. +Helpless, I seek Thy Word, and hear Thy voice, +That bids me always in the Lord rejoice; +Pointing from doubts within, and this world's wile +To peace and victory, in "a little while." + +Oh! Saviour, Friend, how dark is life's rough path. +What gloom and sorrow haunts this Vale of Death; +Subtle the way, beset with many a snare +And hidden evils lurking everywhere. +But in this Light that shows my love, I see, +This path Thou'st trod, and borne these griefs, for me, +"Fear not!" I hear in tones of tenderest love +"'Tis in thy weakness that my strength I prove." + +The world's temptations rage on life's wild sea, +Drifting the fragile bark I steer to Thee, +But safe I pass the rocks and angry waves, +Helped by Thy mighty arm that shields and saves. +And still above the wind's and water's roar +A calm voice hails me from the distant shore, +"Cast all your care undoubtingly on Me, +Fully and freely, for I care for thee." + +When twilight shades fall round me, dim and grey, +All those I love the most are far away, +I look to Thee, and dry my willful tears-- +With love like Thine, I dread no lonely years. +If 'tis Thy will, let bitter partings come, +Sweet shall the meetings be in yonder Home; +While here I have Thy love that cannot die, +And could I feel alone when Thou art nigh? + +Weary with waiting for Thy promised rest, +Dismayed with doubts, with sinfulness distressed; +"Oh! let Thy kingdom come!" I pray "that I +May join the glad new song they sing on high;" +Then thy sweet words bring patience, "I prepare +For thee an heavenly mansion, bright and fair, +That where I am Thou mayest with Me abide, +And taste full joy for ever by My side." + +I bless thee, Saviour, for this word of life, +This light to guide me safe through every strife, +This lantern o'er my pathway shining clear +To show the dangers, and the Helper near. +I love to see it beaming, day by day, +Thine own bright smile, that lights the darksome way; +"Led by Thy counsel," oh! what joy to be +"Received in glory," Lord, at last by Thee. + + + + +MEMORIES. + + +"In der Weit, weit, +Aus der Einsamkeit, +Wollen sie Dich locken."--FAUST. + + +When the glad, bright days of our youth's fresh prime, + Shall have pass'd, as a dream that at morning dies; +When the long blank stretch of the coming time + Like a desolate desert before us lies, + Dreary and cheerless, 'neath sunless skies. + +When young, sweet love, with her luring smile, + The mystic charm-light of halcyon hours, +Shall no more with her witch'ry our souls beguile, + As the leaves grow seer on Life's fading bowers, + And the blushes are pale on its withering flowers. + +When the strains we loved in the days of yore + No more with their sweetness our heart's-chords thrill, +When Hope's roseate meteors glow no more, + Like the summer sunrise o'er vale and hill, + That our dreamings with radiance were wont to fill. + +When these are gone, shall the lone heart know + No solace the solitude's gloom to cheer? +Shall no stray beams lighten the spirit's woe + As it moans "alone!" e'en when crowds are near? + Must _all_ be lost that was once so dear? + +Ah, no! Though Time is a thief, I ween, + Stealing youth's best wealth as the swift years go, +Still the memories of pleasures which once have been-- + The dreams of the beautiful "Long ago," + Are our own to keep, and shall aye be so! + + + + +"THE KING IS DEAD." + + +Hush! There's a solemn pause, + And looks of fear! +You ask--Whence comes the cause? + Grim Death is here! + +Oh! well thou answerest, well-- + 'Tis fairly said; +Our hearts thrill to the knell, + "The King is dead!" + +Dead! And the bell swings, swings + On in its deep, sad tone; +We own the King of Kings + Is King alone! + +We crown our Kings, we place + Bay leaves on victors' brow, +But all our mortal race + Can boast is _now._ + +The body lay in state, + All fair to mortal eye; +The soul's eternal fate-- + Oh! Death, thy mystery! + + + + +TO "X. Y. Z.," +On receiving a paper from him. + +"Old places have a charm for me + The new can ne'er attain; +Old faces--how I long to see + Their kindly looks again!"--Anon. + + +"X. Y. Z.," your paper was + A welcome thing, indeed, to me; +It brought the memories of old days, + Like fragrance wafted o'er the sea. + +It spake about familiar nooks, + The dear old paths I know so well; +I almost thought I heard the brooks, + Or roamed again my favourite dell. + +The happy hours, the rustic glades, + The gloaming time, the twilight stroll, +Ah, me! these April evening shades + With old-time dreams can haunt one's soul. + +The heart feels young again and free, + And no such word is known as care; +Sweet rays of light that used to be + Seem hovering in the twilight air! + +The hedges and the fields of green, + The lanes, the flowers, the wild bird's trill, +The trees, seen down the water's sheen. + The cattle lowing o'er the hill! + +Your well-drawn school-life picture, too, + My school-time morn recalls again; +'Tis like an old tune, sweet and true, + That mingles pleasing notes with pain. + +The fields, the schools, the village way, + The quaint, old-fashioned, country rhyme, +All come, like mystic glows that stray + Across the yellowing fields of Time. + +The English lanes have lovely flowers, + And moss, and ferns, and birds that sing, +But Erin--green Erin--still is ours. + And to her name our fond hearts cling. + +Each land we visit claims some grace-- + Some special charm it calls its own; +Yet patriot souls must love the place + Which childhood's happy memories crown. + + + + +LOVE. + + +When first from Eden's blissful bowers, + Man roamed o'er earth in exile driven, +Kind Heaven, to cheer his lonely hours, + A source of joy to him hath given. + +'Tis Love, that lights our darkest days, + 'Tis Love, that cheers our keenest woe, +'Tis Love, whose soul inspiring rays, + Gilds all our lives with heaven-lent glow. + +Ambition leads us for a while + To follow many a meteor light-- +Whose flickering beams our souls beguile, + And lure us on to hopeless night. + +And Fame may sound her clarion voice-- + Wealth bring his hoards from every clime, +But Age shall come, and earth's frail joys + Must own the sway of sovereign Time. + +But Love, as flying years go past, + Shall glow with holier, tenderer beam, +And shine, our guiding star at last + Till our dull hearts shall catch a gleam. + +And when our life on earth is o'er + And we from all our toil shall rest, +The beams of Love will light that shore + Where Love has ransomed all the Blest! + + + + +A BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY. + + +"Tis sweet, when year by year we lose +Friends out of sight, in faith to muse +How grows in Paradise our store!"--KEBLE. + +His Birthday! but to-night there is no gladness, + As in the bright old days forever flown; +And in my heart one aching thought of sadness + Seems ever whispering, Alone! Alone! + +The darkness gathers round, and, wan and olden, + The worn day paler grows, and dies away, +And all life's light and brightness now seem folden + Beneath the twilight's dusky mantle gray. + +The old church tower, amid the shadows looming, + Stands grim and sombre in the dying light; +The trees with leafless branches shiver, moaning, + As the sad winds sigh softly through the night. + +Weird looks the ruined church, where ivy creeping + Decks the old walls fast mouldering in decay; +And peace rests o'er the graves in whose calm keeping, + In quiet safety, sleeps the treasured clay. + +Here in this corner, where his grave is lying, + The fir trees throw deep shade, and soft and low, +When summer eve or winter day is dying, + The winds seem ever sighing songs of woe! + +Oh! cherished spot! beloved beyond all measure, + Your holy peace that brings a balm so blest! +When turning from the world, in grief or pleasure, + I seek your calm, and hunger for your rest! + +How feeble, then, seem all the ties that bound me + To this world's ways, that held such charms for me +And heaven-born dreams and holy thoughts surround me + Until from earth's vain things my soul is free! + +Then do I feel this wound of Mercy's giving + Draws all my hopes from earth to holier love. +An e'en while here, sin-stained and lonely living, + My heart is with my treasure fixed above! + +Still, looking upward to the Heavenly Mansion, + Where he abides--where we shall meet him there-- +Where soul with soul shall blend in the expansion + Of that world's higher life, immortal, fair! + +That land of beauty, where the Lamb in glory + Gathers His own to perfect bliss and peace, +Where all the ransomed sing Redemption's story + In joys celestial that can never cease. + +Thrice happy lot was thine, oh, blessed spirit! + So early called from this dark vale of woe-- +From chequered scenes of warfare--to inherit + That perfect love that God's own favoured know. + +Then could we wish thee back to dwell with mortals + And bear those storms that toss Time's troubled sea? +No! from that home beyond the pearly portals + Thou canst not come, but we will go to thee! + + + + + + + +IN MEMORIAM + +OF + +R. A. WILSON, ESQ., + +EDITOR OF THE BELFAST MORNING NEWS. + + +Fair vales of Ulster! in the noontide smiling, + Blue Northern mountains, frowning to the sky; +Rivers that flow along, with song beguiling + The summer day _your_ beauties, too, must die! + +Know ye no _requiem_? Ah! streamlets borrow + Your tones from tearful voices! Mountains blue, +O'er your high heads let heavy clouds of sorrow + Tell that ye mourn the death of Patriot true. + +Erin! green Erin! let your great heart feel it! + Bid all your sons and daughters, fair and brave, +By dropping tears and mourning faces tell it, + As they place laurels on a new-made grave! + +Lowly he lies to day? Death's deep, calm slumber + Has claimed another of our cherished ones; +As he, the talented, ranks with the number + Of Erin's lost, best-loved--her gifted sons! + +"Barney Maglone" is dead! Let the winds sighing + On their fleet wings, bear far the wail of woe +To every land. Let them in wild, sad crying + Tell out to all the sorrow that we know. + +_Our_ Poet, and not all Westminster's glory + Could ever give him half so loved a grave +As this green mound, with simple cross, whose story + Shall live 'mong annals of our gifted brave! + +Methinks that far among old Ireland's mountains + I hear the breezes sing a sad dirge, low, +Wild, and yet soft, with tears from many fountains + And murmuring riven wailing in their flow. + +The grand old woods, with leafy branches waving, + Mingle their many harps in one refrain, +Blent with the waves, whose foam our coast is laving, + Rolling afar, weeping aloud the strain-- + +Waters and wondrous deep, + Mountains and valleys; +Woodlands and heathery steep, + Lone greenwood alleys, + +Sound the long wail of woe, +Tell the news, sad and low, +Let all the wide world know + Of the loved, lost one! + +Waves of deep, boundless sea, +Boiling for ever free, +Tell through the time to be + Of the bright, lost one! + +Erin, whose bosom green, +His own, his loved shrine has been, +Feel the woe thou hast seen + For the true, lost one! + +His land, in weal or woe, +In dark gloom or sunny glow, +Do all Ireland's great ones know + Such zeal as this lost one? + +Bright dreams! ah, how fleeting + Was his life's fair story! +Swift, swift was the meeting + Of Death, with earth's glory! + +Unrivalled in splendour + His sky was at morning, +Still brightening, its grandeur + His noonday adorning. + +But a dark cloud rose glooming, + Ah, me! 'twas Death's shadow! +It chilled the heat blooming + Of hillside or meadow! + +Oh, waters and wondrous deep, + Mountains and valleys, +Woodlands and heathery steep, + Lone greenwood alleys-- + +Sound the weird wail of woe, + Tell the news sad and low, +Let all the wide world knew + Of Erin's best lost one! + + + + +WELCOME TO SPRING. + + +Oh, Spring! sweet Spring! with your golden hours, +Thrice welcome back to our vales and bowers! +I have sighed for you through the Winter's gloom, +And counted the months, till again you come. + Then, welcome, sweetest! I hail you here, + Fairest child of the smiling year! + +I have watched for your advent with longing eyes, +As you lingered 'neath sunnier southern skies; +I have wafted songs o'er the winds to thee +The sighs of a lover's fond constancy. + Then, welcome, darling! to glen and grove, + Child of gladness, and nope, and love! + +I see your footprints along the woods, +And your magic touch on the opening buds, +Bursting to birth on hedge and tree, +In promise of vernal life to be. + Then, welcome, Spring! to our land again, + Bringing beauty and me in your happy train! + +I have marked where you paused by the streamlet's side, +There smiled the primrose, in early pride, +All golden fair 'mid her leaves of green. +Dropped from your garland, oh, beauteous queen! + Then, welcome! to brighten our long-left bower + Fair child of sunshine, and joy, and flowers! + +I have paused entranced in the early morn, +When the birds awoke as the day was born, +Pealing welcomes wild in their native glee. +And my heart went out in their songs to thee, + On the fresh winds borne o'er the hills along, + Child of music, and mirth, and song! + +Oh, Spring! sweet Spring! 'neath your gentle reign. +Life, light, and beauty are born again; +And sad hearts, hopeless in Winter days, +Break forth to singing glad songs of praise-- + For that promise renewed in your yearly birth + Of a fadeless Spring and a ransomed Earth! + + + + +ONLY "A LITTLE WHILE." + + +I saw the sun arise in light at morning; + My being drank the beauty, like some dream +That comes when all is dark, the gloom adorning + With gilding mystic--bright--a soul-world gleam + +I saw the noontide flush on grove and meadow, + I heard the coo of birds that seem'd at rest; +And the fair radiance, all undimm'd by shadow, + Was like a foretaste of the bright and blest. + +I saw, when evening's mellow sunlight glinted, + Far and anear, gleaming on wood and gold; +Mountain and valley shone all carmine-tinted, + Old Ocean's burnished breast seem'd heaving gold. + +Only "a little while" since morn rose brightly, + Followed by noontide calm: a little while +Since sunset glory lit all Nature, lightly + Blessing the earth with one sweet parting smile. + +Only "a little while" a meet type, showing + How brief is earth's short day--how soon 'tis o'er; +Morn, noon, and night, still onward, onward going, + So soon to land us on the eternal shore. + +Only "a little while," poor child of sadness! + The shadows must come first, the clouds and gloom; +Then, the full glow of Heaven, the new born gladness, + When Christ, thy risen Lord, prepares thee room. + +In that fair Home, where He has passed before us, + And in "a little while," shall call us in; +Here, with His love's own glory shining o'er us, + Strong in His strength, we run that goal to win! + +Only "a little while," gay child of pleasure! + The night is spent so far--the morn is near; +Then think! oh, think! where hast thou hid thy treasure? + In these frail, dying toys that charm thee here. + +Oh! in "a little while," their borrowed radiance + Shall fade, as starlight fades when dawn is nigh; +And all earth's glittering show, her smiles and fragrance, + In the fierce fire of wrath shall melt and die! + +Only "a little while!" would we but ponder + These three brief words, their length and breadth and +height +A solemn sign to each, a ray of wonder + From the Unseen, to light the spirit's night. + +"A little while"--past, present, future blending + Shall be a tale soon told, and pass'd for aye; +Then the eternal life, that cannot die--unending, + Undying woe, or Heaven's own dazzling day. + + + +LIFE'S PATHWAY. + + +We walk among labyrinths of wonder, but tread the mazes with + a club; +We sail in chartless seas, but behold! the Pole-star is above + us--TUPPER. + +Life is a pathway, stretched from morn till eve, + O'er which, through shade and sunshine, we must go +And, whether bright or dark this life we live, + Its end must bring us unto joy or woe; +Joy, that no mortal's holiest dreams can know, + Or dread, unending; fearful depths of woe! + +This path is fair at morning, wondrous fair; + With verdant windings, hiding from the view +The far-off journey, and what may be there, + Hid by the Future hilltops, high and blue; +And morn's glad sunlight smiles from dazzling skies, + Gilding the path we tread with heaven-lent dyes. + +Oh! youth is sweet! for tender hands are near, + And eyes aglow with Love's own magic ray, +Heart meeting heart, each to the other dear-- + Through hours that, ere we count them, glide away; +For none can turn to seek a cherished place-- +One only life, whose path we can't retrace! + +And soon they pass, these meteor joys of earth, + That flash and gleam along the troubled way; +Till wondering wanderers question if their birth + Dawns from a Land that knows no sad decay; +Some sinless region, from whose portals bright +These fleeting rays descent in heavenly light. + +Such glorious hues, in golden glory glowing, + When sunrise splendour glads the morning sky; +That bloom awhile, and as they bloom bestowing + Beauty and light, so soon to melt and die, +Leaving a yearning in the darkened heart +To know more closely what we see in part. + +The noonday calm, the sunny Summer hours, + The wild-birds' warbled songs, the balmy air; +Life's early pathway strewn with earth's sweet flowers-- + Can these be dying things--so bright, so fair? +Or lights to lead us o'er a chequered road, +And cheer the shadows to a blest abode? + +Oh! spell-bound Fancy fain would wander far, + If we might only break this mortal thrall; +And roam, unshackled, o'er Time's broken bar, + Trace these gleams whose glory lights on all! +Then would we see in all below, above, +The Great Creator's perfect power and love. + +Yet in this path that stretched before us lies + We may, as oft with weary feet we tread +Through chequered ways of change, see through the mysteries + The living promise from their gleamings shed, +That far from mortal things, and sin, and care, +There is a glorious world, unchanging, fair. + +Oh! may we trace in all that lives and grows + The shadows of a perfect life, unseen; +As when some star that in the twilight glows + In mirrored dimly in the water's sheen, +And we can see, in the calm lake's cool breast, +The far-off glow that lingers in the West. + +Thus, as we onward go, may thoughts be ours + Whose holy pureness in our souls may raise +An anthem of thanksgiving, till life's hours, + Ending, shall find our hearts' attuned to praise +That Love which cheered us on earth's chequered way, +O'er the long path that led to Cloudless Day! + + + + +CLOUDS IN MAY. + + +"May is here, sweet 'Mois de Marie,' but my sky is + overcast!"--ST. GERMAN. + +The hush of twilight, fair and still + Great cloud-ranks, bright with gorgeous dyes + That linger in the Western skies, +Ere Night's deep gloom steals o'er the hill. +The wind sighs softly round the eaves, + The May's fresh sweetness fills the air, + And Peace seems hovering everywhere. +Oh, restless heart, that aches and grieves!-- +Grieves when the earth is bright and green, + And Summer's balmy breeze and flowers + Are brightening, charming all the hours +That span the long, long "bridge between" +Dear hopes and their fruition, laid + In many a way, by human plan. + But ah! these dream-world thoughts of man +Soon, soon can droop, and blight and fade! + +We know 'tis best. Then wherefore try + To ask whence come the darksome clouds? + We know 'tis God's own hand that shroud +Our coming days in mysteries. +"A little while," and there is room + In that bright, blessed land above, + To see, and feel, and taste the love +That sends us now the clouds and gloom. +Why come the clouds? God only knows + Why human hearts need pain and woe; + But Faith's glad gleams still come and go, +Like sunbeams flashing on the snows +Of earth's dark winter-time, and He + Shall smile at last, and frosts shall melt, + And heavenly sunshine shall be felt +When Time fades in Eternity + + + + +A FRAGMENT. + + +"My spirit beats her mortal bars +As down dark tides the glory glides, +Then, star-like, mingles with the stars."--TENNYSON. + +Oh, restful peace of night! The balmy air +Laden with myriad sounds of things so fair, +The waving branches, and the leaves' low whispering +The wondrous songs the winding river sings, +That through the meadow-lands and forest ways, +By flowery nooks, and glades, and valleys strays. + +Oh! shadowy time of dreams, and mysteries, +And longing hopes! Far in the dark blue skies +The star-worlds glimmer brightly through the night; +The flowers are sleeping that at close of day +Wept dew-tears, as the sun's last fading light +From glen and moor land slowly passed away, +When amorous zephyrs wooed them softly sighing +In odorous breaths, as eve's last glow was dying. + +Oh! stars, that through the darkness smile and gleam, +Like glory-rays that gild the dreary gloom, +Or like some soul-world glance or mystic dream +That from the mind's vast store of summer bloom +We feel at times--your influence comes to raise +Our hearts above earth's night of doubts and haze +For all these holy thoughts of peace, that spring +From hearts at rest from daytime cares and pains, +Are messengers of love, sent from the King +That in the blessed country lives and reigns. +And from its gates, above the starry heaven, +Come mystic rays that round our pathway stray-- +His guiding lights that to our souls are given, +Foretastes that cheer and brighten all our way! + + + + +SPRING THOUGHTS. + + +"Of the bright things in earth and air + How little can the heart embrace- +Soft shades and gleaming lights are there + I know it well, but cannot trace!"--KEBLE + +Spring comes again, and the freed flowers are springing + From the cold, frost-bound earth; +And on the budding trees the wild birds singing, + Hail Nature's glad new birth! + +And hope awakes from many a heart-grave using, + Glad gloriously and new; +And many souls, in faith and trust, are prizing + That promise sweet and true; + +Summer and Winter, ever coming, going, + Springtime and Harvest days, +And falling leaves and opening buds are showing + God's ever faithful ways. + +That point us to the resurrection morning, + And to the gladsome day, +When light eternal, the far East adorning, + Shall chase these glooms away. + +And she shall rise who left our home so early, + And left our hearts in gloom, +Clad like the flowers, in beauty's bloom all fairly + Arising from the tomb. + +In that fair Spring and in that Summer shadeless, + With her we, too, shall live-- +There, 'neath His smile whose glory, beaming fadeless, + Eternal peace shall give. + +And all these ties that Time's rough hand had driven + Shall be united there, +And every cross a Father's hand had given + Be gemmed with jewels fair! + + + + +LINES. + + +On reading "Lays of Love and Fatherland," by X. Y. Z. + +Oh! say not now that Erin's harp + Is left untouched by minstrel hand; +Oh! say not that no minstrel heart + Sings now of "Love and Fatherland." +Green Ulster's mountains and her vales + Hear once again a patriot's lyre; +Ierna's legendary tales + Once more are told in patriot fire! + +And hearts beat high, as when of old + In chieftain's hall or peasant's cot +The stories of our land were told + In songs whose spell was half forgot +Till, touched again, the chords resound + That bid our slumbering zeal return, +And souls, so long in coldness bound, + With old-time fire and fervour burn! + +And favoured ones, whom love shall bless + In life's bright, sunny morning hours, +Shall sing in joy and happiness + These songs in Hope's enchanted bowers, +For youth hath dreams, and tho' they go + like sunset fading from the sky, +The cherished songs of "long ago," + While memory lives, can never die. + +Song's potent powers, like holy things + That hover round our path unseen, +On airy wings, to fancy brings + Old scenes, new-clad in fairy sheen. +And like sweet music heard at eve + In some cathedral, old and grey, +Such songs can cheer the hearts that grieve, + And chase all present gloom away. + + + + +IF "SOMEONE" LOVES US. + + +If life's path grows dull and dreary, + With grim shadows on it cast; +If the tired heart grows weary + When all joy seem o'er and past; +When e'en Hope hath ceased to cheer us + With its warm and sunny ray, +And the peace that once was near us + From our pathway steals away + There's one source where we can borrow + Sweetest wealth to keep and claim, + If we feel in joy or sorrow + _Someone_ loves us all the same! + +If fair-faced Pleasure brightly + Beam upon our happy home, +And our hearts with hope beat lightly + Of brighter days to come; +If fickle Fortune, smiling, + Strew the pleasant path with flowers, +And Mirth, with song beguiling, + Lead the merry-footed hours-- + There's a deeper, holier gladness + That is ours to keep and claim, + If we feel in joy or sadness + _Someone_ loves us all the same! + +If our thoughts, at evening blending + With the dim and shadowy light, +Bring us dreams of bliss unending + In the Haven, calm and bright-- +Oh! how sweet the thought--"for ever + 'Mong the sinless _we_ shall stand, +There united, ne'er to sever, + In the bright and better land:" + And e'en then, refined and holy, + Free from earthly stain and sin, + Shall the pure heart, meek and lowly, + Wear the crown true love shall win. + + + + +NEW YEAR'S SONG. + + +"Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky. + The flying clouds, the frosty light; + The year is dying in the night-- +Ring out, wild bells, and let it die! + +"Ring out the Old; ring in the New! + Ring, happy bells, across the snow! + The year is going; let it go-- +Ring out the false! ring in the truer!"--TENNYSON. + + +Oh! welcome! welcome! glad New Year! + We hail with joy your birth. +Let peace and love reign far and near, + And plenty fill the earth! + +Old Year, good-bye! a last good-bye + To sorrow, woe and sin! +Let all of darkness with thee die + And all of light begin! + +When first we bade you welcome here + We hailed you with delight; +But ah! how many then were near, + So far away to-night! + +Ah! well! if thorns were 'mong thy flowers, + Or clouds were in thy sky, +We owe thee many blissful hours + Whose memory ne'er can die! + +Farewell, farewell, for aye, Old Year, + And as you pass from view, +For all those golden hours a tear + That pass away with you! + +"Le Roi est mort!" "Vive le Roi!" + The Old Year, weeping, dies! +Ere we can mourn, a joyous chime + Peals through the midnight skies. + +Oh! welcome! welcome! New-born Year! + We join the strains of joy; +To everyone our hearts hold dear + Be peace without alloy! + +May fadeless light their pathway bless; + And, for a lasting stay, +Oh! may they find that happiness + That cannot pass away. + +For years may come, and years may go, + And earthly joys grow old; +But heavenly love no change can know-- + No time can make it cold. + +Oh! welcome! welcome! New-born Year! + And, as we hail your birth, +May pure and holy thoughts come near + And raise our hopes from earth! + + + + +OUR NATIVE LAND. + + +Our Native Land! Our Native Land! + Long may old Erin's vales be green; +May plenty smile on every hand, + Be want and woe unseen! +Oh! let us join with heart and hand +To raise the song--Our Native Land! + +Our Native Land! Our Native Land! + May countless blessings on her smile +May dove-eyed Peace her lily-wand + Wave o'er pure Emerald Isle-- +Her sons, united brethren, stand, +To raise the song--Our Native Land! + +Our Native Land! Our Native Land! + Let patriot voices join the song, +And swell the chorus high and grand, + Till every breeze shall bear it on. +O'er flowery mead and wave-kissed strand +Loud let it ring--Our Native Land! + +Our Native Land! Our Native Land! + Let Erin's sense the notes prolong, +Together joined-a mighty band + United by one common song. +'Tis Honour's right-her just command +Then let us love Our Native Land! + + + + +TO THE SEA. + + +Oh! rolling waves, while ye sing around me, + My poises beat to your fitful tune, +And higher thoughts in my breast awaken, + But the spell must vanish too soon, too soon. +Here while I lie let your echoes linger, + And rest awhile on this lute of mine; +And though I play with an erring finger, + The sounds shall charm if they're caught from thine. +And my song shall be rich in melody, + Learned from thy singing, oh' tuneful Sea! + +Sadly sigh while the clouds loom o'er thee, + Dark and grey in yon stormy sky; +Foaming billows, your angry wailing + Fills my soul like a hopeless cry! +Heaving breast with your great heart throbbing + Ocean pulses that wildly thrill; +Wandering waves in such cadence breaking, + Rolling, rolling, and never still. +Oh! that my soul, like thine, were free, +Eager and restless, oh! beautiful Sea! + +The clouds disperse, and like glory breaking + In fancy's eyes o'er a poet's dream, +Clad in the sunlight the waters glisten, + And dazzling bright in the radiance gleam. +Far and wide o'er the scene of grandeur + My glad eyes wander, my heart beats high; +Lost in a maze of light and wonder, + I faint in a dream of ecstasy; +And the spirit of beauty thou seem'st to me +In that flood of glory, oh! changing Sea! + +Yet best I love when the mystic gloaming + Grows dim, and the crimson sunset dies; +For I dream that your mighty tones are changing, + And in psalms of praise through the shadows rise. +Oh! Nature's organ! Methinks thy numbers + Keep time with the songs of Cherubim, +While through hidden caves come the echoes swelling + Their chorus grand to the ocean hymn; +And my soul, adorning, ascends with thee, +In deep thanksgiving, oh! wondrous Sea! + + + + +A FAREWELL SONG. + + +Oh! sometimes when our hearts are gay, + And Pleasure round us smiles, +Too soon the hours may pass away + That rosy Mirth beguiles; +And we may feel a tinge of pain + Amid the festal cheer, +And pause to ask, "When, when again, + Shall all be gathered here?" + +But ah! the future's dusky veil + Hides coming years from view; +And still our yearning eyes must fail + To pierce its darkness through. +But Memory can hold the past + That we have loved so well; +And, like a halo round it cast, + Affection's light may dwell. + +And thus, my friends, though call'd away + To join another scene, +My thoughts shall often backward stray + To all that once has been. +And bygone hours shall come again-- + The cherished times and dear. +And bring the moments in their train + When I was with you here. + +And as sweet flowers, tho' sere and dead, + Can by their fragrance bring +Remembrance of the days long fled + Again on Memory's wing. +So many a kindly smile I'll mourn + With deep and fond regret; +For though I never may return, + I never can forget. + + + + +SOLITUDE. + + +"Solitude delighteth well to feed on many thoughts; +There, as thou sittest peaceful, communing with Fancy, +The precious poetry of life shall gild its leaden cares" +--TUPPER + + +Come, Solitude! best soother of my mind-- + The sole companion of my happiest hours; + The spell, all potent, of thy gentle powers +Here in this lovely spot, I come to find. + +Below yon mountains, in the sunset beams, + Lough Neagh's glassy waters widely spread; + And through the distance, like a shining thread, +The "Silver Bann" along the valley gleams. + +Lough Neagh! often in the evening light + I've watched the golden sunset kiss thy breast, + Then, as it died on many a wavelet's crest, +Homeward, unwilling, turned, with fond "Goodnight." + +The bare trees in the planting moan and sigh; + I've watched their leaves from buds, till they had grown + To vernal beauty. Withered now and strewn +Upon the walks, all sere and dead they lie. + +And in the Spring, when the young leaves came first, + Here, often in my lone imaginings, + What golden dreams I knew of glorious things; +Visions my willing mind too fondly nurse. + +Visions that, like the leaves, to beauty grew, + Gladdening my heart thro' sunny summer hours; + Clad in bright garlands, woven from Fancy's bowers +Radiant with Hope's fair light of mellow hue. + +And are they withered too? All those swept dreams + That I had hoped in future years to see + Around me bloom, in living, grand reality; +No longer far-off things, or misty, meteor gleams. + +Some like these leaves, have fallen by the way, + Never again in spring to wake to birth; + While some are mine e'en now, whose priceless worth +Shall bloom and ripen, knowing no decay! + +Round me the shadows deepen; and I see + My dead dreams in a phantom band draw near. + And dim AEolian strains fall on my ear, +like some wild mystic requiem's fitful melody! + +Oh! Solitude! thou canst alone restore + The buried bygone, till the haunted isles + Of memory's chambers shine in moonlight smiles +Shadows of sunlight from the days of yore. + +Oh! Solitude! come often for my guest! + Still, when I meet thee in sequestered glade, + I feel thy presence lasting peace has made; +Of life's sweet things, I hold thee first and best! + + + + +WITH A WHITE ROSE. + + +Long ago, in ages olden, + When our world was new; +When old Time was young and golden, + When men's hearts were true; +Fairer flowers than now are growing + Blossom'd everywhere-- +Beauty to the earth bestowing, + Sweetness to the air! + +Well men loved them, fondly dreaming + They were not of earth; +In their glorious beauty seeming + Of a higher birth. +And in those Elysian bowers, + In the days of old, +Speaking all their thoughts in flowers, + Thus their love they told:-- + +One alone, of purest whiteness, + Of them all was queen; +Sweeter than their hues of brightness + Was its snowy sheen. + +If this flower as pledge were given + By true hearts in love, +Though on earth by sad doubts driven, + Yet their life above +Would be one in joy unending, + Undivided there, +Soul with soul in glory blending + In that kingdom fair. + +This the legend I have told thee + Of the flower I send. +Oh, may its sweet leaves unfold thee + Hope, with such an end! + + + + +"THE EXILE'S REVERIE." + + +It is sweet to dream of the vanished times, in this changing + land of ours, +When we touch the hidden spring of thought, with the wand of + mystic powers, +That Remembrance yields to our yearning hearts, that are + lonely left, and pine +For the loves once ours, till shadowy forms come round us, + and flit and shine. + +Through the gloom that wraps the earth-tired soul, that + drifts on life's sea apart, +Missing the clasp of a kindred hand, or thrill of heart to + heart. +Alone! alone! on the wide, wide world, where hope can console + no more; +Alone! alone! on the friendless waste, strange, on a stranger + shore. + +Oft times when the gloaming gathers round, and the night wind + moans on the hill +Like a ghostly voice from the buried dead, when all around is + still, +In the midnight darkness and silence, I call through the mist + and maze, +To the sunny joys of the glad, bright dream, of the golden, + bygone days. + +Then the poem of the wakened long-ago, to the music of memory + flows, +Now filled as with bridal gladness, now wailing out dirge- + like woes; +Through sunshine and summer glories, through brightness and + fragrant blooms, +Through howling storms, 'neath winter skies, through weeping + and murky glooms. + +And then, when the weird strain ceases, and the fitful music + is done, +The pictures I love to gaze on, rise slowly, one by one +Through the mist of the past slow coming, they give to our + eyes once more, +What Death has stolen from me, and Death can alone restore. + +Again, as in early childhood, I feel the fond caress +Of my mother's lips, or I hear the tones of my father's voice + that bless +His child in its gleeful gambols; Oh! happy and peaceful + hours! +Ye come in visions of golden noons, and sunshine, and shady + bowers! + +And the low-breathed prayer when the sunset glow'd crimson in + the West, +And the sweet "Good-night," and the tender kiss, ere I sank + to tranquil rest; +Mother! that prayer still haunts me, adown the dreary years, +And the earnest tones of thy gentle voice, can steep my soul + in tears. + +My brothers! faithful hearted! strong in your love, and true; +Oh! breaking heart, do you mock me? Can _they_ have + perished too? +In their morning time, when they shared my dreams of a Crown + and a Life-fight won, +Thank God, it was their's so early, when my fight had but + begun! + +Oh, darling, best-beloved! keen now is the aching smart, +As when Death's chill touch on our clasped hands fell, when + he breathed the hard word "part," +Only for earth's short span, my sweet, for love can never + die, +And the spirit bond but strengthens, as Time's wild waves + sweep bye. + +Mine! by the vows soft-whispered, where hand in hand we + strayed +In twilight hours, through summer lanes, or roamed in the + lonely glade; +But the dream in its glory perished, and earth's brightest + hope was fled, +And light from my life was faded, when they laid thee with + the dead! + +Elsie! my bright-haired sister! tender blossom and pure! +You drooped in that last storm's fury, too fragile its might + to endure; +And then I left the home-nest when my last sweet dove had + flown, +And sought to forget, amid stranger scenes, the sorrows my + soul had known. + +It's thus the shadowy phantoms come back from the spirit- + shore, + +When I cry in my lonely anguish for the joys now mine no + more. +I thrill with a passion'd yearning for the fuller life to be, +When my tired soul faints in wonder, lost in earth's + mystery! + + + + +CHURCH ISLAND, COUNTY DERRY. + + + "Oh, search with mother-love the gifts + Our land can boast; +Fair Erna's isles--Neagh's wooded slopes-- + Green Antrim's coast."--MACCARTHY. + +In peerless beauty, flushing, glowing, + O'er broad Lutigh Neagh's breast, +The sunset banner hovers, throwing + Its glory over the West. +And varied banks of glen and wood, +That smile round Neagh's smiling flood, +In this sweet hour seem fitting theme +For Poet's song or artist's dream. + +Round the horizon, sternly frowning, + The mountains like a barrier rise, +The purple range, Slieve Gallion crowning, + Towers grimly to the western skies. +Northward Losgh Beg's bright waters play +Round the Church Isle, where, lone and grey. +The ruined pile with ivied walls +To present days the past recalls. + +On many a grave the sunset gleams, + Where calmly rest the sleeping dead-- +Tired mortals, done with mortal dreams + In other life, whetted they have fled. +E'en now they live! Oh! if tonight +One soul might earthward take its flight, +In awful tones methinks t'would say-- +"Prepare for death, oh child of clay!" + +Oh, time-worn walls! full many a word + Ye echoed in the Sabbath calm; +Love, warning, blessing, oft ye heard, + And solemn prayer, and chanted psalm; +And funeral dirge, as wild and high' +Rose on the gale the _caione_-cry, +Borne far and wide, o'er fern and brake, +As passed the cortege o'er the lake. + +And legends of the days gone by + Tell that if, when a funeral train +Passed there, dark clouds swept over the sky, + And howled the wind and sobbed the rain, +Such storm was still an omen blest, +And told the spirit's happy rest. +If all were calm--then woe the dead! +Sad rose their wailing, weird and dread! + +And that before a chieftain's death, + On moonless nights, by lightning shown, +How oft they saw the water-wraith, + And heard the weeping banshee's groan. +How many a barque, at midnight toss'd +And in the angry waters lost, +In the gray dawn-light seemed to glide +In phantom-beauty o'er the tide. + +But ah! the past and all its lore + Is fading from our hearts away, +And memories of the times of yore + Are all forgotten in to day! +And now, 'tis but by peasants old +These cherished legends can be told; +For Erin's harp is mute and still, +Its mystic notes no heart can thrill! + +Once minstrel hearts awoke its strain, + And swept its chords with master-hand; +But who can wake these lays again + In songs of love and fatherland? +Oh! when again shall such as they +Wake passion'd song and warrior's lay? +Till Erin's vales once more resound +With harp-notes long in silence bound! + + + + +LIVINGSTONE. + + +At last thou art resting; thy life-work is ended-- + Thy life-work so nobly and faithfully done; +And thy name, with the names of the mightiest blended, + Shall be honored and loved as the ages roll on! + +Far away in the wilds, as thy life-scene closed slowly, + How thy soul must have pined for one home-voice to cheer; +But the God, ever kind, of the high and the lowly, + With blessings and strength to thy spirit was near! + +How sweet to thy tired soul that glorious light breaking + In beauty untold o'er the land of the blest, +As thou heard'st, in the hour of that wond'rous awaking-- + "Well done, faithful servant, now enter thy rest!" + +Great Britain's Columbus--her son and our glory! + Her true hearts with love shall beat high at thy name; +Thou shalt stand 'mong the first in our country's proud +story, +And be graven with fire on the Temple of Fame! + +Oh! that some minstrel soul, from the days long departed + Would awake, a meet requiem o'er thee to sing-- +And tell of thy brave deeds--the high, lion-hearted-- + Till the listening nations their homage would bring! + + + + +A DREAM AT SUNRISE. + + +Sapphire and rosy brightness in the East; +Fresh, light-winged zephyrs o'er the hilltops stray +And through the valleys roam, through glens and woods +Waking the leaves and flowers to morning life, +Seeming to tell to all--"The sun is near!" +Slow--brightening now, the rose-light deeper grown +The sapphire flames in wondrous golden maze, +And, all unrivalled, the great King of Day, +In dazzling glory, mounts his regal throne! + +To me a vision down the sunbeams came, +When wrapt in wonder by the beauty-spell, +My soul, entranced, afar from earth did soar, +Unshackled, free, and drank the grandeur of the hour +Brightest and fairest hour of all the day, +When new life thrills the veins as when of old +The morning stars their high thanksgivings raised, +And all the sons of God did shout for joy! +Wondering, I cried, "Oh, Earth is very fair! +I cannot see the shadow of man's fall +On aught around me--sin has left no trace: +Oh! for a bower in such a scene as this, +Where Love and Beauty, blessed by Peace, might dwell!" + +Then round me, on the light wind softly borne, +I heard the numbers of an unseen harp, +And turning, saw an angel near me stand. +He sang of earthly love, and the soft tones +Of his sweet harp were like Aeolian strains +Far breathing o'er some blissful Eden world! +And as I listened, all my holiest dreams +Of harmony, ideal, grand, and high, +Seem'd discord. Then methought I saw, +Upon the morning hills, a bower arise. +Bright flowers of wondrous hues around it bloomed, +All, all of beauty that the heart could dream +Was there; and, lov'lier far than all, +A sweet-eyed maiden, twining rose-wreaths fair! + +Dark clouds arose and dimmed the glowing sky; +The lightnings flashed, and fearful thunder pealed; +And, as they shook the bower, I hid mine eyes, +Fearing to see the beauteous visions fade. + +The fierce storm ceased. I raised mine eyes again, +And saw the wreck of what was once so fair; +The flowers had perished, and the maiden wept-- +Then all the picture melted into air! + +"This shows," the angel said, "what sin has done; +Death and decay must fall on earthly things. +See that you read God's mighty Teacher right-- +The Book of Nature wide before you spread. +'Twas given for man to look on, love, and learn; +But men have eyes, and will not read its lore-- +Ears, and the God-sent teachings will not hear! +Earth's glories and her brightness all must fade; +Yet, while they linger, still they say, 'Prepare.'" + + + + +"LINES ON VISITING EARLY SCENES." + + +Oh! well-known scenes of childhood's days, + Again ye meet my longing eyes; +And still, as memory backward strays, + A thousand tender visions rise; +Of days when youth's all potent powers +Could trace in light the coming hours, +Of dreams that withered with the flowers + That round my pathway sprung! + +When fond Belief, unchill'd by Time, + Built airy castles, high and grand; +When fickle Fancy's dreams sublime + Made Earth appear a fairyland! +Yon school-house seems the same to day-- +Each well-remembered turn and way +Are there--yet, ah! how far away + Are childhood's hours from me! + +Still, still the same--the cherished scene, + That ever thro' the varying years, +Deep-graven on my heart has been, + In morns of joy--in nights of tears. +And oft in darksome times of pain, +When hope seem'd dead, and comfort vain, +Ye shone upon life's desert plain + A friendly light, and true. + +And often when the tide of care + Beat strong against my fragile bark-- +When stormy doubt loom'd everywhere, + With nought to light the gloomy dark-- +The faith I knew in early days, +Ere yet I trod the world's hard ways, +Led gently through the 'wildering maze, + And whispered words of peace! + +Sweet peace, amid the din and strife + And holy thoughts and calm repose; +The promise of a better life-- + The joy that from _believing_ flows! +As when amid these scenes I'd stray, +And dream through all the golden day +Of coming years, in bright array, + Till earth would seem a heaven! + +The Hand that led Youth's steps aright, + The Love that blessed its careless hours-- +Shall they not strengthen for the fight, + Then wreathe the Victor's brow with flowers? +Yes! and ere from these scenes I go, +I've learned what all must come to know-- +Earth's wisdom is but empty show-- + "The child shall teach the man!" + + + + +IDOL WORSHIP. + + +Idol worship in these later ages, + When the light of learning shines so clear, +Golden sayings graved on million pages-- + Wisdom's voices sounding far and near. + +Idol worship, subtle and deceiving, + Lives mis-spent and talents thrown away; +Grim remorse, and after years of grieving-- + Skeletons that haunt us night and day. + +Idols have we manifold in number-- + Idols worshipped both in age and youth; +Visions that beguile life's fitful slumber, + Soul-destroying, blinding us to truth. + +All unreal dreams that fade and perish, + Painted idols, rich in gilded shrines-- +Airy phantoms that we blindly cherish, + Clad in borrowed tints from Fancy's mines. + +All the shining, glittering, worthless splendour-- + All the brilliance of the earthly toy +That we deck with careful hands and tender, + Is not gold, but dross and foul alloy. + +Earth-born idols, lovely but in seeming, + Flitting round us in the moonlight hours +On Love's holy shrine we place them dreaming, + "Though all else may leave us, _this_ is ours!" + +Oh! like meteor-flashings gleaming only + Through the far-off vapours, dense and dark, +Disappearing, leaves, misled and lonely + 'Mid the angry waves, the storm-beat bark. + +So our earthly idols, vain, deceiving, + Come with promise fair for future years; +Fill us with false hopes, forsake us, leaving + Nought but memory's torture, gloom and tears. + +Oh! may we, their many tempting scorning + From earth's sceptres lift our yearning sigh +To fadeless flowers the heavenly hills adorning + That shall be ours when we have gained the high. + +Not the joy whose end is gloom and sadness-- + Withering flowers that deck the earthly sod +Patience hath her crown--eternal gladness-- + By the living "hid with Christ in God." + + + + +IN WINTER DAYS. + + +Spring, and Summer-time, and Autumn + Now are flown- +Dreamy noontides--mellow sunsets-- + Balmy twilights--all are gone! + +Hope's bright visions, carmine-tinted, + Where are they? +Dreams that mocked us in the sunlight + Now in Winter pass'd away. + +Joy shall reign when Spring returning + Wakes the flowers +That the tender Earth has guarded + Safely thro' the Winter hours; + +But the sad winds round me sighing + Seem to sing +She hath treasures in her bosom + That she cannot yield in Spring! + +And I weep in yearning sadness, + Worse than vain, +For the vanished joys that Summer + Ne'er can bring to me again! + + + + +PARTED. + + +Slow lingering months with swifter pace move on-- + Let this dark winter of my life be past; +This cloud athwart the sky of summer thrown-- + Whose gloom and darkness on my heart is cast. + +Parted--Death's deep, dark river rolls between; + Those talks and rambled when the day was done +And now among the things that once have been, + And I am left in sadness here alone! + +Parted! Oh, me, he is for ever gone! + How hopeless _now_ the sunset's golden ray; +How far off seem those joys we both have known, + How cheerless look the paths we used to stray! + +Just when the autumn days grew short and chill, + When all its sunny hours seemed past and o'er, +And moaning winds swept wildly o'er the hill, + Like some sere leaf he fell, to rise no more. + +The spring shall come, and leaves grow green again, + And vernal beauty to the earth return; +Sunshine and flowers shall deck the hill and plane, + And birds awake with song to greet the morn. + +But he has flown far from our wintry sphere, + Where fadeless summer glads the spring-bright clime; +Not where the tempest clouds spread grief and fear, + But safely moored beyond the waves of time! + +Mine is the weeping--his the blissful change; + Mine is the waiting--his the sighed-for peace; +Mine through these dreary, lingering years to range, + until I find a land where partings cease. + + + + +RETROSPECTIVE. + + +I'm free from the city's noises now, + And the city cares that bound me; +I chase their shadows off my brow, + 'Mid the rural scenes around me. + +And alone in the shadowy evening light, + In the deepening gloom and sadness, +I roam the paths of past delight + Of youth's wild dream of gladness. + +I see the panorama vast + That to these eyes is giving +The joyous scenes of that dead past + Still in my bosom living. + +I call those thoughts and memories back + That stern-faced Toil has banished, +And wander o'er the beaten track + Of happy days long vanished. + +The friends of youth for whom I sigh-- + The true and tender-hearted; +The happiness of days gone by, + The pleasures long departed: + +I see them all again to-night, + They seem to come and linger +Like pictures traced in truest light + By Memory's artist finger. + +Those happy times, to me how dear! + Well loved, yet lost for ever; +Those forms that I can fancy near, + Can they return? Ah, never! + +Grim Time's dark shadow of decay + Falls on our hopes when brightest; +A cloud may dim our sky of May + When happy hearts beat lightest. + +When golden sunbeams softly fall + In light on shrub and flower, +E'en then a storm to blight them all + May in the distance lour! + +But still when evening's shadowy light + Steals round in gloom and sadness, +I'll feel a thrill of old delight, + Of youth's wild dream of gladness! + + + + +DUNLUCE. + + +In concert grand the tuneful waves + Break wildly on the foam-girt shore, +And through a thousand secret caves + The shrill wind-voices loudly roar. + Now are the harps of the Ocean waking, + 'Mid the howling winds and the billows breaking! + +The mermaid leaves her ocean home + To sing her love-songs, soft and tender; +The moonlight gilds the breaker's foam, + And bathes the sea in silvery splendour; + And the splashing spray on the White Rocks falling + Sounds like lonely voices of Ocean calling. + +Oh, lone Dunluce! looking o'er the sea, + With tower and keep so grim and hoary, +Do the waves' wild revels recall to thee + The days of your long-departed glory-- + When the wan, weird moonlight is round thee streaming, + With the stars' pale light on your gray walls beaming? + +Oh, stern old relic of bygone ages! + Oh, stout old scorner of Time's rude hand! +Your name shall live in our history's pages + While a poet sings in our native land; + And your fame shall be heard in old Erin's story + When we tell of the days of her vanished glory. + +Ah! many a tale not in history's keeping, + Of lordly chieftain and lady fair, +in the gloom of Oblivion now are sleeping, + And can never be told in the twilight there; + Who repose unremembered in graves unknown, + Where the storms of past ages have o'er them blown. + +I can almost fancy the winds are singing + Those stories forgotten by all but thee, +And the rolling waves in their turn are bringing + Back mem'ries of olden chivalry; + Wild minstrels around thee in darkness stealing + The scenes of the long ago revealing + +I hear in the distance their harp-notes swelling + In a dirge-like wail o'er the moaning sea, +And I think that their mournful strains are telling + A thousand tales of the past to me. + The echoing caves to their songs replying, + As each fitful sound on the gale is dying. + +Wild minstrels of Nature, whose poet-fire + Rings out through her solitudes, wild and grand. +Let your spirit rest on my feeble lyre, + And I'll chain it there with a willing hand. + And when Night hangs her myriad star-lamps shine + Let me blend her notes with your wondrous chord. + + + + +THOUGHTS AT EVENTIDE. + + +"I hold it true, with one who sings + To one clear lute of divers tunes. + That men may rise on stepping-stones +Of their dead selves to higher things."--TENNYSON + +Lo! the sunset fire is burning in the roseate sky of evening + Where grand in dying glory sinks the god of day to rest +And wide o'er the dewy meadows lie the golden lights and + shadows, + Like gleams that come to cheer us from the regions the + blest! +Slow the fiery orb is sinking down below the purple + mountains; + Still the splendour of his radiance lingers round us for a + while; +And the peaceful country bowers, and the stately run towers, + Are rejoicing in the beauty of the glad, refulgent smiles. + +From the trees and from the meadows the bird-song wild and + tender, + In sweet and mingled chorus, like vesper songs, arise +With the evening zephyrs blending, on their airy wings + ascending, + Like anthems of thanksgiving they are ringing thro' the + skies. + +The children's happy voices from the village playground + stealing, + With the cadence of their laughter, come floating through + the air; +And the face of Nature smiling, every thought of care + beguiling, + Soothes my restless soul to musing in the twilight calm and + fair,-- + +Keeps my soul in peaceful musing, 'mid the tranquil summer + gloaming, + When the cares of day are ended, and its labours all are + done; +When the Dove of Peace is stealing o'er the valleys, bringing + healing + On her white wings to the weary, with the rest that they + have won. + +Here let me sit and ponder on life's long and varied story, + On the things that are, and have been, and the times that + are to be; +Of the past and of the present, of the darksome days and + pleasant, + And the future years, still hidden, that are kept in store + for me. + +But, the past--should I deplore it? All my longing can't + restore it; + Still it lies beyond my reaching, to come back to me no + more; +It is right to keep and cherish, or to let its memory perish, + Like a dream to be forgotten, when the hours of sleep are + o'er? + +Like a dream to be forgotten, like a phantom, a delusion + That but lured away our moments with its subtle, witching + powers, +Till it sinks our souls in sadness with the dreams of + gladness, + And the thoughts of vanished pleasures that can ne'er again + be ours. + +Let me cease this idle longing for the days that have + departed, + It is worse than useless wishing for a light grown dim and + dead: +For joy so lovely seeming, when we clasp them in our + dreaming, + And know we must awaken and remember all is fled. + +Let past failures be our beacon through the breakers spread + around us, + To show where danger meets us on life's rough and troubled + main-- +Where earth's joys like billows meeting, on the rock's care + are beating, + And we see them dashed and shattered where they can not + rise again. + +Let me wake, and cease repining; let me learn life's sternest + lesson-- + Joys when born of earth are earthy, and must therefore fade + and die; +Let me feel new knowledge glowing, on my opening eye + bestowing + The experience that will lead me to a fairer, by-and-by. + +'Tis our past has made our present, so our present makes our + future, + Let us work, and cease of wishing--let us _do_, not + _dream_ through life; +Ever mindful, never straying, with our earnest hearts still + praying + For the guerdon of the worker, and the winner in the + strife. + + + + +LIFE. + + +Life is a day. In its morning bright +We frolic and scamper, free and light. +'Tis a happy path that we have to run, +The way is pleasant when new-begun. +The sky of our youth is clear and blue, +With no clouds to impede our raptured view; +There's a prize to win in its golden hours-- +Let us work with zeal, and that prize is ours. +There's a laurel crown for the victor's brow, +And a time to win it--that time is now! +Now, when our hearts are young and gay, +Ere the light of our morning fades away. +It is hard to work 'neath the noon-day sun, +But the rest shall be sweet when the work is done; +It is hard to struggle and fight alone, +But the prize we win shall be all our own. + +The noontide fades, and the evening grey +Overtakes us soon on our weary way; +But our day of working will soon be o'er, +And the rest is nearer us than before. + +Life is a night, to watch and pray +For the coming dawn of a brighter day; +But our lamps are trimmed--we have nought to fear, +The darkness is fleeting--the dawn is near. + +And now we see through a darkened glass +The shadowy scenes of the future pass; +But then, in a morn of unclouded light, +It shall break in glory upon our sight. +The Master shall come when the night is o'er, +And bid us to work and watch no more; +He shall tell His servants their work is done, +And bestow the crown they have nobly won! + + + + +A SUMMER SONG. + + +The summer flowers in regal bloom + Make field and garden fair, +Their fragrance in the dreamy noon + Perfumes the balmy air; +The river murmurs through the vale + Upon its sea-bound way, +And o'er the pleasant hill and dale + The birds sing blythe and gay,-- +And river, flowers, and birds to me +Are ever bringing thoughts of Thee! + +The woods at eve are cool and lone; + And when I linger there, +There's something in the wind's soft moan + That whispers Thou art near. +My thoughts by Fancy's chains are bound + As by a magic spell, +And strange, sweet visions wrap me round + While in the lonely dell,-- +And rustling leaves and murmuring streams +To me are bringing sweetest dreams. + +The sunset saddens in the West, + The stars peep through the skies; +The weary day is hush'd to rest + By gentlest zephyr sighs; +The wavelets break upon the shore. + The moon shines o'er the sea, +The sandy beech I wander o'er + Alone to dream of Thee,-- +And stars, and sky, and moonlit sea, +All, all are bringing thoughts of Thee! + + + + +EVENING. + + +Red shines the sunset in the evening sky, +And paints the cloud-ranks in rich crimson glow, +Till every varying tint in rival splendour burns, +And earth and ocean catch the gleam, and smile +In new-born glory for a time, and then, +As the enraptured gaze absorbs the scene, +It fades, and, growing dim and dimmer, dies. +It is a glimpse from worlds unseen--a light from the + Invisible, +Foreshadowing things the brighter yet to be. +A soft wind-whisper wanders thro' the boughs, +And wakes a thousand harps in forest lands, +That all the sultry day were hushed, till now, +When the fair twilight spreads her dreamy spell: +They wake to melody so softly sweet that one might think +An angel's wing had stirr'd the varied leaves. +And swept the woodlands with ethereal song. +Now the great sea, with all its restless waves, +Seems calmer grown, as forth the stars appear, +And smile upon us from the silent skies, +Where nightly, looking down the azure depths, +Like guardian angels o'er a sinning world, +In their grand, silent eloquence, they show +The marvels of their great Creator's power. +This is the time when dreams will come, and bring +Days which have fled, and we would fain recall. +A shadow thrown across the moonlit walk-- +A breeze that, sighing, lifts the woodbine leaves, and strays +In through the open lattice, may restore +The scenes that long in memory have slept. +Ah, me! stern Time can take out youth away-- +Whiten our hair and mark our brows with age; +But Memory, kind Memory, that holds the past, +He cannot claim. Remembrance still is ours, +And we may grasp her magic wand and touch +The secret spring that hides our bygone years. +The murmur of a brook that flowing glides +Between its violet banks, can call a sigh +From that far time when we could roam at eve. +To hear the birds that sang the sunset down, +With wild, glad vesper-songs by Nature taught. +The earnest face and tender eyes, that beamed +With a whole world of deep, undying love, +Rises again before my tear-dimm'd sight. +Then came a time when, with slow steps, and voices low and + sad, +They laid _her_ down to rest. Then life grew dark, +And all that I had left on earth to love +Was but a grave, beneath the churchyard trees, +Where I could sit for dreary hours and weep. +Years fly apace. The wildest grief grows calm-- +As storm-clouds lowering in the noonday sky, +Seem darkest when they hang above our heads-- +So we most feel the stroke of sorrow when it falls; +But Hope draws near, and, pointing to the Future, whispers- + "Wait:" +Yes, wait awhile; and for a few short years +Struggle, and fight, and bear the burden well. +The sun that sank below the purple hills, +Leaving the earth to darkness and to night, +Shall bring new glory to the morning sky. +Death's night of gloom shall have its morn of bliss, +And we shall find within the golden gates +Our flowers that withered, in eternal bloom! + + + + +TO "W. C. T." + + +Oh, sad one, who wails for thy love that is slighted + Left lone and forsaken, all joy fled away; +Thy day-dream of beauty o'ershadowed and blighted, + Thy sky once so rosy now clouded and gray. +Thine idol was earthly, and earth-like must perish; + The casket was doubtlessly faultless and fair; +But 'tis only the soul-gem the poet can cherish, + And blend with, his dreamings in gladness or care. + +The glory that shone like the East in the morning + On the radiant ideal was sweet to behold; +But, alas! 'twas thy fancy had wrought its adorning, + And without it the real is worthless and cold. +And the poet's high soul ever craves for that beauty + That must be arrayed in the white robe of Truth; +The Love, Heaven-born, that walks hand-clasped with Duty, + That thro' life's changing years keeps the heart in its + youth. + +Then shall Truth at the shrine of the False linger pining + No! Nature rebels, and Hope whispers, Arise! +There are regions unknown in the glad sunlight shining-- + In the paths of thy calling where happiness lies! +Oh, linger not weeping, in gloom and in sadness, + The days that are coming thy healing shall bring; +And a love, brighter far, horn of Truth and of Gladness, + Shall Phoenix-like up from the dead ashes spring! + + + + +SUMMER LONGINGS. + + +There's a sound of woe in the forest lands, + A wailing sigh in the wild wind's breath; +The woods are waving their naked hands + As they mourn fair Summer's death. + +Through the leafless groves in the twilight hours + Come gusts of music that sink and swell, +And I cry, "Come back, with your light and flowers, + Fair Queen of the year that I love so well!" + +Come back to gladden the earth again, + For the woods are grim in their winter woe, +There's a dreary look on the lonely plain, + And the hills and mountains are crowned with snow. + +And I fancy I hear from the distant hills + A blast of wind sweeping o'er the lea, +From the gray old hawthorns and foam-clad rills, + To tell a word of their woe to me. + +Oh, Summer so lovely, lost and dead, + I miss your sunshine and balmy hours, +And blissful calms, when the noontide shed + Its dreamy radiance on fields and flowers! + +I miss your bird-songs that called me up + To welcome the blush of the golden morn, +When the dew-pearls gleamed in the harebell's cup, + And the lark soared high o'er the fields of corn. + +I miss the hush of the quiet eves, + When the gloaming stole through the silent wood, +And the low-toned zephyrs that stirred the leaves + Were like elfin harps in the solitude. + +Oh! Spring, return with your tender buds, + And thousand splendours to deck the earth; +Come back and reign in the grand old woods, + And Winter shall fly at your welcome birth. + +Come back, and wide o'er the hills and vales, + The birds your welcome in glee shall sing; +And their songs shall float on the gentle gales + Till the earth in gladness and joy shall ring! + + + + +MY TREASURES. + + +Yes, I have treasures--not of gold or silver, + Yet they are hoarded with a miser's care; +Cherished and loved more tenderly and fondly + Than purest gems, or jewels rich and rare. + +Only a scrap of paper, old and faded, + Only some withered rose-leaves, sere and dry; +And one long tress of hair, all bright and golden, + Dear relics of the happy days gone by. + +Well I remember that long, dreamy summer, + With all its sunshine and its cloudless days; +The pleasant rambles through the lanes at even, + When earth was glowing in the sunset rays. + +And when the Autumn, in his mellow splendour, + Clothed field and forest in autumnal dyes, +'Twas sweet to wander in the still, weird twilight, + And watch the moon ascend the eastern skies. + +Oh! blissful hours! ah, vows so softly spoken, + Ye held a subtle witchery for me; +I dreamed a heart of love and trust unbroken + Was mine--and mine alone--through time to be. + +Alas! not mine that blossom that I cherished, + And hoped would bloom through all the coming years; +Death's chill hand fell upon it, and it perished, + And left with me but memory and tears! + +Oh, woods! though Autumn left you bare and leafless, + Spring has returned, and brought you life and mirth; +But the dead dream of youth's bright golden morning + Of love and beauty, can it wake to birth? + +It cannot be; the times that have departed, + The days of gladness, can return no more; +And I am lonely left and broken-hearted, + Like some sad exile on a foreign shore,-- + +Who, gazing backwards, through the years can picture + A time when love and friendship were his own; +Then turning to the present, lone and cheerless, + Finds all his happiness in life is gone. + +So, now, life's evening shadows, grim and dreary, + In deepest gloom, are round my pathway shed; +The beams of hope are growing dim and weary, + And all that once was bright is cold and dead! + +Oh, long-lost love! the gloomy years are fleeting, + Through life's dark dream they ever hurry fast; +Great waves upon the brink of Time they're meeting, + And, mingling, rush to form the shadowy Past! + + + + +THE GIFTED. + + +Say, are the gifted born the sons of woe-- +The favoured ones on whom kind Heaven hath smiled, +And dowered so richly with its priceless store; +The lords of earth, the monarchs of the soil-- +Men who are bless'd with minds that angels have: +Are these to bear the jibe of vulgar tongues, +To feel the taunts fell Envy madly hurls, +Or brook the scorn gaunt Jealousy may show? +To them such things are but the angry blast +That mars the bosom of the placid lake, +Which smiles in dimpling ripples at its wrath! +They _have_ their "world of flower, and song, and gem," +The land of beauty where the poet dwells-- +His green Parnassus where the muses reign: +_Not_ hidden nor unseen; oh! look abroad, +And tell me if thine eye no beauty sees. +The solemn grandeur of the Autumn woods, +Bright-crimsoned with the dying Summer's blood; +The mountains in their hoary splendour drest, +The valleys with their fields of golden grain, +The glens deep hidden, where a thousand flowers +In modest beauty shun the noontide glare; +The wild-birds' song, the murmur of the streams +That through their heathery banks of fragrance glide. +All these are theirs--their solace, their delight; +Each with its charm of mystic beauty fraught; +The gleams that pierce the clouds of common life, +And let the light of Heaven's own sunshine in! +They have their dreams in twilight's shadowy hour, +When they can strike their golden lyre, and feel +The holy joy the poet calls his own. +And the soft breeze that sings among the boughs +In numbers like the famed AEolian harp +Seems blending with its tones, till earthly cares +Melt, as beneath the syren's spell, and die! + +Thus lightly o'er the waves his bark goes on, +Hope for a beacon shining bright above. +While firmly at the helm stands fair Content +To steer him safely till he reach the shore. +And then, when Death's grim portals open wide, +And he has reached the Land he dreamed and sung, +Oh! bliss to wander o'er the streets of gold, +_His_ harp-notes mingling with the choirs of Heaven! +His hopes all realized, "faith lost in sight"-- +His life a poem which God Himself hath read! + + + + +MORNING. + + +The gladsome Morning looked across the hills, +Clad in his richly tinted robes; the opal dawn, +Faint blushing in the East, grew clear and brighter, +Till the resplendent sunrise decked the sky. +It shone upon the woods--the birds awoke +To chant their welcome to the god of day. +It shone upon the meadows, and the flowers +Ope'd their eyes, where the bright dew-tears glistened +As they had wept thro' the long hours of night, +Heedless of how the star-beams smiled and played; +And the pale, tender moon, with pitying ray, +Looked down upon their lowly, drooping heads, +Now lifted gladly to the morning light, +Till the warm sunshine kissed their tears away. +And clouds of fragrance from their beds arose, +That amorous zephyrs, as they wandered by, +Wafted, like sweetest incense, to the sky! +It shone upon the rivers, as they flowed +Through fertile meadow-lands, so rich in loveliness; +Sweet streams, that, rippling on in restful song, +Took up a tone more joyous in that hour; +And whispering leaves, and birds that, far and near, +From grove and hedgerow, warbling clear and sweet +In blending music, trembled in the air-- +Like matin hymns, that on Creation's wings +Were upwards borne to the Creator's Throne! + + + + +ANOTHER YEAR. + + +Another year has well nigh passed, + With all its smiles and tears, +And joys and sorrows that are cast +In Time's great stream, whose waters vast +Roll to the ocean of the Past, + Bearing our hopes and fears, +Where 'neath its waves they mingle fast + With all our vanished years. + +Another year! a span of Time, + That tells of lifework done; +A book, some pages dark with crime-- +Some grand, and holy, and sublime; +A trumpet, telling every clime + Of battles lost and won: +A knell of woe--a joy-bell's chime, + Hope dead, and bliss begun! + +Another year! In Spring's sweet hours + What blissful thoughts we knew! +What hopes, that came with opening flowers, +What visions, nurse in spring-wreathed bowers, +When Fancy lent her magic powers + To trace in brilliant hue +Castles of air, and dream-built towers + Too soon to fade from view! + +Another year! and I can trace + Footprints o'er Summer's way, +But turn to find a vacant place, +Where once I met a cherished face, +And well-loved form of youth and grace, + Now pass'd from earth away-- +This year the goal of one bright race, + The close of one fair day. + +Autumn is dead. The year is old, + The dull November days are chill; +The bare woods dreary to behold; +The northern blast blows keen and cold, +Far sighing over waste and world, + O'er wintry vale and hill; +And in its moan are requiems told + For true hearts dead and still! + +So must it be. Each passing year + Still bears some joy away; +Some darling treasure, held too dear, +In trembling bliss, in hope and fear, +Which we would fancy safe and near, + Departs, and seems to say-- +"We have no lasting city here, + Earth's life is but a day!" + +But Christmas, coming round again, + Shall bring his wonted cheer; +And Pleasure, in his jovial train, +With rosy mirth and glee shall reign, +To chase these thoughts of gloom and pain + That haunt the dying year; +And grief-parched lips the cup shall drain + Of "Peace and good-will here!" + + + + +WITH A SHAMROCK. + + +Here, in these triple leaves, oh! read from me, + What I, for _thee_, have dreamed their mystic spell, +Faith, Hope and Love, joined hand in hand, I see, + And this the message that they seem to tell:-- + +Love, for the present, and the time to he, + Faith, that its might and truth can never die; +Hope, that beyond the future clouds and mystery + Points to a smiling scene, and cloudless sky. + + + + +"WAITING FOR THE MAY," + + +"Ah! my heart is weary waiting, waiting for the May!" +Old thoughts come back from the old time, + Where, at even, the sunset light +Gilds wood and world, ere the glory dies, +And darkness gathers along the skies + And the world is left in night. + +Old songs float round in the gloaming, + Sweet fragments that come and go; +They are echoes, I know, from the olden times, +Holy, as music vesper chimes, + In the days of "Long Ago!" + +And faces shine in the firelight; + And laughter rings through the rooms; +And memories of bygone springtime eves +Come back to my lone heart that aches and grieves + In the chill of life's winter glooms, + +Then, the May of love that I longed-for + Was hid in the future haze; +I dreamed it a land of joy unknown, +Where bliss and beauty would be my own + Through the length of life's fair days. + +So in hope for the May I waited + As gay as the joyous hours +That sped so fast, on their lightsome wings +Thro' flowers, and sunlight, and glorious things + That lived in youth's fairy bowers; + +But the hopes I nursed in that springtime-- + Ah! me, but those times were bright! +Are withered now, and no fruit I see, +Though the blossoms were fair on every tree + In the glow of their promise-light! + +Yet, when by the grave where I buried + Those hopes, I stand and weep, +I hear Faith say, as the storm-winds blow,-- +"If in patience, and sorrow, and tears ye sow, + The guerdon of joy ye shall reap!" + + + + +AWAKENED. + + +The glories of fair April's pride + Are smiling round on every hand, +And springtide beauties, far and wide, + As with a garment clothe the land. + +In shady nooks, in lonely glades, + In forest alleys wild flowers spring, +In budding stalls, in twilight shades, + In lonely woods the birdies sing. + +The violet's bloom on many a bank + Is mirror'd in the waters sheen; +And 'mong the grasses long and rank + The yellow primrose flower is seen. + +In yon dim wood the trestle sings + 'Mong boughs that clasp hands overhead, +And through the air his glad song rings, + As in that April long since dead. + +The brook has still the same soft flow, + Whose murmur filled the evening air +In those old days of long ago, + Though I may never wander there. + +I shut my eyes, and see no more + The hurrying throng of city ways +And call to life that dream of yore, + And feel the thrall of bygone days. + +The passion'd yearning for the time, + The glorious time that was to be, +The restless young heart's dreams sublime, + Of all the future held for me. + +Ah! fair the blossoms Hope's tree bore! + I dreamed of Autumn's golden grain-- +Oh! fatal blooms! ye brought a store + Of deep remorse, of life-long pain! + +Oh! dream of youth, I see you now + With calmer eyes, and world-taught mind, +And know these care-lines on my brow + My waking hour has left behind. + +All false the glow that round you shone, + Though fair as Fancy's dream-land light:-- +With all your rainbow decking gone + I view your naked wreck to-night. + +I look and bless the sudden blast + That tore my idol from its throne; +And bless the keen pain of the past-- + If pain for error could atone. + +False love! bereft of all your wiles + Dead dream whose sweetness all is o'er, +The memories of your tears or smiles + Can touch my wakened heart no more. + +I lay you in your grave to-night + And seal the stone without a sigh, +Rejoicing that your gloom and blight + No more can cloud my brightening sky. + + + + +"ONLY." + + +Only relics, yet precious and pure + Are the dreams of the days of old, +Though they tell of wounds that no charm can cure, + And of bright hopes, dead and cold. + Only visions of forest ways, + Only thoughts of happier days, + Only the glow of Life's sunrise haze + When the morning sun was shining. + +Only, it may be, a lock of hair, + Or a flower sere and dry; +Only a pictured face, how fair + In the light of the times gone by! + Only a sigh for what may not be, + Only a yearning wish to see + The light beyond the mystery + That for weary souls is shining. + +Only thoughts of the gladsome time + When the world of youth was bright; +Only memories of joys sublime-- + The gleams of youth's fairy light, + Only sweet flashes that come and go, + Only the thrall that sets heart aglow, + Only the spells we were wont to know + When Fancy's rays were shining. + +Only voices we hear no more, + But the echoes haunt our ears; +Only dreams that are past and o'er + That we mourn through the lonely years + Only to find that the sunny gleam + Of earth's love fades like a passing dream, + Only to wait for that deathless beam + That "beyond the tide" is shining. + +Only the clasp of a parting hand + On the silent rivers' shore, +As the dear one sails for the unseen Land + And we see his face no more,-- + Only to gaze o'er the waters drear, + Only to wait till the call we hear, + "Come over now, for rest is near + Where the true life light is shining." + +Only the burden all must bear, + Only earth's weight of woe; +Only to learn from each dreary care + The patience the pure must know. + Only this:--but what welcomes wait + To hail us home at the pearly gate; + Only to toil until night is late + And awake where the Morn is shining. + + + + +FIRST PSALM. + + +How blessed are they who turn their steps + From paths the wicked choose, +Who stand not in the sinners ways, + And scorners' seats refuse. + +Who take their solace and delight + In meditation pure-- +The law of God--its depth and height, + Its wisdom, might, and power. + +They, like the trees on verdant banks + Whereby sweet rivers flow, +Shall bring forth fruit, and fadeless leaves, + And prosperously grow. + +But such is not the sinners' end-- + Like the light chaff are they, +Which when the softest winds arise, + Are quickly swept away. + +They shall not in the judgment stand, + Nor sinners, scorning grace +Be in the congregation found + Where righteous men find place. + +The Lord himself the righteous knows-- + He marks them from their birth, +But godless ways of sinful men + Shall perish from the earth. + + + + +HER NAME. + + +The purple heather on the brae + Was all abloom; by glen and weld +The wild birds sang the live-long day, + The corn-fields ripened into gold. + +The garden blooms were wonderous fair; + Red roses blushed in regal glow; +Carnations scented all the air, + Pure was the lilies' virgin snow. + +But fairer than the garden flowers, + Or all the summer blooms, wean +Was she, whose smiles beguiled the hours-- + Was she, whose presence charmed the scene. + +Oh! pleasant were the sylvian glades, + Oh! sweet the hush of summer noon; +Roaming 'neath tangled green-wood shades + We deemed _that_ twilight came too soon! + +Our home-ward way lay through the wood, + We lingered by the streamlet's side,-- +False vows were made what time we stood + There, 'neath the elms, that eventide. + +I carved her name upon a tree,-- + A gnarled old ash-tree, gaunt and grey; +"The name may stay," she said to me, + "When I, perchance, am far away!" + +Swiftly the summers come and go, + And life grows stern, and love grows cold; +Dim are the days of long ago-- + Their joys a story long since told. + +But, sometimes, at the close of day, + I dream of that dim wood, and see, +A name upon an ash-tree grey-- + 'Tis all the past has left to me! + + + + +MEMORY. + + + "And other days come back to me + With recollected music."--BYRON. + +How memory's boundless store is fraught + With wonders, mystic and sublime! +Bright gleams, that oft we set at nought; + Sweet messengers from Heaven's own clime. +The wind that stirs the boughs at eve-- + A star that glimmers in the blue +Of nights gemm'd crown, oftimes may wreathe + A halo, strangely sweet and new. + Round hopes and fears we used to know + In life's young morning, long ago. + +The cadence of the sighing waves + That break in song along the shore, +The winds that sigh thro', hidden caves + Are echoes from the days of yore. +The moonlight, stealing o'er the sea, + So calm, above the restless tide, +Is like the light that used to be + In many a by-gone eventide, + As memory comes, and paints each scene, + Of loves and joys that once have been. + +We feel the power, and own the spell, + That bid the lonely spirit stray, +In thought, to where our lost ones dwell, + Now from our paths so far away +We say "'tis dreams that Fancy brings," + And go our way, forgetting still; +But on the winds are angels' wings, + And spirit power, our souls that thrill + With yearning for that life unseen, + Hid far behind this mortal screen. + +For Memory still with subtle art + Unfolds the bygone to our eyes, +And still the lonely, longing heart + Would soar beyond earth's mysteries, +Till wearied grown of useless tears, + And longing for the olden days, +We turn to see the future years + Lie smiling 'neath hope's rosy haze, + And view the past with hopeful love, + Made sure our life is "hid above."-- + +Hid far away from mortal ken,-- + These wonderous gleams that round us stray, +These meteors, 'mong the haunts of men, + These holy thoughts, that day by day, +Shine in their light of Heavenly hue + O'er chequered paths of work and love, +Refreshing as the tender dew, + Are stray-beams from the light above + Men call it Memory, but we know + 'Tis Heaven's warm light on earth's cold snow! + + +TWILIGHT. + + +Twilight's shades are round me creeping, + Nature dons her robe of gray; +Through the blue the stars are peeping, + Sunset's last, faint streaks decay. + +Visions come of bygone hours, + Ere these eyes were dimmed by tears, +Youth's bright scenes unwreathed with flowers + Dimly seen through mist of years. + +Softly through the summer gloaming + Steals this picture of the past; +Through the wood the breeze is roaming + Moon beams round their shadows cast. + +By the murmuring, flowing river, + Sits a maiden waiting there; +Graven on my heart forever + Is that form of beauty rare! + +Vows are plighted, love is given, + Trusting love without alloy, +And the calm, blue, starry heaven + Whispers but of truth and joy! + +By the murmuring, flowing river, + Where the shore the waters lave, +Now the moon beams fall and quiver + On a green and lonely grave! + +Token sad of fond love slighted, + Of a rose cut down in bloom, +Of a fair young blossom blighted + All too lovely for the tomb. + +Softly through the summer gloaming + Sighs the breeze a requiem low, +And my sad heart, ever moaning + Answers to its tones of woe! + + + + +TOLD IN THE TWILIGHT. + + +We left our ink-stained office-desk, + Two, young in years, yet old in care; +We laid aside our world-face mask, +We laid aside our daily task + To breathe the country air. + +We laid aside our musty books, + Grown almost hateful to our eyes; +We longed to roam the country nooks, +We longed to hear the murmuring brooks, + And see the sunny skies. + +We longed to hear the birds again, + Minstrels that through the woodlands stray; +We longed to hear the reaper's strain +Sung in the fields of golden grain + On the bright harvest day. + +Oh! pleasant were the breezy downs! + Oh! fair the lanes and fields; +Far from the weary noise of towns, +We half-forgot grim Care's dark frowns, + 'Mong peace such quiet yields. + +He said, The busy city's street + The path of labour and of woe, +The anxious faces, hurrying feet, +The things that every day I meet, + Are what I hate to know! + +Oh! might I bathe in Lethe's stream, + Forget the happy days gone by, +And know this life a fleeting dream, +And look on every passing scene + As with a stranger's eye. + +To walk along this quiet lane, + To feel this evening calm, +Ah! how it soothes my tired brain +With peace I thought that ne'er again + Would bless me with its balm. + +'Twas in a lane like this, at even + My life's peace came to me; +A great, sweet joy to me was given, +A pure, true love, whose hope has riven + Earth's gloom and mystery. + +A maiden, lovely as the glow + Of Fancy's soul-land light, +Once vowed to me for weal and woe, +As calm or storm would come or go, + Her love was 'mine by right!' + +Twas Spring-time then, ere Autumn's blast + Sighed with its dreary moan, +To shake the brown leaves falling fast, +Her sweet life-tale was told and past, + And I was left alone! + +'Twas hard to think that _she_ was dead, + 'Twas hard to bear such pain; +'Twas hard to feel all brightness fled, +'Twas hard to count bright days swift sped + That could not come again! + +I sought her grave at eve, alone, + And there before me lay +Her tomb, a lily carved on stone, +Meet emblem of my darling one + So early called away. + +And, 'neath the lily, words so sweet, + In dreams they haunt my rest; +Oft at their sound I turn to weep +'He giveth His beloved sleep.' + Oh! portion purest, best! + +Sleep to the weary body, worn, + On earth, with pain and care, +To meet the ransomed soul, new-born, +On the Great Resurrection Morn, + In God-like beauty fair. + +There, at her grave, I bade farewell + To all my heart loved best; +I left our home, I could not dwell +"Mong scenes our love had marked so well, + I felt Grief's wild unrest." + +This is my story told to you-- + My holiest dream of life; +The blest home-love that once I knew +When she, so good, so fair, so true, + I called my own--my wife! + +My sunshine faded when she died, + Such joy I might not know; +God called her early from my side, +And when I lost my gentle bride + The world seemed full of woe! + +He knew 'twas best--my stubborn heart + Had need of chastening pain; +To bow beneath the rod's keen smart, +To learn, by grief, the better part, + To feel such loss is gain. + +And now no earthly idol smiles, + No pleasant passions lure; +No fleeting phantom now beguiles +My soul from heaven with tempting wiles, + My hope is fixed and sure. + +She waits for me--the swift year's flight + I count like miser's gold; +I keep the "watches of the night," +I wait until the morning light + Its glories snail unfold. + + + + +SUNSET. + + +A burning flood of glory blazing far along the West, +And clouds on clouds aglowing towering o'er the mountains' + crest +Till the shining, burnished columns and the ranks of crimson + vie +In a living trail of splendour, lighting all the evening sky. + +The grand October sunset burns above the mountains' brow, +Whose grey old heads shine redly, light-kissed and ruddy now; +There the sunshine loves to linger in a parting glow of + light, +Ere Day his throne resigneth to the dusky reign of Night. + +But low and lower sinking, the sun goes down the West +And the dazzling beams are fading along the Ocean's breast +Till, pale and paler growing, the grandeur dies away, +And the wild waves and the breezes seem wailing for the Day! + +For the fair Day, that has vanished--the brightness that is + fled, +And for all the sunny hours that are passed away and dead, +The rosy flush of sunrise, the gladsome time of morn, +And bird-songs sweet, that far and near told when the Day was + born! + +The tranquil hush of noontide, the mellow evening hours +But ah! the Day's departure left desolate the bowers, +And woodland haunts, and flowery dells, and mountain streams + and glades +Are lonely left in deepening gloom, and mystic twilight + shades! + +But through the Night's grim darkness the star-lamps bright + shall burn, +'Till the lone Earth, cheered and hopeful, shall wait for + Day's return, +And gaze with wistful longing, till the dawn the far East + hills, +And the sun in regal beauty smile o'er the grand old hills. + +Then life and light and brightness shall be her own again, +And in the new-found gladness she'll forget the night of pain +Forget the hours of darkness when deep in gloom she lay, +And her weeping-time of sadness be "as waters that pass + away!" + +Thus, this dreary night of sorrow through which we wander + here +Be only transient darkness the long bright Day is near, +Whose light of peace and glory the ransomed spirit fills, +As it hails the dawn eternal upon the Heavenly Hills! + + + + +"CONSIDER THE LILIES." + + +Not gold nor diamond flash of dazzling brightness, +No costly thing of earth Thou givest for thought; +But these sweet simple flowers, beside whose whiteness +The great king's glory all would seem as nought. + +Thou knewest how soon must fade all earth's poor splendour, +Worthless its wealth to Thine all-seeing eye; +The short-lived glimmer of its pomp and grandeur +Fleeting and transient only born to die. + +Thou would'st not point our love to earth's frail treasure, +But to these lilies, beautiful and pure; +They toil nor spin not, yet their life's full measure +Thou metest, and their day is kept secure. + +Oh, lilies! well I love your snowy pureness! + That once the Master deigned while here to trace, +Pledges of His dear love, whose truth and serene + Are faintly shadowed in your beauty's grace. + +Meek teachers! could I learn that lesson given! + If God so clothe the grass with beauty rare, +Shall He not guide us on our way to heaven, + And guard our pathway till we enter there? + +Oh give me, Lord, a soul of lily whiteness, + Washed in the blood that Thou hast shed for me, +Thy Spirit's light to pierce earth's gloom with brightness + And show the way thro' mist and cloud to Thee + +Give me a heart whose treasure is in heaven, + Not for to-morrow feeling anxious thought; +Even as my day, so shall my strength be given, + And grace sufficient--can I want for aught? + +Oh, give me faith, that on Thy love relying, + From doubt's dark thrall I may be ever free; +And clothe me, Lord, that in the hour of dying, + Thy righteousness, blest robe, may cover me! + +Thus may I walk, by Thee, my Guide, befriended, + 'Joyous with joy that knows no sad decay; +That when earth's sun has set her brief day ended + My morn may break and shine to "perfect day'" + + + + +SONGS OF THE SEA. + + +"My soul is full of longing +For the secret of the sea, +And the heart of the great ocean +Sends a restless pulse through me."--LONGFELLOW + +In the grey light of the morning, ere the sun has lit the sky +When the winds rave loud and wildly, to the angry waters +How the mighty, foaming billows thunder forth, in ceaseless + roar, +Songs majestic, wild with anguish, woeful waitings evermore. +In the dawn light, in the gloaming, beating, breaking, o'er + and o'er, +Telling out the ocean stories, to the wide, encircling shore; +And I listen, till the legends of the past, a shadowy host, +Seem to gather round, and people storied Antrim's rock-bound + coast. + +Where the grandeur of the Causeway smiles in scorn at Art's + weak hand, +Seem the wild waves ever singing of the high schemes Nature + plann'd, +When she hurled the giant columns, by some mighty earthquake + shock, +Till they stand, huge pillar-wonders, by the paved, + mysterious rock; +And the dark caves, weird and frowning, echoing the sea's + wild strife, +Seem to hold some spell unearthly, of the ocean's secret + life. + +Where th'Atlantic rolls sublimely, lashing round Port + Ballintrae, +Language cannot paint the grandeur of the waves, in awful + play! +Beating, breaking, wildly seething, whilst in restless, + fitful roar, +Deep to far-off deep is calling, answering round from shore + to shore. +And the spirit of the ocean seems to fill its heaving breast +With ten thousand prison'd longings, wailing out in wild + unrest. + +Softening down to calmer music, round the White Rocks and the + caves, +With a tender, nameless pathos, softly sing the curling waves +To the battlements and turrets, and the old towers, grim and + hoary. +Where the stern Macquillan chieftains reigned in once + unconquered glory. +There Dunluce, in lonely grandeur, frowns in wild, and + deathless pride, +Sentinel of bygone ages, Time-tried warder by the tide. + +Grey Dunluce, in concert blending, winds, and waves, and + sounding sea, +Seem to sing a dirge of sorrow for the glory fled from thee, +Rolling onward to the Skerries, wailing far in requiem moan +Till they catch the surf's bold thunder round toe rock at + Innishone, +Where the foam-girt shore re-echoes with the burthen of the + song, +And the angry dashing billows wide and far the cry prolong. + +When the moonlight, pale and faintly, gleams on Malin Head's + blue crest, +And its silvery pathway shimmers far across the ocean's + breast; +When the yeasty breakers glisten softly in the shadowy light, +When the rocks seem mystic castles, looming grimly thro' the + night; +Then the solemn songs of Ocean, fraught with precious, new- + found lore +Bring for Fancy unknown treasure, priceless gems for + Thought's great store! + +Grand old Ocean! how my spirit longs to catch thy melody +Do thine heart's great pulses quicken with a secret life, oh, + Sea? +Far adown the blue waves, hidden by the hearings of your + breast, +Is there soul to tune your singing, to its ceaseless, wild + unrest? +Oh! thou dread and wondrous ocean, tell these mystic songs to + me +For their cadence, grand and changeful, haunts my path with + mystery. + + + + +THE MOONLIGHT. + + +Silvery moonlight, clear and bright, +Shining down on our earth to-night, +Soft as the touch of an angels' wing, +Tender, beautiful, holy thing! + +Seeking the glen where the cool waters flow-- +Lighting the bank where the violets grow; +Gilding the crest of the foamy rill; +Falling in silence upon the hill; +Piercing the depths of the forest glade, +Glancing down thro' the leafy shade, +Till the loneliest haunts of the wild wood seem +To rejoice in the light of thy radiant beam! + +Glistening out on the trackless deep, +Where the spirits of ocean their revels keep; +Lighting the path over the billows' foam, +As the mermaid glides from her gem-built home, +And the peri's song o'er the heaving sea +Sounds in fitful, plaintive melody! + +Pouring down on the mountain pass, +Where, tripping light o'er the dewy grass, +The fairies join in their wild, weird dance, +And the mystic forms thro' the moonbeams glance, +While far and wide on the wind is borne +Through answering echoes, the elfin horn. + +Flooding with glory the prairie's breast, +Till, all transformed, in the radiance drest, +The shanty, south of the poplar wood, +Seems a sylvian lodge in the solitude; +And the settler dreams, with a moistened eye, +Of the moonlights and loves of the times gone by. + +Gleaming fair on the city towers +Where the clocks, thro' the night, chime the passing hours, +On the city's heart that no longer beats, +With the ebb and flow of its noisy streets, +And their living pulse-throbs that come and go, +To the smile of joy, and the throb of woe! + +Smiling down from a cloudless sky, +On the village homes, that all peaceful lie; +Where simple hearts, in a happier life, +Know nought of the city's cares and strife,-- +The hardy sons of honest toil, +Pensioners free of their parent soil! + +To hopeful hearts in the morn of youth, +The dream-land of Love, and the type of Truth, +Where the future shows 'neath its veil of light +An Eden of blissful, untold delight + +In the stern, hard struggle of manhood's days +When tired feet stumble o'er life's rough ways, +And in age's twilight of shadowy gloom, +A dream of the rest that is yet to come. + +Shine on, silvery moonlight, shine! +Gladden earth with your beams benign; +On restless ocean, on tranquil lake, +Through forest alleys, by fern and brake; +By quiet village, and crowded town, +By mountain, prairie, and breezy down; +O'er sights of gladness, o'er scenes of woe, +Let the tender light of thy pure beams glow, +And the weary and hopeless shall bless your light. +And the child of joy have more pure delight. + + + + +"GOODNIGHT." + + +"Until the day break, and the shadows flee away." +Cant. 2.17 + +Goodnight, beloved! see the sun descending, + Behind the woodlands of the far, bright West, +And in the glory of the daylights ending, + The "light at eventide" brings dreams of rest. + +Goodnight, beloved! now the grey-eyed gloaming + Glides through the valleys with an unheard tread, +And haunts the woodlands, where the wild winds moaning + Wails o'er the leaves of Autumn, sere and dead. + +Goodnight, beloved! see the pale stars peeping + Through the blue curtain of the shadowy skies;-- +The lamps the angels hold, their night-watch keeping, + O'er souls who wait their call to Paradise! + +Goodnight, beloved! a faint, lingering glory, + Of dying daylight glows in parting smile; +Its last kiss lighting all the hill-tops hoary, + As though the hour with brightness to beguile. + +So now, I dream, a tender love-light lingers + O'er all the bygone, in a charmed glow,-- +That hides the marks of Time's relentless fingers + And gilds the cherished dreams of long ago. + +How fair it shines! but ah! the West grows dimmer, + The crimson radiance melts to sober grey, +And so earth's dream-light fades in fitful glimmer, + Its meteor brightness swiftly dies away. + +Goodnight, beloved! for the shadows darken + In gloom around me, and I cannot see; +Come nearer, nearer still; beloved, hearken; + I hear a far-off voice that calls for me. + +Goodnight, beloved! a new light is breaking + As earth's light fades to brighten nevermore; +Goodnight, beloved! till that glad awaking + When morning shines upon the other shore. + + + + +LOST. + + +The sunset burns on roof and spire, + And streets with busy passers rife; +But ah! it lacks the dream-world fire, + That once 'twas wont to call to life. + +That once it kindled in the days + Of woodland haunt and country lane, +Before I knew the city's ways, + Before I learned that life has pain. + +Oh! present, with your armed host + Of anxious cares, barbed sharp, and keen +Fade! for the light of pleasures lost + Shines forth from days that once have been. + +A fairer sunset charms the West + A mellower radiance fills the air; +A scene with old-time beauty drest, + Lies stretched before me, smiling fair. + +A rustic range-wall, gnarled and old, + A wooden bridge that spans a stream; +The glory of the sunset's gold. + The sweetness of my first love-dream! + +Two hearts that meet in passion'd thrill, + Whose perfect bliss no words can tell; +But once in life that joy we feel, + And feeling, prize, alas! too well! + +Oh! Time and Doubt! ye fill the heart + With sepulchres of Love and Truth; +Our hopes lie dead but memory's part + Must still be played till life shall cease. + +Oh! swift years ever drifting fleet + Adown life's current, tempest toss'd, +Roll on! till on Time's brink we meet + And hail the life where nought is lost! + + + + +GOOD WISHES + +TO ------ ON HIS MARRIAGE. + + +My friend, on this your wedding-day, + Where Love and Hope unite, +To yield with Hymenal ray + The bridal morning bright.-- + When hands are clasped + And cups are quaffed, +When round go wishes true, + This song of mine + For Auld Lang Syne +I send to her and you. + An echo of the bygone times + To mingle with your wedding chimes! + +"Good luck," on this your wedding morn, + "God speed" for years to be; +Good wishes, of old friendship born + For days ye both shall see. + When in your bowers, + Bloom promise-flowers, +Ah! ne'er may sorrow's gloom + Bring shadow there, + May sunlight fair +Your hearth and home illume! + All good, all joy, all blessing true, + I wish to your fair bride and you! + +May Heaven its choicest riches send + To bless your life's long way; +May Love its lasting beauty lend + That age can't steal away. + Oh! may your sky + As swift years fly +Be cloudless, bright and fair; + May joys' own glow + Dispel all woe, +And chase away grim care! + May every good that God can send + Be yours through all your life, my friend! + + + + +"ONLY FRIENDS." + + +We said "good-bye" in a quiet lane, + the gloaming, years ago; + few were our words about "parting pain"-- +we were "only friends" you know. + +Good friends had we been in the dear, dead hours, + that still in our hearts would live, +At morn we had wandered the wild-wood bowers, + We had roamed through the lanes at eve. + +We had gathered the sweets of the summer glades, + The rose, and the violet blue; +We had talked of Love in the twilight shades, + And of hearts that were tried and true. + +But of our heart's hopes, or our own love-dreams, + Ah! never a word said we, +For Fate had forbidden our lips such themes, + And "friends" we could only be. + +And our farewell came, like a boding gloom, + That darkened life's morning ray, +And joy's glad glow, and Hope's tender bloom + Died out of one heart that day. + +How we thought in that hour of the bygone days, + Of the golden summer prime, +Of the mountains wild, and the woodland ways, + And the spell of the gloaming time! + +And, it may be, the memory of whispered words + Came o'er us with subtle power, +Awaking, unbidden, our full hearts' chords + In the pain of that parting hour. + +For our hands were clasped, and our lips once met, + The first time, and the last; +Ah me! 'twere well could we all forget, + Some scenes in our buried past;-- + +For the blue outline of the mountains high, + The lake, and the woodland green, +The quiet lane, and the twilight sky, + Too oft in my dreams are seen! + +And still, tho' the summers are bright and fair, + And the summer woods are gay, +To me there is something wanting there + That has passed from my life away! + + + + +ODE TO SUMMER. + + +Beauteous Queen! with crown of flowers, + On your tresses sunny sheen; +Welcome! to the "Lone-Land" bowers, + To our prairies, wild and green! + In your path spring flowers to meet you, + Nature's choicest glories greet you, + Fair Enchantress! I entreat you, + Listen to my lay! + +Smiling Summer, down the ages, + Still your praises have been sung, +And the poets and the sages, + Who have spoke with gifted tongue,-- + In our legends, old and hoary, + Thrilling song, and 'trancing story, + Live to-day in deathless glory, + Thrill our souls anew! + +Still their songs our breasts inspire, + Still is theirs undying fame; +Theirs the untaught poet-fire, + That I may not hope to claim;-- + Louder than the war-host dashing, + Brighter than their bright spears clashing, + Shine their souls, like lightning flashing + Through their thunder-words! + +Radiant Queen! Their songs combining + Yield to thee their highest praise, +Round thy brows of beauty twining, + Fadeless garlands of their lays;-- + Lays whose light our gloom has rifted, + And our yearnings heavenward lifted, + As we soar with them, the gifted, + Far from earth away. + +Queen of Beauty! Still we sing thee, + Worthy of the poets' song; +Willing homage still we bring thee + As the ages roll along. + Songs of birds, and breath of flowers, + Wind-notes, charming woodland bowers, + Morn's fresh glories, gloaming hours, + Yield their sweets to thee! + +Now the prairie-lands are smiling + With the wealth thy reign bestows, +Brightness golden days beguiling, + O'er smooth sands life's river flows. + Through the air glad sounds are ringing, + Nature summer idylls singing, + I, my simple off'ring bringing, + Kneel at Summer's feet! + + + + +CHANGED. + + +It seems the same as it used to be, when I watched the sunset + glow, +In the days of beauty and gladness, the times of long ago; +Like a light that is dim and far-off, for dark years, full of + pain, +Lie, rolled between me and the beautiful past, that never can + come again! + +Yet Ireland's hills are as verdant now, and the sun, as he + sinks to rest, +As then pours his parting glory, o'er Slieve Gallion's purple + crest, +A glory that brightens and lingers, as though it were fain to + stay, +Till the twilight shadows darken, and daylight dies away. + +On Mullaboy the darkness looms weird on the lonely hill, +The cattle have ceased their lowing, and the song-birds' + notes are still; +And here, in the gloom and silence, 'neath the stars and the + quiet sky, +Old memories throng around me, of days long, long gone by. + +Two scenes are ever fairest, and first in this heart of mine, +And with clearer light and brighter, 'mong the dimmer + phantoms shine, +And perfect in light and shadow, in tracing true and grand +Are the pictures as memory paints them, with firm and master- + hand. + +The first is a cloudless moonlight, in calm and silvery + sheen, +And the range of the Morne Mountains in the dim background is + seen; +Beneath them the sea is rolling, all fair in the gentle + light, +And beauty and peace are blending in the hush of the summer + night. + +I gaze, till again in fancy, I hear the waves' soft roar, +As they break in wild sweet music along Rostrevor's shore; +And a voice with their song is blending telling the old sweet + tale, +Of a fond, true love, that through life's long years would + never change or fail. + +That picture fades before me and the second comes in view-- +A walk 'neath o'er-arching beeches, with the sunlight + glinting through +Leaves that rustle and whisper on branches that wave above, +A silent, tearful parting, the death of a deathless love! + +Dead, and yet unforgotten, worn, but never estranged, +The glory and brightness of morning to the darkness of + midnight changed! +And life is dull and dreary, and joy from earth is fled, +For the love that was light and beauty, and joy and peace, is + dead. + + + + +SABBATH ON THE PRAIRIE. + + +The year's first, blushing roses, + Were decking the prairie's breast; +And the summer garb of beauty + Made fair the wild North-West. +It flashed in the sedgy hollows, + And smiled in the woodland dell; +It whispered in low, soft zephyrs + That breathed o'er the lake and fell. +How it glowed in the mystic star-shine + Of the clear blue Northern sky; +How it crmison'd and flushed in grandeur + In the sunset's sweet good-bye! +And gaudy birds from the South-land + Made brilliant the poplar grove, +And plaintiff calls came sounding, + From the haunts where the plovers rove. + +With dream-notes in the gloaming + The wind-lutes swept the boughs,-- +Sweet songs of the distant stretches, + Where the moose and bison browse. +And we lay in our camp, and listened, + And thought of the wilds untrod; +Of the misty, lonely future, + And the homes on the stranger sod. + +And still o'er the wide, wide ocean, + Our eager thoughts would stray, +To the homes and scenes, to the loves and hopes + Of the youth-time, far away. +Then we slept, to dream of the morrow, + "'Twill be Sunday at home," we said; +"But our church must be the prairie, + With the blue sky overhead." + +The Sabbath dawned in beauty, + With a calm whose breath of peace, +Made a solemn grand cathedral + Of the wild vast wilderness. +The woods were the soft-toned organs, + And the winds, thro' their alleys dim, +Now raised some high, glad anthem, + Now chanted some low, sweet hymn. + +We came from our tents together, + And stood on the lone hill-side, +To join in the songs of Nature, + That Sabbath morning-tide. +"With one consent let all the earth," + Swelled on' the sunny air. +And then, how each home-sick, heart went forth + In that strange hour of prayer! +And the text the preacher gave us + Was, "Rejoice in the Lord always," +Alike in the summer sunshine, + And the gloom of winter days. +And the clouds of our gloom were banished + Like the mists from the morning air; +We had strength for the untried future + For God is everywhere. + + + + +AT EVENING. + + +Slowly along the darkening sky + The twilight comes with stealthy tread; +Far out to west great cloud-ranks lie, + By sunset flushed a rosy red. +Oh! shadows of the gloaming time, + Gather, and loom, and darkly fall, +The winding path to Fancy's clime, + Lies hidden 'neath your dusky pall. + +Pent in the city, now I dream + Of country scenes, of lanes and flowers, +Of woodland glen, and woodland stream, + Pictures of bygone sunset hours! +Oh, bygone! mighty claims you own, + That summon me to seek your shrine, +I hear the call and wait alone, + Until the charmed light shall shine. + +'Tis breaking! Glistening near and far + A radiance floats, of dazzling light +Untouched by Time, or Tempest-scar + I view my past again to-night! +Oh! fair, false hope, your fruit is pain, + Oh, Love! when life's spring leaves were green, +Sweet, e'en in thought to see again + Th' Elysian called "what might have been." + +"What might have been," we scan it o'er + And charmed we live the dreams in thought, +But wake to find that mist-world shore, + Like cloudy vapor melt to nought-- +The brightness fades, the sweet rays die, + Deep darkness falls and night is come; +A wan new moon looks down the sky, + And stars are trembling in the gloom. + +Morning, and noon, and evening grey, + And mystic twilight, all are flown; +And e'en my dreams are pass'd away,-- + Again I find myself alone! +Young love's sweet morn, when hope was nigh. + Stern noonday toiling, which is best? +Ah! me, they all must fade and die,-- + 'Tis but the end can give us rest. + + + + +IN PEACE. + + +The name, the age, and a sentence written + On a marble cross o'er a grassy mound, +Where, calmly beneath sleeps the tired heart smitten, + Cruelly pierced by a dastard wound, +At peace in the heart of the restless city. + She slumbers well in her lowly bed, +With never a tear of love or pity + By kindly mourner above her shed. + +High birth is safely, its rank and splendor, + Blazoned lineage, pride and show, +Scorn coward justice, who fears to tender, + The lash to vice, in this world below, +What matter--a thousand such things have happened + Man has been false since woman was fair;-- +But say, must he stand at yon High Tribunal, + And what account shall he render there? + + + + +TO THE SEA. + + +'Tis eventide and the sun is dying, + Painting the sky in its roseate beam, +And out to sea-ward the cloud-ranks lying, + Are crimson-bright in his parting beam; +In dazzling light o'er the waves extending, + In burnished glow on each foamy crest, +At the golden portals of sunset ending, + Its pathway illumines the ocean's breast. +Oh! light of the sunset, soft and tender, + Oh! waves that shine in the rosy glow, +Oh! mountains, so grand in your hoary splendour, + Oh! billowy ocean that heaves below! + +Oh! rolling waves, that are ever beating, + In wild, sweet music along the shore, +Tell me tales ye are still repeating, + Sighing and moaning forever more; +In seething foam 'mong the grey rocks meeting, + Where, rushing, ye break in doleful roar! + +Sighing on in your restless roaming + Wailing so wildly and ceaselessly; +In the morning light, or the shadowy gloaming, + Tell me, what are thy songs, oh, sea! + +Is thine the wail of a life-long sorrow, + The hopeless crying of hope long dead; +The dearth of loneness that cannot borrow + One beam of light from the brightness fed, +To point to the dawn of a fairer morrow + Far away in the future spread? + +But, heedless, it rolls in its wonderous splendour, + Onward, in cadence sublime and vast; +Are these ocean-songs, in their mystic grandeur + Requiems sung for the vanished past? +It is buried and dead, yet still unsmitten, + It lives and blooms in one hidden spot, +Where in Memory's chamber each scene is written, + Graven too deeply for Time to blot! + +But see! o'er the waters the light grows dimmer, + The white-winged sea-gulls to Westward fly; +Pale stars look down in a fitful glimmer + As the crimson fades from the opal sky. +I soon shall sleep, and perchance in dreaming, + I'll live again in the time that's fled, +And fancy the rays of its brightness beaming + In mellow radiance around my bed +And it may be I'll dream not of bliss that's fleeting + But of that fair life that is yet to be, +Where no cloud can arise to dim our meeting + As I stand with _him_ by the Jasper Sea! + + + + +NOT LOST. + + +"Mine," saith the Lord, "these jewels bright and pearless. + Mine, in the day when I shall count mine own!" +So He has called them, and the hearts left cheerless + Sad and bereaved, must mourn the loved ones flown +"Mine," saith the Lord, He gave, and He has taken + In wisdom infinite He dealt the blow; +And round our hearth their places are forsaken + But _they_ are gathered to His fold, we know! + +Home-gathered early, when the sun so brightly + In life's fair morning tinged their curls with gold, +And o'er their snowy brows all calm and lightly-- + The joyous span of earth's brief time had roll'd. +Home-gathered early; fair to mortal seeming, + The promises that o'er their pathway hung, +But ah! we cannot e'en in fondest dreaming + Conceive their bliss amid the cherub throng. + +Eye hath not seen, nor to man's heart is given, + To know what to His loved one He bestows +What joys untold the ransomed band in heaven, + Through the eternal, blissful ages knows. +And the bereavement is no hopeless sorrow, + No lasting parting, but an ending pain; +We feel that upward, toward the glad to-morrow + Are drawn these links of the earth-binding chain. + +For well we know that these, our darlings, entered, + Into His joy, shall be at last restored +So while our hope in perfect faith is centred + We wait for resurrection in the Lord. + + + + +LOOKING UNTO JESUS. + + +Worn and wearied on earth's road + Oft with stumbling feet I go; +Eyes that fain would look to God + Dim and weak with sin and woe. +But when, all my guilty stains + Rise in dread immensity, +Then I know my Saviour's pains + Took the load of guilt from me. + Pardoned, healed, redeemed, restored, + Then I look to Christ, my Lord! + +When the clouds of sorrow rise, + And the light of woe is dim, +When the subtle Tempter tries + To win back my soul to him. +Then I look to One Who said, + "All things I have overcome; +Onward go, be not afraid + I shall guide to yonder Home!" + Then what evil can betide + While I lean on Christ, my Guide? + +Worn with toil of earthly strife-- + Wearied hands and heart grown faint, +Tired of all the ills of life, + For the water brooks I pant, +Then above the world's wild din, + I can hear "Come unto Me; +I shall heal these wounds of sin, + Give you rest, and make you free!" + When my doubting soul is blest + When I look to Christ my Rest. + +Journeying o'er this path of tears + Oft my doubting heart is cold, +Far away my Home appears-- + The gates of pearl--the street of gold. +Can I ever enter there? + All the way with danger rife,-- +Then the Master's voice I hear, + +"I am the Way, the Truth, the Life! + Ah! what doubt can then dismay + While I walk with Christ, the Way! + +"Looking unto Jesus" still + I can bid my doubting cease, +Joyful, though beset with ill, + Fighting, yet at perfect peace-- +Sorrowful, yet filled with joy, + Tossed, yet feeling all secure; +Earth nor Hell cannot annoy + While my peace with Him is sure! + "Looking unto Jesus," blest! + Soul at anchor, heart at rest! + + + + +BY THE WAVES. + + +A merry leap on the sunny air, + And a gleam of tresses, golden bright; +A 'witching face that is wonderous fair, + A creature of beauty and joy and light. + +A rocky coast with the waves at play, + Wild wandering waves that are mad with glee; +"Tell me, what do the wild waves say, + Are their words in their music?" she asks of me. + +I start and shiver, my heart grows cold, + Aye, cold in the flush of the August sun, +Whose glory lies on the sea like gold, + In farewell radiance, ere day is done. + +The eager smile from her lips has died, + For the pain on my face was plain to see, +And she turns to pace the sand by my side + Watching the billows silently. + +She does not know--could my darling dream, + Of lost, dead love in her golden world, +Where the hope-flowers bloom, and the joy-lights gleam + 'Neath the rosy light of Love's flag unfurled! + +Oh! girlie mine, with the true brown eyes, + And the perfect faith in your fair to be, +Could I lead you back o'er the bridge of sighs + That spans the gulf 'tween the past and me. + +I could show you love in its full-tide swell, + Its syren beauty its dream-world light; +Then, the gathering storm, and the deep-toned knell, + As Love lies bleeding in clouds and night! + +Would you step aside from the shining coils + That circle to-day round your dainty feet, +Could I show you the woes without the wiles, + In the dregs of that chalice, bitter-sweet? + +Ah! no, sweet maid, you must "live and learn," + Though experience is bought, it cannot be sold; +And the heart joy's thrill, and the heartache's burn, + Must needs be felt, they were never told! + +So live and smile in your fair to-day + And wear the jewel of maiden-faith; +May its diadem gleam on your brow for aye, + And Truth with your Love walks in step with death. + + + + +IN MEMORIAM. +A. S. + + +Oh! land of partings, brief and sad probation-- + When all is brightest, then farewell must come! +And the lone mourner weeps in desolation, + Earth's fairest seeping in the silent tomb. + +Far from her home, where kindly hands have tendered + As graceful tribute, to her well-loved name; +Not by chill stranger-feeling coldly rendered, + But by the care respect and love can claim. + +And still her memory shall be loved and cherished, + By all who knew her in her sojourn here; +Like some fair flower that in the morning perished + In spring's bright hours when skies were blue and clear + +Oh' widowed mother-heart! dead e'en to hoping + Longing to leave the life whence joy has flown. +The eager hands through earth's grim shadows groping! + "Darling, come back to me, I am alone!" + +Oh! yearning heart-cry, in deep anguish spoken, + In sleepless midnights, or in twilight dreams! +Oh! aching pain-throb of the spirit broken, + Soon shall these clouds be pierced by Mercy's beams. + +These deep, dense clouds of anguish and repining-- + Darkness and gloom that but the present show +E'en now, behind them, in the brightness shining. + Wait angel-bands that minister to woe. + +Soon shall they come, and bring the consolation, + When the first burst of agony is o'er, +Then when thy soul is calmed by resignation, + Point to the meeting on the other shore:-- + +Where safe at home, in Christ's eternal keeping, + Celestial joy her ransomed being fills, +She waits, when thou hast left this vale of weeping + To greet thee on the Everlasting Hills. + + + + +CHRISTMAS. + +FIFTY YEARS AGO. + + +Christmas! why child, can this be Christmas Eve? + Ah, me! the years run swiftly on; +Threads in the warp of this short life we live. + And now my chequered web is well nigh spun. + +And Christmas seems not what it used to be,-- + The good old customs all are changed, I wean; +Yet memory of old times is left with me-- + The days whose brightness these dimm'd eyes have seen. + +Come, Elsie, bring your stool beside my chair, + Stir up the fire to shine with brighter glow, +And while it flickers on your sunny hair, + I'll tell a Christmas-tale of long ago-- + +Full fifty years ago, when I was young, + And this grey hair like yours was golden-bright, +When mirth and laughter dwelt on brow and tongue, + In fleet winged hours, that sped with magic flight. + +Sometimes, in waking dreams it all comes back,-- + Familiar forms move softly through the room, +Then leave me, gliding up the moonlight track, + Wafting sweet music down the twilight gloom. + +And at these times I see the home that stood, + In the lone highland valley far away; +The snow-crowned hills, the lake, the lonely wood, + Through which I wandered many a summer day. + +And I was happy in those summers, child!-- + Life in its morning brightness knows not gloom, +The rose-tinged future-mists hide waste and wild + As sharp thorns hide beneath the rose's bloom. + +And girlhood seemed like some fair sunny day + Without a cloud to mar the summer sky. +On pleasure's airy pinions borne away + Too swiftly far the winged hours sped by. + +Then came a glory-crown to gild the years,-- + I loved; but 'twas no fancy of the hour, +No fleeting day-dream fraught with hopes and fears, + But Love, that ruled my soul with sovereign power. + +A love that strengthened as the days went past,-- + Dearer and holier far than all beside; +An Eden-world of beauty grand and vast, + With joys new-born, out spreading far and wide. + +Seemed then mine own; and the long years to be, + Would fill my life with happiness and light, +While this great love would shed its beams on me + In glad refulgence making all things bright + +For he--the hero of my life's romance, + Was dear to me--ah! words can never show +That passion'd love, how every tone and glance + Tender or cold, brought happiness or woe + +But cherished hatred goads to bitter end + And, mocking, fain would quench youth's ardent fire +We saw a shadow on our life descend-- + The full charged storm-cloud of long-gathering ire. + +My father boasted his high birth and name + And owned a pedigree that he could trace, +Back to the stern old chiefs, whose hostile fame-- + He held the pride and honor of our race. + +And still when Christmas came he loved to see + All the old customs of our sires kept up, +Huge yule-logs graced the hearth, and Christmas glee + Rang high, 'mid merry song and festal cup. + +And on that Christmas day of which I tell + The seasons revelry was held the same; +The stately hall with guests was furnished well + And, 'mong, the rest, was bidden Hector Graem + +He drank to me--"his lady fair and bright," + As was the custom of the olden time, +"Your lady! never, while the sun gives light + Shall Graem ever wed with child of mine!" + +And pointing to the door with haughty mein + My father bade him from his board begone;-- +And then a curtain fell upon life's scene-- + Blackness of darkness where Hope's sun had shone + +Some family-feud, in days long passed away + Between the Graems and the MacDonnell's rose. +And still its memory in his bosom lay + Though seeming peace was made between the foes + +But ah! my child, how can I tell the rest? + I lived; but Heaven in mercy spared the blow +Of thought and memory then, and weeks that pass'd + Were one drear blank--I felt not then my woe. + +Child, you have never loved, and cannot know + How drear and hopeless youth itself may seem; +The long, blank loveless years to wonder through, + With nought, save memory of a bygone dream. + +But sorrow kills not, we may laugh or weep, + Still Time by stealthy gliding steals away; +And Winter snows again lay white and deep, + And once again they welcomed Christmas day. + +I watched them with sad eyes that knew no smile, + And a dull mind from which all hope had flown, +A listless heart that nothing could beguile + Back to the gladness that it once had known. + +The dull December twilight grey and cold, + Fell weird and grim upon the lonely moor; +The wild wind raged o'er wintry waste and old, + And in the storm a stranger sought our door. + +He asked a shelter from the bitter night + My father's brown cheek blanched to hear _that_ tone, +He led him forward to the yule-log's light, + A lost--a mourned, but now a new-found son! + +Oh! sweetest welcomes on the wanderer fell! + The last of our long race--returning home; +Home to the long-tired hearts that loved him well + No more an exile, by strange shores to roam. + +"Bid me not rest" he said, "until you know, + I have a friend who claims his welcome now, +For, but for him, the depth of Alpines snow + Had been my grave, and you had lost your son." + +"Then wherefore wait?" my mother gently said, + "Let him come hither till I bless his name!" +And Roderick turned, and forth the stranger led + And once again, I looked on Hector Graem. + +No welcome-glow lit up the old man's eye, + Surprise or anger seemed to hold him dumb, +My mother clasped his hand with sob and sigh, + But to full hearts the fewest words will come + +Then Hector kissed her hand with courtly grace,-- + Bowed lowly to my father, half in scorn, +"Old ills" he said "are hardest to erase + From hearts where gratitude was never born" + +But as he spoke the glistening tear drops fell + From those old eyes, that seldom tear drops know. +"You here" he said "love breaks hates baleful spell, + And gratitude comes forth to yield her due!" + +"Let feuds and errors perish with the Past,-- + 'Tis thus I lay them in a deep dug-grave'" +And, beckoning me beside him, there, at last, + His blessing, once refused, he fondly gave! + +Ah! life is very fair, and love is sweet! + The dark sky cleared, the sun shone out again, +Earth seemed a heaven, with perfect bliss replete, + And new-born gladness healed the sting of pain + +And standing by the window hand in hand, + Hearing the storm howl o'er the wastes of snow. +We were the happiest of the happy band + That merry Christmas fifty years ago! + + + + +BEGINNINGS. + + +At dawn sweet flushes softly creep + Along the brightening sky, +Pale watchers whom lone vigils keep + Perceive the sign, and cry, + The night is gone, the bright day comes, + And gladsome light the East illumes! + +Bright blossoms on the branches burst, + Then Autumn fruits grow there; +So, dreams that sickly hope had burst + Grown real, make life fair. + And dreams we prize as holy things + That haunt our path on mystic wings. + +And so, across life's weary road, + Made dark by many a woe, +We hear the tender words of God, + "Come, follow where I go!" + And listening to that gentle voice + Is fixed the best and earliest choice. + +First, we must pray, and watch, and wait, + And bear the daily cross, +And, till we reach the Master's gate, + Count earthly gain as lost, + Then hear, "good servant, nobly done," + By patience hath the crown been won. + + + + +IN REPLY TO "ALONE." + + +It is the joyous time of June, + And Nature glads the smiling land +Arrayed in garments gay and green + Bestowed by nature's lavish hand. +Oh! soft the lullaby of streams + 'Neath shadow of o'er arching trees, +When all sweet, summer music seems + To float around us on the breeze. +It greets us in the greenwood glades-- + By forest aisles and alleys lone, +Where, wandering in the twilight shades + The poet calls the hour his own. +Perchance he dreams some minstrel hand, + Wakes woodland harps to heavenly song, +While spirits from the golden land + On white wings bear the notes along. + +But to thine eyes the world is grim, + And life is dark through falling tears; +Hath Hope's soft ray grown dull and dim + And paled the brightness of your years? +I know your woe--for I have knelt + Beside the new made, grassy mound-- +The anguish of bereavement felt + And moaned beneath the piercing wound. + +Through the soft azur veil of e'en + The stars look down with watching eyes, +Beacons to life our souls to heaven + And tell of love beyond the skies +To tell, tho' earth is bright and fair, + Still Heaven must be our lasting home; +A land untouched by sin and care + Where pain and parting never come. + +Not far away; scarce out of sight, + A shadowy veil, a misty cloud, +Is roll'd between us and the light, + From mortal eyes the bliss to shroud. + +Oh, thou whose poet-mind can feel + The magic spell of beauty's powers +Let these, His "meaner works" reveal + That fairer life that shall be ours. +Where we shall find in fadeless bloom + The love Time's withering blast had slain, +Restored from death and from the tomb + To life, immortal life again. +And while we weep for earth-joys fled, + Or sigh to feel ourselves "alone," +While fragrant memories of the dead, + Like perfumes round our path are strewn; +Let us not think them wholly lost;-- + These flowers that glad the wondering vision, +Slept 'neath the winter storm and frost + Then sprung to beauty half Elysian. +Fair blossoms deck the orchard bough + The promise-fruit of harvest hours; +Nought have we but that promise now, + Yet faith already shows it ours. +Oh! sweet the light around our tombs, + Where promise-buds in faith are sown; +Faith's eye descerns eternal blooms, + In stature of God's fullness blown. +Still ours--the true and tender heart,-- + The form that trod these paths awhile; +We said "good-night" content to part + Until the morning light shall shine. +Oh! blessed hope! Oh! promise sweet + The harvest of the Lord is sure; +His Hand shall give the guerdon meet + To all that to the end endure! + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lays from the West, by M. A. Nicholl + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LAYS FROM THE WEST *** + +This file should be named 7lays10.txt or 7lays10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7lays11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7lays10a.txt + +This eBook was produced by Sergio Cangiano, Juliet Sutherland, +Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Nicholl + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6972] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 19, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LAYS FROM THE WEST *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by Sergio Cangiano, Juliet Sutherland, +Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +LAYS FROM THE WEST + +BY + +"STELLA"--M.A. NICHOLL + + +Then the spirit reached her fingers, + Taper things of rosy snow, +Took my songs, and as she took them, + "Tiny germs," she whispered "go! +Root among the coming hours, + Seeds are ye of many flowers, +Which from out the winds will grow!" + + * * * * * + + +Dedicated + +WITH MUCH GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION + +TO + +_MRS. T. SPOTISWOOD ASH,_ + +THE MANOR HOUSE, + +BELLAGHY, IRELAND. + + * * * * * + +IN THE NORTHWEST. + + +"I'll not forget Old Ireland, were it fifty times as fair." + +In myriads o'er the prairie + Bright flowers bloom strangely fair, +There's beauty in the clear blue sky, + There's sweetness in the air; +And loveliness, with lavish hand, + Decks dell and dingle gay; +Yet still I love my native land-- + The Green Isle, far away. + +The poplar quivers in the breeze, + And by the blue lake's side. +The regal iris, tall and fair, + Blooms in her native pride; +But I dream of the broad beeches' shade + In glens beside Lough Neagh +And my longing thoughts go back to thee, + O, Green Isle, far away! + +Strange birds, in painted plumage gay, + In hundreds haunt the grove; +O'er marsh and moor, the loon and heron, + The coot and plover rove; +But I miss the lark's glad matin song, + And the thrush and blackbird's lay, +The summer songsters, sweet and wild, + In the Green Isle, far away. +Along the blue horizon line + The "bluffs" rise 'gainst the sky, +But in dreams I see Old Erin's coast-- + Her mountains wild and high +Slieve Gallon, with his hoary head + Gold-crowned at close of day, +When sunset lights the grand old hills + In the Green Isle, far away. + +There's beauty in the woodland wilds + With their varied foliage fair, +But, cowering from the light of day, + The grim wolf shelters there. +Ah! dear old woods, where I have roamed + At eve of summer day, +No hidden dangers haunt your glades, + In the Green Isle, far away. + +The clear Assiniboine winds free + Through many a fertile vale; +The antlered deer and graceful hind + Bound o'er the wooded dale; +But I miss the quiet rural scenes-- + The farm-house, thatched and grey, +That memory fondly pictures now + Of the Green Isle, far away. + +The Sabbath morn its holy calm + Breathes o'er the prairie lands, +And the answering heart hears Nature's psalm + And the wild woods clap their hands. +But I long to hear the church bell's sound + Tell to these wilds that day, +When thousands meet to praise and pray + In the Green Isle far away. + +Here life lays hold of brighter things + For the fair years to be, +But the deathless Past and all her dreams, + Old land, belong to thee! +The buried love, the buried hope + Of youth's glad summer day, +That blend with unforgotten scenes + Of the Green Isle, far away. + +And while we love this pleasant land + And own it good and fair, +Our hearts' first love goes backward + And fondly lingers there-- +Back to the dear home country, + Then forward to that day +When all shall meet together, + From the Green Isle pass'd away. + + + + +SONG. + + +"In the gloaming Oh, my darling." + +Oh! green-bosomed Isle, as the summer day's gloaming, + Lies dreamy and dun on the prairie's wild breast +There my worn, wayward heart o'er the wild waves is roaming + Far, far to the scenes that are dearest and best. + +As by bluff and by woodland, by swamp and by meadow, + The gloom gathers round in its dim, mystic pall, +Then my fancies come forth, spirit-children of shadow, + Slow gliding from haunts where the lone night-birds call. + +When the wind, ardent lover, in songful caressing, + Speaks low to the grasses that bend to his breath, +And the dew woos the rose with the balm of its blessing + And steals it with love from the shadow of death. + +Then I seek the wild glen, when the new moon is beaming + All weirdly and wan, through a cloud's fleecy haze, +'Till I stand, young and free, in the land of my dreaming, + Clasping hands with the phantoms of happier days. + +And then, oh! mavourneen, in grey distance flying + The present, the real, grows dimmer, and dies, +See but the moonbeams, but hear the winds sighing, + And bask, fancy bound, in the light of your eyes. + +My own! though the years in the gloom of their sadness + Stand, frowning, 'tween me and the light of my star, +And memory can feel the wild might of loves madness, + Or scoff as rude Time its first sweetness would mar. + +Again, by the banks where Moyola is flowing + We stray as the moonbeams smile sweet through the dell + +Unheeded the moments, unmarked in their going, + Nor dreamed we of woe in the sound of "farewell." + +Is it lost--all the light of the fair morning vision? + Is spirit to spirit unanswering, cold? +No, it never shall die, while in memory's Elysian + It lingers in beauty and brightness untold. + +Love is love, and though Fate blasts our hope vines may sever + From the stay which their tendrils in fondness entwine +Yet the past of our joy we must cherish forever + And spirit meet spirit at memory's shrine. + + + + +A MEMORY. + + +"Indulgent Memory wakes, and, lo! they live!" +--RODGERS + +Deathless, while the years are flying, +And all lesser hopes are dying. +To my widowed heart near lying + By a life-time's love embalmed, +Is a memory, dear and tender, +And in dreams its bygone splendour +Sweetest, holiest, balm can render + To my grief, by Time uncalmed. + +In life's morning, young and early +Glistening fair through dew-drops pearly, +Burst a bud that promised fairly + Through the length of future days. +Ah! it charmed my passion'd dreaming, +Bathed in beauty's brightness, beaming +Fadeless still, and deathless seeming + In fond Hope's delusive haze. + +And, as when in wild December, +June's calm twilights we remember, +So this dream in shadowy splendour + +Ever haunts my lonely way; +And I see in fond delusion, +Glowing as in light Elysian, +The entrancing, old-time vision + Doom'd so early to decay. + +Days when Hope, how false! still flaunted +Through my dreamings, love enchanted, +Framed by busy Fancy, haunted + By glad visions of delight,-- +Morns of light, and sunsets golden, +Dreams of legends, grand and olden, +Hopes for future years, withholden + From our youthful, yearning sight. + +Past and gone! Ah! vain my sighing,-- +Hope's dead leaves are round me lying, +But their fragrances, undying, + Like a hallowed incense rise; +And I feel, with joy unspoken, +That the spirit love unbroken +Leaves this Memory for a token + Of its truth, that never dies. + +In that land whose beauty vernal +Through tried ages blooms eternal +Thou, in bliss undreamed, supernal + Baskest in the glory-light +Where celestial joys inspire +All heaven's vast, unnumbered choir +With sweet songs that never tire, + Through the fadeless summer bright. + +Here, how sad this dreary roaming, +Through the shadows of earth's gloaming, +Waiting for the longed-for coming + Of the lingering Morning Star; +But swift time is onward fleeting-- +Backward is the past retreating, +Nearer, nearer draws our meeting + In the future, dim and far. + + + + +AFTER LIFE'S FEVER. + + +_Obiit, June, 1882_. + + --"And then, a flood of light, a seraph's hymn, + And God's own smile, forever, and forever." + +Oh! pale, calm face; eyes by the Death-kiss sealed, + Cold hands, upon the silent bosom folden; +Oh! soul, set free--of all sin's sickness healed, + Basking in light, from mortal eyes withholden, + _In cœlo quies_. + +Still heart, that ached and throbb'd with human passion, + Locks, white with snow of many a winter past, +Tired body, weary after earth's poor fashion, + Sleep calmly till the waking trumpet blast-- + _In cœlo quies_. + +All over now--the heart-ache and the burning + Of thoughts, so trammelled by this "mortal coil;" +The soul has cast behind its moans and yearning, + The hands are resting from the long life's toil,-- + _In cœlo quies_. + +I, mournful gazer, watching by the portal + Whence thou, from death to life, hast entered in, +Would fain catch one stray gleam of light immortal, + To tell me, ever drowning earth's wild din, + _In cœlo quies_. + +I might not hear the angel welcome ringing, + Nor see the pearly portals open wide, +Wherein the ransomed band, the new song singing, + In white robes wander by life's river side, + _In cœlo quies_. + +"_In cœlo quies_," while the storms are beating + Along earth's desert moorlands, wild and wide; +While skies shall lower, and angry waves are meeting + Thy bark is moored--thou art beyond the tide, + _In cœlo quies_. + +"_In cœlo quies_"--Rest, pure, deep, eternal, + Peace, in a perfect, blissful, endless calm; +Charmed by the beatific joys supernal, + Lull'd by the melody of seraph's psalm, + _In cœlo quies_. + +Here, we but dream it all--the rest--the glory, + Here we but yearn for it in sob and pain; +Till knees wax weary and till locks grow hoary, + Still "westward journeying," at length to gain, + _In cœlo quies_. + +But _thou_ mayest sleep; thy toilsome warfare ended, + The long, rough life-path has been nobly trod, +And with our lost ones, thou sweet songs hast blended, + To hail them found, beside the throne of God? + _In cœlo quies_. + + + + +LIGHT AT EVENTIDE. + + +Round us in the stillness spreading, + Comes the night. +Mortal ears can't hear the treading + Of her footsteps, soft and light. + +Dusky veil that shades the valleys, + Bringing rest; +Shadowy glooms in greenwood alleys. + Twilight dreamings, sweet and blest. + +All the day-time cares are ended, + And instead, +Now by unseen bands attended, + Far, in fancy, we are led. + +Misty forms of mystic seeming + Hover near; +Memory's myriad tapers gleaming + Light old scenes and make them clear-- + +Morn's vain hopes, and noon's stern sorrows, + Tears and cares; +Days of toiling, and to-morrow's + Bringing less of wheat than tares. + +And the chequered, varied pages + Of life's book +Seem a sea whose calms and rages + Now the tired heart cannot brook. + +Evening calm! ah, best and purest + Time of peace; +Soothing balm, when hope is surest, + To bid all vain doubting cease. + +Pointing on, when near the pleasant, + Rest awaits; +When we leave this weary present + And have gained the pearly gates. + +And as evening shadows, creeping, + Gather round +Dim eyes, worn so weak with weeping, + Learn to smile as peace is found. + +In the hope so full of cheering + And delight-- +Home, sweet home! our rest we're nearing! + Evening time shall bring us light. + +Light of heaven! Earth's gloom adorning + With thy smile, +Earnest of the eternal morning + After this brief "little while." + + + + +CHRISTMAS EVE. + + +Ruddy bright the dying embers + In the glooming, glow and burn, +Scenes of olden-time Decembers, + Ashes now in Times' great urn, +That the heart so well remembers + At this haunted hour reborn:-- +All the fairy scenes Elysian + Born again in recollection, + Seen with mirror-like reflection, +Throng upon the wondering vision. +Once again I hear the river + In the darkness rush and roar, +See the pine-boughs wave and quiver, + Hear the oak trees, blasted, hoar, +Muttering, as their gaunt arms shiver, + "Come again, oh! days of yore!" +Come, oh times of hope and longing, + When the beauteous, pure ideal, + Seemed tangible and real-- + "Love the light of Truth's belonging." + +And the woodland walks, enchanted, + By the moonlight's mystic sheen, +Seen as near as when Hope flaunted + In the distance, dimly seen, +That the witched hour seems haunted + By the joys that once have been. +Dear old days! they seem returning. +Though their radiance long has vanished, + Though their rays stern fate has banished, +Fancy still can see them burning. + +See their magic, nameless graces, + Through the shadows flit and gleam, +See again beloved faces + Shine around as in a dream, +And the well-remembered places + Of the bygone, nearer seem, +Till all present melancholy, + Fades away, and sweet and tender, + Visions of life's spring-time splendour, +Gleam among the bay and holly. + +Hark! the Christmas bells are ringing + From the grey church-steeple near, +And the choir are sweetly singing, + "Nowel! Hail Messiah here! +Nowel! for He cometh, bringing + Unto all mankind good cheer." +Through the night the music stealing + Bringeth soothing sweet and pleasant, + Sheds a peace upon the present, +Future days in light revealing. + + + + +AT ANCHOR. + + + "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever" + HEBREWS xiii. 8. + + +In life's young morning blue-eyed promise smiled + O'er a fair future of enchanting grace, +And sweet toned love the golden hours beguiled, + And Fortune's radiant smile illumed the place. + +But change, dread vulture, swooped upon her prey. + And seized my treasures as Time's car sped on, +Then traitor love took wings, and fled away. + And long ere noon I wept a setting sun. + +Then Phoenix-like, beside the smoldering pile, + Kind friendship rose with open, outstretched hands, +But, ere I grasped them, death with icy smile + Had rudely snapp'd in twain the three-fold bands. + +E'en while I mourned, I heard a thrilling voice + That said in stirring accents, "Up! arise! +Work, that in harvest time thou mayest rejoice!" + And Fame stood pointing to the brightening skies. + +Then dreams, false phantoms, filled the gloaming air + And lured me, spell-bound, by a labyrinth maze, +But morning beams awakened new despair-- + The meteor glories passed in mist and haze. + +Through shady groves I strayed, and on before + Walked high-browed Knowledge, calm-eyed and severe +Unwearied still, I trod his footprints o'er, + But fainting fell, the longed-for prize anear. + +Hard-smitten then, I wept; all woe-all gloom! + The heart-void still unfilled, ached keen and sore, +When through the inky darkness shot a gleam + Of new-born glory, unrevealed before. + +Dear Lord! How frail these bauble-toys of Time + When Thy "forever" dawns upon the heart; +Thy perfect fullness, Saviour, how divine, + E'en while we taste its blessedness in part! +Still yesterday, to-day, while ages roll + In grand, eternal vastness, still the same, +Oh! potent Healer! every whit made whole, + I sing glad Hallelujah to Thy name! + + + + + +THE OLD TRYSTING PLACE. + + +"Die erste Liebe ist die beste." + +Through the green boughs the golden sunshine falling + Glints on the glades and lonely woodland bowers; +Bird answers bird, through the wide woodlands calling, + In the deep hush of the calm summer hours. + +The limpid river winding through the meadows, + Laughing and sparkling in the sunny noon, +Takes peaceful tones here, 'neath the beeches' shadows, + And sings sweet idylls in low, fitful tune. + +Songs of the olden days, of hopes and pleasures, + Songs of the love of youth's glad morning times, +That sigh around our path like dream-world treasures, + Soothing as music of the vesper chimes. + +The rustic bridge, the leaves' soft shadows playing + Down in the water-depths, and from away +'Mong the blue hills, come mingled echoes straying, + The pleasant sounds that fill the summer day. + +Aburnum's gold, and quivering beech-leaves blending, + Sway, dancing in the breezes, to and fro; +Wild hyacinths, their blue heads lowly bending, + Listen the secrets of the winds to know. + +Oh! quaint old trysting-place! oh! lights and shadows, + And sounds that haunt the dreams of Life's glad May! +Dreams withered like the May-flowers in the meadows + Or roses of the Junes long passed away. + +Here, oft in dreams, I see my own true maiden, + The pure flower-face, the rippling golden hair; +Ah! many years have roll'd past, sorrow-laden, + Since blue-eyed Edmee waited for me there! + +Ah! murmuring brook, with waving willow fringes, + Ah! woodland picture, all your charmed glow +Is touched and changed by Truth's own sober tinges, + Tints that youth's eager eyes see not, nor know. + +Fraught with these gleams of old-time faith and feeling, + Fraught with the memory of "what might have been," +A still, small voice says all is God's wise dealing, + Behind the clouds is brightness yet unseen. + +Young love and hope in all their matchless glory, + Smile on our morning-time, then fade away; +Teaching unwilling hearts the sad, true story, + No lasting joy is here, all knows decay. + +"Die erste Liebe ist die beste," leaving + A holy radiance round the scenes we knew; +A potent power to point lone spirits, grieving, + To deathless Love whose charms are ever new. + +It ever shows, "in part," in sweet tuition, + What we shall know when we have gained the light, +When all our highest hopes fade in fruition, + Where the Eternal Summer beameth bright. + + + + +THY WORD IS A LIGHT UNTO MY FEET. + + +Oh! Light of Lights! dark, dark is earth's long way, +Cloud upon cloud looms o'er the path I stray; +Far-off and dim the heavenly Land appears, +Through the thick mist of weak distrust--and fears. +Helpless, I seek Thy Word, and hear Thy voice, +That bids me always in the Lord rejoice; +Pointing from doubts within, and this world's wile +To peace and victory, in "a little while." + +Oh! Saviour, Friend, how dark is life's rough path. +What gloom and sorrow haunts this Vale of Death; +Subtle the way, beset with many a snare +And hidden evils lurking everywhere. +But in this Light that shows my love, I see, +This path Thou'st trod, and borne these griefs, for me, +"Fear not!" I hear in tones of tenderest love +"'Tis in thy weakness that my strength I prove." + +The world's temptations rage on life's wild sea, +Drifting the fragile bark I steer to Thee, +But safe I pass the rocks and angry waves, +Helped by Thy mighty arm that shields and saves. +And still above the wind's and water's roar +A calm voice hails me from the distant shore, +"Cast all your care undoubtingly on Me, +Fully and freely, for I care for thee." + +When twilight shades fall round me, dim and grey, +All those I love the most are far away, +I look to Thee, and dry my willful tears-- +With love like Thine, I dread no lonely years. +If 'tis Thy will, let bitter partings come, +Sweet shall the meetings be in yonder Home; +While here I have Thy love that cannot die, +And could I feel alone when Thou art nigh? + +Weary with waiting for Thy promised rest, +Dismayed with doubts, with sinfulness distressed; +"Oh! let Thy kingdom come!" I pray "that I +May join the glad new song they sing on high;" +Then thy sweet words bring patience, "I prepare +For thee an heavenly mansion, bright and fair, +That where I am Thou mayest with Me abide, +And taste full joy for ever by My side." + +I bless thee, Saviour, for this word of life, +This light to guide me safe through every strife, +This lantern o'er my pathway shining clear +To show the dangers, and the Helper near. +I love to see it beaming, day by day, +Thine own bright smile, that lights the darksome way; +"Led by Thy counsel," oh! what joy to be +"Received in glory," Lord, at last by Thee. + + + + +MEMORIES. + + +"In der Weit, weit, +Aus der Einsamkeit, +Wollen sie Dich locken."--FAUST. + + +When the glad, bright days of our youth's fresh prime, + Shall have pass'd, as a dream that at morning dies; +When the long blank stretch of the coming time + Like a desolate desert before us lies, + Dreary and cheerless, 'neath sunless skies. + +When young, sweet love, with her luring smile, + The mystic charm-light of halcyon hours, +Shall no more with her witch'ry our souls beguile, + As the leaves grow seer on Life's fading bowers, + And the blushes are pale on its withering flowers. + +When the strains we loved in the days of yore + No more with their sweetness our heart's-chords thrill, +When Hope's roseate meteors glow no more, + Like the summer sunrise o'er vale and hill, + That our dreamings with radiance were wont to fill. + +When these are gone, shall the lone heart know + No solace the solitude's gloom to cheer? +Shall no stray beams lighten the spirit's woe + As it moans "alone!" e'en when crowds are near? + Must _all_ be lost that was once so dear? + +Ah, no! Though Time is a thief, I ween, + Stealing youth's best wealth as the swift years go, +Still the memories of pleasures which once have been-- + The dreams of the beautiful "Long ago," + Are our own to keep, and shall aye be so! + + + + +"THE KING IS DEAD." + + +Hush! There's a solemn pause, + And looks of fear! +You ask--Whence comes the cause? + Grim Death is here! + +Oh! well thou answerest, well-- + 'Tis fairly said; +Our hearts thrill to the knell, + "The King is dead!" + +Dead! And the bell swings, swings + On in its deep, sad tone; +We own the King of Kings + Is King alone! + +We crown our Kings, we place + Bay leaves on victors' brow, +But all our mortal race + Can boast is _now._ + +The body lay in state, + All fair to mortal eye; +The soul's eternal fate-- + Oh! Death, thy mystery! + + + + +TO "X. Y. Z.," +On receiving a paper from him. + +"Old places have a charm for me + The new can ne'er attain; +Old faces--how I long to see + Their kindly looks again!"--Anon. + + +"X. Y. Z.," your paper was + A welcome thing, indeed, to me; +It brought the memories of old days, + Like fragrance wafted o'er the sea. + +It spake about familiar nooks, + The dear old paths I know so well; +I almost thought I heard the brooks, + Or roamed again my favourite dell. + +The happy hours, the rustic glades, + The gloaming time, the twilight stroll, +Ah, me! these April evening shades + With old-time dreams can haunt one's soul. + +The heart feels young again and free, + And no such word is known as care; +Sweet rays of light that used to be + Seem hovering in the twilight air! + +The hedges and the fields of green, + The lanes, the flowers, the wild bird's trill, +The trees, seen down the water's sheen. + The cattle lowing o'er the hill! + +Your well-drawn school-life picture, too, + My school-time morn recalls again; +'Tis like an old tune, sweet and true, + That mingles pleasing notes with pain. + +The fields, the schools, the village way, + The quaint, old-fashioned, country rhyme, +All come, like mystic glows that stray + Across the yellowing fields of Time. + +The English lanes have lovely flowers, + And moss, and ferns, and birds that sing, +But Erin--green Erin--still is ours. + And to her name our fond hearts cling. + +Each land we visit claims some grace-- + Some special charm it calls its own; +Yet patriot souls must love the place + Which childhood's happy memories crown. + + + + +LOVE. + + +When first from Eden's blissful bowers, + Man roamed o'er earth in exile driven, +Kind Heaven, to cheer his lonely hours, + A source of joy to him hath given. + +'Tis Love, that lights our darkest days, + 'Tis Love, that cheers our keenest woe, +'Tis Love, whose soul inspiring rays, + Gilds all our lives with heaven-lent glow. + +Ambition leads us for a while + To follow many a meteor light-- +Whose flickering beams our souls beguile, + And lure us on to hopeless night. + +And Fame may sound her clarion voice-- + Wealth bring his hoards from every clime, +But Age shall come, and earth's frail joys + Must own the sway of sovereign Time. + +But Love, as flying years go past, + Shall glow with holier, tenderer beam, +And shine, our guiding star at last + Till our dull hearts shall catch a gleam. + +And when our life on earth is o'er + And we from all our toil shall rest, +The beams of Love will light that shore + Where Love has ransomed all the Blest! + + + + +A BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY. + + +"Tis sweet, when year by year we lose +Friends out of sight, in faith to muse +How grows in Paradise our store!"--KEBLE. + +His Birthday! but to-night there is no gladness, + As in the bright old days forever flown; +And in my heart one aching thought of sadness + Seems ever whispering, Alone! Alone! + +The darkness gathers round, and, wan and olden, + The worn day paler grows, and dies away, +And all life's light and brightness now seem folden + Beneath the twilight's dusky mantle gray. + +The old church tower, amid the shadows looming, + Stands grim and sombre in the dying light; +The trees with leafless branches shiver, moaning, + As the sad winds sigh softly through the night. + +Weird looks the ruined church, where ivy creeping + Decks the old walls fast mouldering in decay; +And peace rests o'er the graves in whose calm keeping, + In quiet safety, sleeps the treasured clay. + +Here in this corner, where his grave is lying, + The fir trees throw deep shade, and soft and low, +When summer eve or winter day is dying, + The winds seem ever sighing songs of woe! + +Oh! cherished spot! beloved beyond all measure, + Your holy peace that brings a balm so blest! +When turning from the world, in grief or pleasure, + I seek your calm, and hunger for your rest! + +How feeble, then, seem all the ties that bound me + To this world's ways, that held such charms for me +And heaven-born dreams and holy thoughts surround me + Until from earth's vain things my soul is free! + +Then do I feel this wound of Mercy's giving + Draws all my hopes from earth to holier love. +An e'en while here, sin-stained and lonely living, + My heart is with my treasure fixed above! + +Still, looking upward to the Heavenly Mansion, + Where he abides--where we shall meet him there-- +Where soul with soul shall blend in the expansion + Of that world's higher life, immortal, fair! + +That land of beauty, where the Lamb in glory + Gathers His own to perfect bliss and peace, +Where all the ransomed sing Redemption's story + In joys celestial that can never cease. + +Thrice happy lot was thine, oh, blessed spirit! + So early called from this dark vale of woe-- +From chequered scenes of warfare--to inherit + That perfect love that God's own favoured know. + +Then could we wish thee back to dwell with mortals + And bear those storms that toss Time's troubled sea? +No! from that home beyond the pearly portals + Thou canst not come, but we will go to thee! + + + + + + + +IN MEMORIAM + +OF + +R. A. WILSON, ESQ., + +EDITOR OF THE BELFAST MORNING NEWS. + + +Fair vales of Ulster! in the noontide smiling, + Blue Northern mountains, frowning to the sky; +Rivers that flow along, with song beguiling + The summer day _your_ beauties, too, must die! + +Know ye no _requiem_? Ah! streamlets borrow + Your tones from tearful voices! Mountains blue, +O'er your high heads let heavy clouds of sorrow + Tell that ye mourn the death of Patriot true. + +Erin! green Erin! let your great heart feel it! + Bid all your sons and daughters, fair and brave, +By dropping tears and mourning faces tell it, + As they place laurels on a new-made grave! + +Lowly he lies to day? Death's deep, calm slumber + Has claimed another of our cherished ones; +As he, the talented, ranks with the number + Of Erin's lost, best-loved--her gifted sons! + +"Barney Maglone" is dead! Let the winds sighing + On their fleet wings, bear far the wail of woe +To every land. Let them in wild, sad crying + Tell out to all the sorrow that we know. + +_Our_ Poet, and not all Westminster's glory + Could ever give him half so loved a grave +As this green mound, with simple cross, whose story + Shall live 'mong annals of our gifted brave! + +Methinks that far among old Ireland's mountains + I hear the breezes sing a sad dirge, low, +Wild, and yet soft, with tears from many fountains + And murmuring riven wailing in their flow. + +The grand old woods, with leafy branches waving, + Mingle their many harps in one refrain, +Blent with the waves, whose foam our coast is laving, + Rolling afar, weeping aloud the strain-- + +Waters and wondrous deep, + Mountains and valleys; +Woodlands and heathery steep, + Lone greenwood alleys, + +Sound the long wail of woe, +Tell the news, sad and low, +Let all the wide world know + Of the loved, lost one! + +Waves of deep, boundless sea, +Boiling for ever free, +Tell through the time to be + Of the bright, lost one! + +Erin, whose bosom green, +His own, his loved shrine has been, +Feel the woe thou hast seen + For the true, lost one! + +His land, in weal or woe, +In dark gloom or sunny glow, +Do all Ireland's great ones know + Such zeal as this lost one? + +Bright dreams! ah, how fleeting + Was his life's fair story! +Swift, swift was the meeting + Of Death, with earth's glory! + +Unrivalled in splendour + His sky was at morning, +Still brightening, its grandeur + His noonday adorning. + +But a dark cloud rose glooming, + Ah, me! 'twas Death's shadow! +It chilled the heat blooming + Of hillside or meadow! + +Oh, waters and wondrous deep, + Mountains and valleys, +Woodlands and heathery steep, + Lone greenwood alleys-- + +Sound the weird wail of woe, + Tell the news sad and low, +Let all the wide world knew + Of Erin's best lost one! + + + + +WELCOME TO SPRING. + + +Oh, Spring! sweet Spring! with your golden hours, +Thrice welcome back to our vales and bowers! +I have sighed for you through the Winter's gloom, +And counted the months, till again you come. + Then, welcome, sweetest! I hail you here, + Fairest child of the smiling year! + +I have watched for your advent with longing eyes, +As you lingered 'neath sunnier southern skies; +I have wafted songs o'er the winds to thee +The sighs of a lover's fond constancy. + Then, welcome, darling! to glen and grove, + Child of gladness, and nope, and love! + +I see your footprints along the woods, +And your magic touch on the opening buds, +Bursting to birth on hedge and tree, +In promise of vernal life to be. + Then, welcome, Spring! to our land again, + Bringing beauty and me in your happy train! + +I have marked where you paused by the streamlet's side, +There smiled the primrose, in early pride, +All golden fair 'mid her leaves of green. +Dropped from your garland, oh, beauteous queen! + Then, welcome! to brighten our long-left bower + Fair child of sunshine, and joy, and flowers! + +I have paused entranced in the early morn, +When the birds awoke as the day was born, +Pealing welcomes wild in their native glee. +And my heart went out in their songs to thee, + On the fresh winds borne o'er the hills along, + Child of music, and mirth, and song! + +Oh, Spring! sweet Spring! 'neath your gentle reign. +Life, light, and beauty are born again; +And sad hearts, hopeless in Winter days, +Break forth to singing glad songs of praise-- + For that promise renewed in your yearly birth + Of a fadeless Spring and a ransomed Earth! + + + + +ONLY "A LITTLE WHILE." + + +I saw the sun arise in light at morning; + My being drank the beauty, like some dream +That comes when all is dark, the gloom adorning + With gilding mystic--bright--a soul-world gleam + +I saw the noontide flush on grove and meadow, + I heard the coo of birds that seem'd at rest; +And the fair radiance, all undimm'd by shadow, + Was like a foretaste of the bright and blest. + +I saw, when evening's mellow sunlight glinted, + Far and anear, gleaming on wood and gold; +Mountain and valley shone all carmine-tinted, + Old Ocean's burnished breast seem'd heaving gold. + +Only "a little while" since morn rose brightly, + Followed by noontide calm: a little while +Since sunset glory lit all Nature, lightly + Blessing the earth with one sweet parting smile. + +Only "a little while" a meet type, showing + How brief is earth's short day--how soon 'tis o'er; +Morn, noon, and night, still onward, onward going, + So soon to land us on the eternal shore. + +Only "a little while," poor child of sadness! + The shadows must come first, the clouds and gloom; +Then, the full glow of Heaven, the new born gladness, + When Christ, thy risen Lord, prepares thee room. + +In that fair Home, where He has passed before us, + And in "a little while," shall call us in; +Here, with His love's own glory shining o'er us, + Strong in His strength, we run that goal to win! + +Only "a little while," gay child of pleasure! + The night is spent so far--the morn is near; +Then think! oh, think! where hast thou hid thy treasure? + In these frail, dying toys that charm thee here. + +Oh! in "a little while," their borrowed radiance + Shall fade, as starlight fades when dawn is nigh; +And all earth's glittering show, her smiles and fragrance, + In the fierce fire of wrath shall melt and die! + +Only "a little while!" would we but ponder + These three brief words, their length and breadth and +height +A solemn sign to each, a ray of wonder + From the Unseen, to light the spirit's night. + +"A little while"--past, present, future blending + Shall be a tale soon told, and pass'd for aye; +Then the eternal life, that cannot die--unending, + Undying woe, or Heaven's own dazzling day. + + + +LIFE'S PATHWAY. + + +We walk among labyrinths of wonder, but tread the mazes with + a club; +We sail in chartless seas, but behold! the Pole-star is above + us--TUPPER. + +Life is a pathway, stretched from morn till eve, + O'er which, through shade and sunshine, we must go +And, whether bright or dark this life we live, + Its end must bring us unto joy or woe; +Joy, that no mortal's holiest dreams can know, + Or dread, unending; fearful depths of woe! + +This path is fair at morning, wondrous fair; + With verdant windings, hiding from the view +The far-off journey, and what may be there, + Hid by the Future hilltops, high and blue; +And morn's glad sunlight smiles from dazzling skies, + Gilding the path we tread with heaven-lent dyes. + +Oh! youth is sweet! for tender hands are near, + And eyes aglow with Love's own magic ray, +Heart meeting heart, each to the other dear-- + Through hours that, ere we count them, glide away; +For none can turn to seek a cherished place-- +One only life, whose path we can't retrace! + +And soon they pass, these meteor joys of earth, + That flash and gleam along the troubled way; +Till wondering wanderers question if their birth + Dawns from a Land that knows no sad decay; +Some sinless region, from whose portals bright +These fleeting rays descent in heavenly light. + +Such glorious hues, in golden glory glowing, + When sunrise splendour glads the morning sky; +That bloom awhile, and as they bloom bestowing + Beauty and light, so soon to melt and die, +Leaving a yearning in the darkened heart +To know more closely what we see in part. + +The noonday calm, the sunny Summer hours, + The wild-birds' warbled songs, the balmy air; +Life's early pathway strewn with earth's sweet flowers-- + Can these be dying things--so bright, so fair? +Or lights to lead us o'er a chequered road, +And cheer the shadows to a blest abode? + +Oh! spell-bound Fancy fain would wander far, + If we might only break this mortal thrall; +And roam, unshackled, o'er Time's broken bar, + Trace these gleams whose glory lights on all! +Then would we see in all below, above, +The Great Creator's perfect power and love. + +Yet in this path that stretched before us lies + We may, as oft with weary feet we tread +Through chequered ways of change, see through the mysteries + The living promise from their gleamings shed, +That far from mortal things, and sin, and care, +There is a glorious world, unchanging, fair. + +Oh! may we trace in all that lives and grows + The shadows of a perfect life, unseen; +As when some star that in the twilight glows + In mirrored dimly in the water's sheen, +And we can see, in the calm lake's cool breast, +The far-off glow that lingers in the West. + +Thus, as we onward go, may thoughts be ours + Whose holy pureness in our souls may raise +An anthem of thanksgiving, till life's hours, + Ending, shall find our hearts' attuned to praise +That Love which cheered us on earth's chequered way, +O'er the long path that led to Cloudless Day! + + + + +CLOUDS IN MAY. + + +"May is here, sweet 'Mois de Marie,' but my sky is + overcast!"--ST. GERMAN. + +The hush of twilight, fair and still + Great cloud-ranks, bright with gorgeous dyes + That linger in the Western skies, +Ere Night's deep gloom steals o'er the hill. +The wind sighs softly round the eaves, + The May's fresh sweetness fills the air, + And Peace seems hovering everywhere. +Oh, restless heart, that aches and grieves!-- +Grieves when the earth is bright and green, + And Summer's balmy breeze and flowers + Are brightening, charming all the hours +That span the long, long "bridge between" +Dear hopes and their fruition, laid + In many a way, by human plan. + But ah! these dream-world thoughts of man +Soon, soon can droop, and blight and fade! + +We know 'tis best. Then wherefore try + To ask whence come the darksome clouds? + We know 'tis God's own hand that shroud +Our coming days in mysteries. +"A little while," and there is room + In that bright, blessed land above, + To see, and feel, and taste the love +That sends us now the clouds and gloom. +Why come the clouds? God only knows + Why human hearts need pain and woe; + But Faith's glad gleams still come and go, +Like sunbeams flashing on the snows +Of earth's dark winter-time, and He + Shall smile at last, and frosts shall melt, + And heavenly sunshine shall be felt +When Time fades in Eternity + + + + +A FRAGMENT. + + +"My spirit beats her mortal bars +As down dark tides the glory glides, +Then, star-like, mingles with the stars."--TENNYSON. + +Oh, restful peace of night! The balmy air +Laden with myriad sounds of things so fair, +The waving branches, and the leaves' low whispering +The wondrous songs the winding river sings, +That through the meadow-lands and forest ways, +By flowery nooks, and glades, and valleys strays. + +Oh! shadowy time of dreams, and mysteries, +And longing hopes! Far in the dark blue skies +The star-worlds glimmer brightly through the night; +The flowers are sleeping that at close of day +Wept dew-tears, as the sun's last fading light +From glen and moor land slowly passed away, +When amorous zephyrs wooed them softly sighing +In odorous breaths, as eve's last glow was dying. + +Oh! stars, that through the darkness smile and gleam, +Like glory-rays that gild the dreary gloom, +Or like some soul-world glance or mystic dream +That from the mind's vast store of summer bloom +We feel at times--your influence comes to raise +Our hearts above earth's night of doubts and haze +For all these holy thoughts of peace, that spring +From hearts at rest from daytime cares and pains, +Are messengers of love, sent from the King +That in the blessed country lives and reigns. +And from its gates, above the starry heaven, +Come mystic rays that round our pathway stray-- +His guiding lights that to our souls are given, +Foretastes that cheer and brighten all our way! + + + + +SPRING THOUGHTS. + + +"Of the bright things in earth and air + How little can the heart embrace- +Soft shades and gleaming lights are there + I know it well, but cannot trace!"--KEBLE + +Spring comes again, and the freed flowers are springing + From the cold, frost-bound earth; +And on the budding trees the wild birds singing, + Hail Nature's glad new birth! + +And hope awakes from many a heart-grave using, + Glad gloriously and new; +And many souls, in faith and trust, are prizing + That promise sweet and true; + +Summer and Winter, ever coming, going, + Springtime and Harvest days, +And falling leaves and opening buds are showing + God's ever faithful ways. + +That point us to the resurrection morning, + And to the gladsome day, +When light eternal, the far East adorning, + Shall chase these glooms away. + +And she shall rise who left our home so early, + And left our hearts in gloom, +Clad like the flowers, in beauty's bloom all fairly + Arising from the tomb. + +In that fair Spring and in that Summer shadeless, + With her we, too, shall live-- +There, 'neath His smile whose glory, beaming fadeless, + Eternal peace shall give. + +And all these ties that Time's rough hand had driven + Shall be united there, +And every cross a Father's hand had given + Be gemmed with jewels fair! + + + + +LINES. + + +On reading "Lays of Love and Fatherland," by X. Y. Z. + +Oh! say not now that Erin's harp + Is left untouched by minstrel hand; +Oh! say not that no minstrel heart + Sings now of "Love and Fatherland." +Green Ulster's mountains and her vales + Hear once again a patriot's lyre; +Ierna's legendary tales + Once more are told in patriot fire! + +And hearts beat high, as when of old + In chieftain's hall or peasant's cot +The stories of our land were told + In songs whose spell was half forgot +Till, touched again, the chords resound + That bid our slumbering zeal return, +And souls, so long in coldness bound, + With old-time fire and fervour burn! + +And favoured ones, whom love shall bless + In life's bright, sunny morning hours, +Shall sing in joy and happiness + These songs in Hope's enchanted bowers, +For youth hath dreams, and tho' they go + like sunset fading from the sky, +The cherished songs of "long ago," + While memory lives, can never die. + +Song's potent powers, like holy things + That hover round our path unseen, +On airy wings, to fancy brings + Old scenes, new-clad in fairy sheen. +And like sweet music heard at eve + In some cathedral, old and grey, +Such songs can cheer the hearts that grieve, + And chase all present gloom away. + + + + +IF "SOMEONE" LOVES US. + + +If life's path grows dull and dreary, + With grim shadows on it cast; +If the tired heart grows weary + When all joy seem o'er and past; +When e'en Hope hath ceased to cheer us + With its warm and sunny ray, +And the peace that once was near us + From our pathway steals away + There's one source where we can borrow + Sweetest wealth to keep and claim, + If we feel in joy or sorrow + _Someone_ loves us all the same! + +If fair-faced Pleasure brightly + Beam upon our happy home, +And our hearts with hope beat lightly + Of brighter days to come; +If fickle Fortune, smiling, + Strew the pleasant path with flowers, +And Mirth, with song beguiling, + Lead the merry-footed hours-- + There's a deeper, holier gladness + That is ours to keep and claim, + If we feel in joy or sadness + _Someone_ loves us all the same! + +If our thoughts, at evening blending + With the dim and shadowy light, +Bring us dreams of bliss unending + In the Haven, calm and bright-- +Oh! how sweet the thought--"for ever + 'Mong the sinless _we_ shall stand, +There united, ne'er to sever, + In the bright and better land:" + And e'en then, refined and holy, + Free from earthly stain and sin, + Shall the pure heart, meek and lowly, + Wear the crown true love shall win. + + + + +NEW YEAR'S SONG. + + +"Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky. + The flying clouds, the frosty light; + The year is dying in the night-- +Ring out, wild bells, and let it die! + +"Ring out the Old; ring in the New! + Ring, happy bells, across the snow! + The year is going; let it go-- +Ring out the false! ring in the truer!"--TENNYSON. + + +Oh! welcome! welcome! glad New Year! + We hail with joy your birth. +Let peace and love reign far and near, + And plenty fill the earth! + +Old Year, good-bye! a last good-bye + To sorrow, woe and sin! +Let all of darkness with thee die + And all of light begin! + +When first we bade you welcome here + We hailed you with delight; +But ah! how many then were near, + So far away to-night! + +Ah! well! if thorns were 'mong thy flowers, + Or clouds were in thy sky, +We owe thee many blissful hours + Whose memory ne'er can die! + +Farewell, farewell, for aye, Old Year, + And as you pass from view, +For all those golden hours a tear + That pass away with you! + +"Le Roi est mort!" "Vive le Roi!" + The Old Year, weeping, dies! +Ere we can mourn, a joyous chime + Peals through the midnight skies. + +Oh! welcome! welcome! New-born Year! + We join the strains of joy; +To everyone our hearts hold dear + Be peace without alloy! + +May fadeless light their pathway bless; + And, for a lasting stay, +Oh! may they find that happiness + That cannot pass away. + +For years may come, and years may go, + And earthly joys grow old; +But heavenly love no change can know-- + No time can make it cold. + +Oh! welcome! welcome! New-born Year! + And, as we hail your birth, +May pure and holy thoughts come near + And raise our hopes from earth! + + + + +OUR NATIVE LAND. + + +Our Native Land! Our Native Land! + Long may old Erin's vales be green; +May plenty smile on every hand, + Be want and woe unseen! +Oh! let us join with heart and hand +To raise the song--Our Native Land! + +Our Native Land! Our Native Land! + May countless blessings on her smile +May dove-eyed Peace her lily-wand + Wave o'er pure Emerald Isle-- +Her sons, united brethren, stand, +To raise the song--Our Native Land! + +Our Native Land! Our Native Land! + Let patriot voices join the song, +And swell the chorus high and grand, + Till every breeze shall bear it on. +O'er flowery mead and wave-kissed strand +Loud let it ring--Our Native Land! + +Our Native Land! Our Native Land! + Let Erin's sense the notes prolong, +Together joined-a mighty band + United by one common song. +'Tis Honour's right-her just command +Then let us love Our Native Land! + + + + +TO THE SEA. + + +Oh! rolling waves, while ye sing around me, + My poises beat to your fitful tune, +And higher thoughts in my breast awaken, + But the spell must vanish too soon, too soon. +Here while I lie let your echoes linger, + And rest awhile on this lute of mine; +And though I play with an erring finger, + The sounds shall charm if they're caught from thine. +And my song shall be rich in melody, + Learned from thy singing, oh' tuneful Sea! + +Sadly sigh while the clouds loom o'er thee, + Dark and grey in yon stormy sky; +Foaming billows, your angry wailing + Fills my soul like a hopeless cry! +Heaving breast with your great heart throbbing + Ocean pulses that wildly thrill; +Wandering waves in such cadence breaking, + Rolling, rolling, and never still. +Oh! that my soul, like thine, were free, +Eager and restless, oh! beautiful Sea! + +The clouds disperse, and like glory breaking + In fancy's eyes o'er a poet's dream, +Clad in the sunlight the waters glisten, + And dazzling bright in the radiance gleam. +Far and wide o'er the scene of grandeur + My glad eyes wander, my heart beats high; +Lost in a maze of light and wonder, + I faint in a dream of ecstasy; +And the spirit of beauty thou seem'st to me +In that flood of glory, oh! changing Sea! + +Yet best I love when the mystic gloaming + Grows dim, and the crimson sunset dies; +For I dream that your mighty tones are changing, + And in psalms of praise through the shadows rise. +Oh! Nature's organ! Methinks thy numbers + Keep time with the songs of Cherubim, +While through hidden caves come the echoes swelling + Their chorus grand to the ocean hymn; +And my soul, adorning, ascends with thee, +In deep thanksgiving, oh! wondrous Sea! + + + + +A FAREWELL SONG. + + +Oh! sometimes when our hearts are gay, + And Pleasure round us smiles, +Too soon the hours may pass away + That rosy Mirth beguiles; +And we may feel a tinge of pain + Amid the festal cheer, +And pause to ask, "When, when again, + Shall all be gathered here?" + +But ah! the future's dusky veil + Hides coming years from view; +And still our yearning eyes must fail + To pierce its darkness through. +But Memory can hold the past + That we have loved so well; +And, like a halo round it cast, + Affection's light may dwell. + +And thus, my friends, though call'd away + To join another scene, +My thoughts shall often backward stray + To all that once has been. +And bygone hours shall come again-- + The cherished times and dear. +And bring the moments in their train + When I was with you here. + +And as sweet flowers, tho' sere and dead, + Can by their fragrance bring +Remembrance of the days long fled + Again on Memory's wing. +So many a kindly smile I'll mourn + With deep and fond regret; +For though I never may return, + I never can forget. + + + + +SOLITUDE. + + +"Solitude delighteth well to feed on many thoughts; +There, as thou sittest peaceful, communing with Fancy, +The precious poetry of life shall gild its leaden cares" +--TUPPER + + +Come, Solitude! best soother of my mind-- + The sole companion of my happiest hours; + The spell, all potent, of thy gentle powers +Here in this lovely spot, I come to find. + +Below yon mountains, in the sunset beams, + Lough Neagh's glassy waters widely spread; + And through the distance, like a shining thread, +The "Silver Bann" along the valley gleams. + +Lough Neagh! often in the evening light + I've watched the golden sunset kiss thy breast, + Then, as it died on many a wavelet's crest, +Homeward, unwilling, turned, with fond "Goodnight." + +The bare trees in the planting moan and sigh; + I've watched their leaves from buds, till they had grown + To vernal beauty. Withered now and strewn +Upon the walks, all sere and dead they lie. + +And in the Spring, when the young leaves came first, + Here, often in my lone imaginings, + What golden dreams I knew of glorious things; +Visions my willing mind too fondly nurse. + +Visions that, like the leaves, to beauty grew, + Gladdening my heart thro' sunny summer hours; + Clad in bright garlands, woven from Fancy's bowers +Radiant with Hope's fair light of mellow hue. + +And are they withered too? All those swept dreams + That I had hoped in future years to see + Around me bloom, in living, grand reality; +No longer far-off things, or misty, meteor gleams. + +Some like these leaves, have fallen by the way, + Never again in spring to wake to birth; + While some are mine e'en now, whose priceless worth +Shall bloom and ripen, knowing no decay! + +Round me the shadows deepen; and I see + My dead dreams in a phantom band draw near. + And dim Æolian strains fall on my ear, +like some wild mystic requiem's fitful melody! + +Oh! Solitude! thou canst alone restore + The buried bygone, till the haunted isles + Of memory's chambers shine in moonlight smiles +Shadows of sunlight from the days of yore. + +Oh! Solitude! come often for my guest! + Still, when I meet thee in sequestered glade, + I feel thy presence lasting peace has made; +Of life's sweet things, I hold thee first and best! + + + + +WITH A WHITE ROSE. + + +Long ago, in ages olden, + When our world was new; +When old Time was young and golden, + When men's hearts were true; +Fairer flowers than now are growing + Blossom'd everywhere-- +Beauty to the earth bestowing, + Sweetness to the air! + +Well men loved them, fondly dreaming + They were not of earth; +In their glorious beauty seeming + Of a higher birth. +And in those Elysian bowers, + In the days of old, +Speaking all their thoughts in flowers, + Thus their love they told:-- + +One alone, of purest whiteness, + Of them all was queen; +Sweeter than their hues of brightness + Was its snowy sheen. + +If this flower as pledge were given + By true hearts in love, +Though on earth by sad doubts driven, + Yet their life above +Would be one in joy unending, + Undivided there, +Soul with soul in glory blending + In that kingdom fair. + +This the legend I have told thee + Of the flower I send. +Oh, may its sweet leaves unfold thee + Hope, with such an end! + + + + +"THE EXILE'S REVERIE." + + +It is sweet to dream of the vanished times, in this changing + land of ours, +When we touch the hidden spring of thought, with the wand of + mystic powers, +That Remembrance yields to our yearning hearts, that are + lonely left, and pine +For the loves once ours, till shadowy forms come round us, + and flit and shine. + +Through the gloom that wraps the earth-tired soul, that + drifts on life's sea apart, +Missing the clasp of a kindred hand, or thrill of heart to + heart. +Alone! alone! on the wide, wide world, where hope can console + no more; +Alone! alone! on the friendless waste, strange, on a stranger + shore. + +Oft times when the gloaming gathers round, and the night wind + moans on the hill +Like a ghostly voice from the buried dead, when all around is + still, +In the midnight darkness and silence, I call through the mist + and maze, +To the sunny joys of the glad, bright dream, of the golden, + bygone days. + +Then the poem of the wakened long-ago, to the music of memory + flows, +Now filled as with bridal gladness, now wailing out dirge- + like woes; +Through sunshine and summer glories, through brightness and + fragrant blooms, +Through howling storms, 'neath winter skies, through weeping + and murky glooms. + +And then, when the weird strain ceases, and the fitful music + is done, +The pictures I love to gaze on, rise slowly, one by one +Through the mist of the past slow coming, they give to our + eyes once more, +What Death has stolen from me, and Death can alone restore. + +Again, as in early childhood, I feel the fond caress +Of my mother's lips, or I hear the tones of my father's voice + that bless +His child in its gleeful gambols; Oh! happy and peaceful + hours! +Ye come in visions of golden noons, and sunshine, and shady + bowers! + +And the low-breathed prayer when the sunset glow'd crimson in + the West, +And the sweet "Good-night," and the tender kiss, ere I sank + to tranquil rest; +Mother! that prayer still haunts me, adown the dreary years, +And the earnest tones of thy gentle voice, can steep my soul + in tears. + +My brothers! faithful hearted! strong in your love, and true; +Oh! breaking heart, do you mock me? Can _they_ have + perished too? +In their morning time, when they shared my dreams of a Crown + and a Life-fight won, +Thank God, it was their's so early, when my fight had but + begun! + +Oh, darling, best-beloved! keen now is the aching smart, +As when Death's chill touch on our clasped hands fell, when + he breathed the hard word "part," +Only for earth's short span, my sweet, for love can never + die, +And the spirit bond but strengthens, as Time's wild waves + sweep bye. + +Mine! by the vows soft-whispered, where hand in hand we + strayed +In twilight hours, through summer lanes, or roamed in the + lonely glade; +But the dream in its glory perished, and earth's brightest + hope was fled, +And light from my life was faded, when they laid thee with + the dead! + +Elsie! my bright-haired sister! tender blossom and pure! +You drooped in that last storm's fury, too fragile its might + to endure; +And then I left the home-nest when my last sweet dove had + flown, +And sought to forget, amid stranger scenes, the sorrows my + soul had known. + +It's thus the shadowy phantoms come back from the spirit- + shore, + +When I cry in my lonely anguish for the joys now mine no + more. +I thrill with a passion'd yearning for the fuller life to be, +When my tired soul faints in wonder, lost in earth's + mystery! + + + + +CHURCH ISLAND, COUNTY DERRY. + + + "Oh, search with mother-love the gifts + Our land can boast; +Fair Erna's isles--Neagh's wooded slopes-- + Green Antrim's coast."--MACCARTHY. + +In peerless beauty, flushing, glowing, + O'er broad Lutigh Neagh's breast, +The sunset banner hovers, throwing + Its glory over the West. +And varied banks of glen and wood, +That smile round Neagh's smiling flood, +In this sweet hour seem fitting theme +For Poet's song or artist's dream. + +Round the horizon, sternly frowning, + The mountains like a barrier rise, +The purple range, Slieve Gallion crowning, + Towers grimly to the western skies. +Northward Losgh Beg's bright waters play +Round the Church Isle, where, lone and grey. +The ruined pile with ivied walls +To present days the past recalls. + +On many a grave the sunset gleams, + Where calmly rest the sleeping dead-- +Tired mortals, done with mortal dreams + In other life, whetted they have fled. +E'en now they live! Oh! if tonight +One soul might earthward take its flight, +In awful tones methinks t'would say-- +"Prepare for death, oh child of clay!" + +Oh, time-worn walls! full many a word + Ye echoed in the Sabbath calm; +Love, warning, blessing, oft ye heard, + And solemn prayer, and chanted psalm; +And funeral dirge, as wild and high' +Rose on the gale the _caione_-cry, +Borne far and wide, o'er fern and brake, +As passed the cortege o'er the lake. + +And legends of the days gone by + Tell that if, when a funeral train +Passed there, dark clouds swept over the sky, + And howled the wind and sobbed the rain, +Such storm was still an omen blest, +And told the spirit's happy rest. +If all were calm--then woe the dead! +Sad rose their wailing, weird and dread! + +And that before a chieftain's death, + On moonless nights, by lightning shown, +How oft they saw the water-wraith, + And heard the weeping banshee's groan. +How many a barque, at midnight toss'd +And in the angry waters lost, +In the gray dawn-light seemed to glide +In phantom-beauty o'er the tide. + +But ah! the past and all its lore + Is fading from our hearts away, +And memories of the times of yore + Are all forgotten in to day! +And now, 'tis but by peasants old +These cherished legends can be told; +For Erin's harp is mute and still, +Its mystic notes no heart can thrill! + +Once minstrel hearts awoke its strain, + And swept its chords with master-hand; +But who can wake these lays again + In songs of love and fatherland? +Oh! when again shall such as they +Wake passion'd song and warrior's lay? +Till Erin's vales once more resound +With harp-notes long in silence bound! + + + + +LIVINGSTONE. + + +At last thou art resting; thy life-work is ended-- + Thy life-work so nobly and faithfully done; +And thy name, with the names of the mightiest blended, + Shall be honored and loved as the ages roll on! + +Far away in the wilds, as thy life-scene closed slowly, + How thy soul must have pined for one home-voice to cheer; +But the God, ever kind, of the high and the lowly, + With blessings and strength to thy spirit was near! + +How sweet to thy tired soul that glorious light breaking + In beauty untold o'er the land of the blest, +As thou heard'st, in the hour of that wond'rous awaking-- + "Well done, faithful servant, now enter thy rest!" + +Great Britain's Columbus--her son and our glory! + Her true hearts with love shall beat high at thy name; +Thou shalt stand 'mong the first in our country's proud +story, +And be graven with fire on the Temple of Fame! + +Oh! that some minstrel soul, from the days long departed + Would awake, a meet requiem o'er thee to sing-- +And tell of thy brave deeds--the high, lion-hearted-- + Till the listening nations their homage would bring! + + + + +A DREAM AT SUNRISE. + + +Sapphire and rosy brightness in the East; +Fresh, light-winged zephyrs o'er the hilltops stray +And through the valleys roam, through glens and woods +Waking the leaves and flowers to morning life, +Seeming to tell to all--"The sun is near!" +Slow--brightening now, the rose-light deeper grown +The sapphire flames in wondrous golden maze, +And, all unrivalled, the great King of Day, +In dazzling glory, mounts his regal throne! + +To me a vision down the sunbeams came, +When wrapt in wonder by the beauty-spell, +My soul, entranced, afar from earth did soar, +Unshackled, free, and drank the grandeur of the hour +Brightest and fairest hour of all the day, +When new life thrills the veins as when of old +The morning stars their high thanksgivings raised, +And all the sons of God did shout for joy! +Wondering, I cried, "Oh, Earth is very fair! +I cannot see the shadow of man's fall +On aught around me--sin has left no trace: +Oh! for a bower in such a scene as this, +Where Love and Beauty, blessed by Peace, might dwell!" + +Then round me, on the light wind softly borne, +I heard the numbers of an unseen harp, +And turning, saw an angel near me stand. +He sang of earthly love, and the soft tones +Of his sweet harp were like Aeolian strains +Far breathing o'er some blissful Eden world! +And as I listened, all my holiest dreams +Of harmony, ideal, grand, and high, +Seem'd discord. Then methought I saw, +Upon the morning hills, a bower arise. +Bright flowers of wondrous hues around it bloomed, +All, all of beauty that the heart could dream +Was there; and, lov'lier far than all, +A sweet-eyed maiden, twining rose-wreaths fair! + +Dark clouds arose and dimmed the glowing sky; +The lightnings flashed, and fearful thunder pealed; +And, as they shook the bower, I hid mine eyes, +Fearing to see the beauteous visions fade. + +The fierce storm ceased. I raised mine eyes again, +And saw the wreck of what was once so fair; +The flowers had perished, and the maiden wept-- +Then all the picture melted into air! + +"This shows," the angel said, "what sin has done; +Death and decay must fall on earthly things. +See that you read God's mighty Teacher right-- +The Book of Nature wide before you spread. +'Twas given for man to look on, love, and learn; +But men have eyes, and will not read its lore-- +Ears, and the God-sent teachings will not hear! +Earth's glories and her brightness all must fade; +Yet, while they linger, still they say, 'Prepare.'" + + + + +"LINES ON VISITING EARLY SCENES." + + +Oh! well-known scenes of childhood's days, + Again ye meet my longing eyes; +And still, as memory backward strays, + A thousand tender visions rise; +Of days when youth's all potent powers +Could trace in light the coming hours, +Of dreams that withered with the flowers + That round my pathway sprung! + +When fond Belief, unchill'd by Time, + Built airy castles, high and grand; +When fickle Fancy's dreams sublime + Made Earth appear a fairyland! +Yon school-house seems the same to day-- +Each well-remembered turn and way +Are there--yet, ah! how far away + Are childhood's hours from me! + +Still, still the same--the cherished scene, + That ever thro' the varying years, +Deep-graven on my heart has been, + In morns of joy--in nights of tears. +And oft in darksome times of pain, +When hope seem'd dead, and comfort vain, +Ye shone upon life's desert plain + A friendly light, and true. + +And often when the tide of care + Beat strong against my fragile bark-- +When stormy doubt loom'd everywhere, + With nought to light the gloomy dark-- +The faith I knew in early days, +Ere yet I trod the world's hard ways, +Led gently through the 'wildering maze, + And whispered words of peace! + +Sweet peace, amid the din and strife + And holy thoughts and calm repose; +The promise of a better life-- + The joy that from _believing_ flows! +As when amid these scenes I'd stray, +And dream through all the golden day +Of coming years, in bright array, + Till earth would seem a heaven! + +The Hand that led Youth's steps aright, + The Love that blessed its careless hours-- +Shall they not strengthen for the fight, + Then wreathe the Victor's brow with flowers? +Yes! and ere from these scenes I go, +I've learned what all must come to know-- +Earth's wisdom is but empty show-- + "The child shall teach the man!" + + + + +IDOL WORSHIP. + + +Idol worship in these later ages, + When the light of learning shines so clear, +Golden sayings graved on million pages-- + Wisdom's voices sounding far and near. + +Idol worship, subtle and deceiving, + Lives mis-spent and talents thrown away; +Grim remorse, and after years of grieving-- + Skeletons that haunt us night and day. + +Idols have we manifold in number-- + Idols worshipped both in age and youth; +Visions that beguile life's fitful slumber, + Soul-destroying, blinding us to truth. + +All unreal dreams that fade and perish, + Painted idols, rich in gilded shrines-- +Airy phantoms that we blindly cherish, + Clad in borrowed tints from Fancy's mines. + +All the shining, glittering, worthless splendour-- + All the brilliance of the earthly toy +That we deck with careful hands and tender, + Is not gold, but dross and foul alloy. + +Earth-born idols, lovely but in seeming, + Flitting round us in the moonlight hours +On Love's holy shrine we place them dreaming, + "Though all else may leave us, _this_ is ours!" + +Oh! like meteor-flashings gleaming only + Through the far-off vapours, dense and dark, +Disappearing, leaves, misled and lonely + 'Mid the angry waves, the storm-beat bark. + +So our earthly idols, vain, deceiving, + Come with promise fair for future years; +Fill us with false hopes, forsake us, leaving + Nought but memory's torture, gloom and tears. + +Oh! may we, their many tempting scorning + From earth's sceptres lift our yearning sigh +To fadeless flowers the heavenly hills adorning + That shall be ours when we have gained the high. + +Not the joy whose end is gloom and sadness-- + Withering flowers that deck the earthly sod +Patience hath her crown--eternal gladness-- + By the living "hid with Christ in God." + + + + +IN WINTER DAYS. + + +Spring, and Summer-time, and Autumn + Now are flown- +Dreamy noontides--mellow sunsets-- + Balmy twilights--all are gone! + +Hope's bright visions, carmine-tinted, + Where are they? +Dreams that mocked us in the sunlight + Now in Winter pass'd away. + +Joy shall reign when Spring returning + Wakes the flowers +That the tender Earth has guarded + Safely thro' the Winter hours; + +But the sad winds round me sighing + Seem to sing +She hath treasures in her bosom + That she cannot yield in Spring! + +And I weep in yearning sadness, + Worse than vain, +For the vanished joys that Summer + Ne'er can bring to me again! + + + + +PARTED. + + +Slow lingering months with swifter pace move on-- + Let this dark winter of my life be past; +This cloud athwart the sky of summer thrown-- + Whose gloom and darkness on my heart is cast. + +Parted--Death's deep, dark river rolls between; + Those talks and rambled when the day was done +And now among the things that once have been, + And I am left in sadness here alone! + +Parted! Oh, me, he is for ever gone! + How hopeless _now_ the sunset's golden ray; +How far off seem those joys we both have known, + How cheerless look the paths we used to stray! + +Just when the autumn days grew short and chill, + When all its sunny hours seemed past and o'er, +And moaning winds swept wildly o'er the hill, + Like some sere leaf he fell, to rise no more. + +The spring shall come, and leaves grow green again, + And vernal beauty to the earth return; +Sunshine and flowers shall deck the hill and plane, + And birds awake with song to greet the morn. + +But he has flown far from our wintry sphere, + Where fadeless summer glads the spring-bright clime; +Not where the tempest clouds spread grief and fear, + But safely moored beyond the waves of time! + +Mine is the weeping--his the blissful change; + Mine is the waiting--his the sighed-for peace; +Mine through these dreary, lingering years to range, + until I find a land where partings cease. + + + + +RETROSPECTIVE. + + +I'm free from the city's noises now, + And the city cares that bound me; +I chase their shadows off my brow, + 'Mid the rural scenes around me. + +And alone in the shadowy evening light, + In the deepening gloom and sadness, +I roam the paths of past delight + Of youth's wild dream of gladness. + +I see the panorama vast + That to these eyes is giving +The joyous scenes of that dead past + Still in my bosom living. + +I call those thoughts and memories back + That stern-faced Toil has banished, +And wander o'er the beaten track + Of happy days long vanished. + +The friends of youth for whom I sigh-- + The true and tender-hearted; +The happiness of days gone by, + The pleasures long departed: + +I see them all again to-night, + They seem to come and linger +Like pictures traced in truest light + By Memory's artist finger. + +Those happy times, to me how dear! + Well loved, yet lost for ever; +Those forms that I can fancy near, + Can they return? Ah, never! + +Grim Time's dark shadow of decay + Falls on our hopes when brightest; +A cloud may dim our sky of May + When happy hearts beat lightest. + +When golden sunbeams softly fall + In light on shrub and flower, +E'en then a storm to blight them all + May in the distance lour! + +But still when evening's shadowy light + Steals round in gloom and sadness, +I'll feel a thrill of old delight, + Of youth's wild dream of gladness! + + + + +DUNLUCE. + + +In concert grand the tuneful waves + Break wildly on the foam-girt shore, +And through a thousand secret caves + The shrill wind-voices loudly roar. + Now are the harps of the Ocean waking, + 'Mid the howling winds and the billows breaking! + +The mermaid leaves her ocean home + To sing her love-songs, soft and tender; +The moonlight gilds the breaker's foam, + And bathes the sea in silvery splendour; + And the splashing spray on the White Rocks falling + Sounds like lonely voices of Ocean calling. + +Oh, lone Dunluce! looking o'er the sea, + With tower and keep so grim and hoary, +Do the waves' wild revels recall to thee + The days of your long-departed glory-- + When the wan, weird moonlight is round thee streaming, + With the stars' pale light on your gray walls beaming? + +Oh, stern old relic of bygone ages! + Oh, stout old scorner of Time's rude hand! +Your name shall live in our history's pages + While a poet sings in our native land; + And your fame shall be heard in old Erin's story + When we tell of the days of her vanished glory. + +Ah! many a tale not in history's keeping, + Of lordly chieftain and lady fair, +in the gloom of Oblivion now are sleeping, + And can never be told in the twilight there; + Who repose unremembered in graves unknown, + Where the storms of past ages have o'er them blown. + +I can almost fancy the winds are singing + Those stories forgotten by all but thee, +And the rolling waves in their turn are bringing + Back mem'ries of olden chivalry; + Wild minstrels around thee in darkness stealing + The scenes of the long ago revealing + +I hear in the distance their harp-notes swelling + In a dirge-like wail o'er the moaning sea, +And I think that their mournful strains are telling + A thousand tales of the past to me. + The echoing caves to their songs replying, + As each fitful sound on the gale is dying. + +Wild minstrels of Nature, whose poet-fire + Rings out through her solitudes, wild and grand. +Let your spirit rest on my feeble lyre, + And I'll chain it there with a willing hand. + And when Night hangs her myriad star-lamps shine + Let me blend her notes with your wondrous chord. + + + + +THOUGHTS AT EVENTIDE. + + +"I hold it true, with one who sings + To one clear lute of divers tunes. + That men may rise on stepping-stones +Of their dead selves to higher things."--TENNYSON + +Lo! the sunset fire is burning in the roseate sky of evening + Where grand in dying glory sinks the god of day to rest +And wide o'er the dewy meadows lie the golden lights and + shadows, + Like gleams that come to cheer us from the regions the + blest! +Slow the fiery orb is sinking down below the purple + mountains; + Still the splendour of his radiance lingers round us for a + while; +And the peaceful country bowers, and the stately run towers, + Are rejoicing in the beauty of the glad, refulgent smiles. + +From the trees and from the meadows the bird-song wild and + tender, + In sweet and mingled chorus, like vesper songs, arise +With the evening zephyrs blending, on their airy wings + ascending, + Like anthems of thanksgiving they are ringing thro' the + skies. + +The children's happy voices from the village playground + stealing, + With the cadence of their laughter, come floating through + the air; +And the face of Nature smiling, every thought of care + beguiling, + Soothes my restless soul to musing in the twilight calm and + fair,-- + +Keeps my soul in peaceful musing, 'mid the tranquil summer + gloaming, + When the cares of day are ended, and its labours all are + done; +When the Dove of Peace is stealing o'er the valleys, bringing + healing + On her white wings to the weary, with the rest that they + have won. + +Here let me sit and ponder on life's long and varied story, + On the things that are, and have been, and the times that + are to be; +Of the past and of the present, of the darksome days and + pleasant, + And the future years, still hidden, that are kept in store + for me. + +But, the past--should I deplore it? All my longing can't + restore it; + Still it lies beyond my reaching, to come back to me no + more; +It is right to keep and cherish, or to let its memory perish, + Like a dream to be forgotten, when the hours of sleep are + o'er? + +Like a dream to be forgotten, like a phantom, a delusion + That but lured away our moments with its subtle, witching + powers, +Till it sinks our souls in sadness with the dreams of + gladness, + And the thoughts of vanished pleasures that can ne'er again + be ours. + +Let me cease this idle longing for the days that have + departed, + It is worse than useless wishing for a light grown dim and + dead: +For joy so lovely seeming, when we clasp them in our + dreaming, + And know we must awaken and remember all is fled. + +Let past failures be our beacon through the breakers spread + around us, + To show where danger meets us on life's rough and troubled + main-- +Where earth's joys like billows meeting, on the rock's care + are beating, + And we see them dashed and shattered where they can not + rise again. + +Let me wake, and cease repining; let me learn life's sternest + lesson-- + Joys when born of earth are earthy, and must therefore fade + and die; +Let me feel new knowledge glowing, on my opening eye + bestowing + The experience that will lead me to a fairer, by-and-by. + +'Tis our past has made our present, so our present makes our + future, + Let us work, and cease of wishing--let us _do_, not + _dream_ through life; +Ever mindful, never straying, with our earnest hearts still + praying + For the guerdon of the worker, and the winner in the + strife. + + + + +LIFE. + + +Life is a day. In its morning bright +We frolic and scamper, free and light. +'Tis a happy path that we have to run, +The way is pleasant when new-begun. +The sky of our youth is clear and blue, +With no clouds to impede our raptured view; +There's a prize to win in its golden hours-- +Let us work with zeal, and that prize is ours. +There's a laurel crown for the victor's brow, +And a time to win it--that time is now! +Now, when our hearts are young and gay, +Ere the light of our morning fades away. +It is hard to work 'neath the noon-day sun, +But the rest shall be sweet when the work is done; +It is hard to struggle and fight alone, +But the prize we win shall be all our own. + +The noontide fades, and the evening grey +Overtakes us soon on our weary way; +But our day of working will soon be o'er, +And the rest is nearer us than before. + +Life is a night, to watch and pray +For the coming dawn of a brighter day; +But our lamps are trimmed--we have nought to fear, +The darkness is fleeting--the dawn is near. + +And now we see through a darkened glass +The shadowy scenes of the future pass; +But then, in a morn of unclouded light, +It shall break in glory upon our sight. +The Master shall come when the night is o'er, +And bid us to work and watch no more; +He shall tell His servants their work is done, +And bestow the crown they have nobly won! + + + + +A SUMMER SONG. + + +The summer flowers in regal bloom + Make field and garden fair, +Their fragrance in the dreamy noon + Perfumes the balmy air; +The river murmurs through the vale + Upon its sea-bound way, +And o'er the pleasant hill and dale + The birds sing blythe and gay,-- +And river, flowers, and birds to me +Are ever bringing thoughts of Thee! + +The woods at eve are cool and lone; + And when I linger there, +There's something in the wind's soft moan + That whispers Thou art near. +My thoughts by Fancy's chains are bound + As by a magic spell, +And strange, sweet visions wrap me round + While in the lonely dell,-- +And rustling leaves and murmuring streams +To me are bringing sweetest dreams. + +The sunset saddens in the West, + The stars peep through the skies; +The weary day is hush'd to rest + By gentlest zephyr sighs; +The wavelets break upon the shore. + The moon shines o'er the sea, +The sandy beech I wander o'er + Alone to dream of Thee,-- +And stars, and sky, and moonlit sea, +All, all are bringing thoughts of Thee! + + + + +EVENING. + + +Red shines the sunset in the evening sky, +And paints the cloud-ranks in rich crimson glow, +Till every varying tint in rival splendour burns, +And earth and ocean catch the gleam, and smile +In new-born glory for a time, and then, +As the enraptured gaze absorbs the scene, +It fades, and, growing dim and dimmer, dies. +It is a glimpse from worlds unseen--a light from the + Invisible, +Foreshadowing things the brighter yet to be. +A soft wind-whisper wanders thro' the boughs, +And wakes a thousand harps in forest lands, +That all the sultry day were hushed, till now, +When the fair twilight spreads her dreamy spell: +They wake to melody so softly sweet that one might think +An angel's wing had stirr'd the varied leaves. +And swept the woodlands with ethereal song. +Now the great sea, with all its restless waves, +Seems calmer grown, as forth the stars appear, +And smile upon us from the silent skies, +Where nightly, looking down the azure depths, +Like guardian angels o'er a sinning world, +In their grand, silent eloquence, they show +The marvels of their great Creator's power. +This is the time when dreams will come, and bring +Days which have fled, and we would fain recall. +A shadow thrown across the moonlit walk-- +A breeze that, sighing, lifts the woodbine leaves, and strays +In through the open lattice, may restore +The scenes that long in memory have slept. +Ah, me! stern Time can take out youth away-- +Whiten our hair and mark our brows with age; +But Memory, kind Memory, that holds the past, +He cannot claim. Remembrance still is ours, +And we may grasp her magic wand and touch +The secret spring that hides our bygone years. +The murmur of a brook that flowing glides +Between its violet banks, can call a sigh +From that far time when we could roam at eve. +To hear the birds that sang the sunset down, +With wild, glad vesper-songs by Nature taught. +The earnest face and tender eyes, that beamed +With a whole world of deep, undying love, +Rises again before my tear-dimm'd sight. +Then came a time when, with slow steps, and voices low and + sad, +They laid _her_ down to rest. Then life grew dark, +And all that I had left on earth to love +Was but a grave, beneath the churchyard trees, +Where I could sit for dreary hours and weep. +Years fly apace. The wildest grief grows calm-- +As storm-clouds lowering in the noonday sky, +Seem darkest when they hang above our heads-- +So we most feel the stroke of sorrow when it falls; +But Hope draws near, and, pointing to the Future, whispers- + "Wait:" +Yes, wait awhile; and for a few short years +Struggle, and fight, and bear the burden well. +The sun that sank below the purple hills, +Leaving the earth to darkness and to night, +Shall bring new glory to the morning sky. +Death's night of gloom shall have its morn of bliss, +And we shall find within the golden gates +Our flowers that withered, in eternal bloom! + + + + +TO "W. C. T." + + +Oh, sad one, who wails for thy love that is slighted + Left lone and forsaken, all joy fled away; +Thy day-dream of beauty o'ershadowed and blighted, + Thy sky once so rosy now clouded and gray. +Thine idol was earthly, and earth-like must perish; + The casket was doubtlessly faultless and fair; +But 'tis only the soul-gem the poet can cherish, + And blend with, his dreamings in gladness or care. + +The glory that shone like the East in the morning + On the radiant ideal was sweet to behold; +But, alas! 'twas thy fancy had wrought its adorning, + And without it the real is worthless and cold. +And the poet's high soul ever craves for that beauty + That must be arrayed in the white robe of Truth; +The Love, Heaven-born, that walks hand-clasped with Duty, + That thro' life's changing years keeps the heart in its + youth. + +Then shall Truth at the shrine of the False linger pining + No! Nature rebels, and Hope whispers, Arise! +There are regions unknown in the glad sunlight shining-- + In the paths of thy calling where happiness lies! +Oh, linger not weeping, in gloom and in sadness, + The days that are coming thy healing shall bring; +And a love, brighter far, horn of Truth and of Gladness, + Shall Phoenix-like up from the dead ashes spring! + + + + +SUMMER LONGINGS. + + +There's a sound of woe in the forest lands, + A wailing sigh in the wild wind's breath; +The woods are waving their naked hands + As they mourn fair Summer's death. + +Through the leafless groves in the twilight hours + Come gusts of music that sink and swell, +And I cry, "Come back, with your light and flowers, + Fair Queen of the year that I love so well!" + +Come back to gladden the earth again, + For the woods are grim in their winter woe, +There's a dreary look on the lonely plain, + And the hills and mountains are crowned with snow. + +And I fancy I hear from the distant hills + A blast of wind sweeping o'er the lea, +From the gray old hawthorns and foam-clad rills, + To tell a word of their woe to me. + +Oh, Summer so lovely, lost and dead, + I miss your sunshine and balmy hours, +And blissful calms, when the noontide shed + Its dreamy radiance on fields and flowers! + +I miss your bird-songs that called me up + To welcome the blush of the golden morn, +When the dew-pearls gleamed in the harebell's cup, + And the lark soared high o'er the fields of corn. + +I miss the hush of the quiet eves, + When the gloaming stole through the silent wood, +And the low-toned zephyrs that stirred the leaves + Were like elfin harps in the solitude. + +Oh! Spring, return with your tender buds, + And thousand splendours to deck the earth; +Come back and reign in the grand old woods, + And Winter shall fly at your welcome birth. + +Come back, and wide o'er the hills and vales, + The birds your welcome in glee shall sing; +And their songs shall float on the gentle gales + Till the earth in gladness and joy shall ring! + + + + +MY TREASURES. + + +Yes, I have treasures--not of gold or silver, + Yet they are hoarded with a miser's care; +Cherished and loved more tenderly and fondly + Than purest gems, or jewels rich and rare. + +Only a scrap of paper, old and faded, + Only some withered rose-leaves, sere and dry; +And one long tress of hair, all bright and golden, + Dear relics of the happy days gone by. + +Well I remember that long, dreamy summer, + With all its sunshine and its cloudless days; +The pleasant rambles through the lanes at even, + When earth was glowing in the sunset rays. + +And when the Autumn, in his mellow splendour, + Clothed field and forest in autumnal dyes, +'Twas sweet to wander in the still, weird twilight, + And watch the moon ascend the eastern skies. + +Oh! blissful hours! ah, vows so softly spoken, + Ye held a subtle witchery for me; +I dreamed a heart of love and trust unbroken + Was mine--and mine alone--through time to be. + +Alas! not mine that blossom that I cherished, + And hoped would bloom through all the coming years; +Death's chill hand fell upon it, and it perished, + And left with me but memory and tears! + +Oh, woods! though Autumn left you bare and leafless, + Spring has returned, and brought you life and mirth; +But the dead dream of youth's bright golden morning + Of love and beauty, can it wake to birth? + +It cannot be; the times that have departed, + The days of gladness, can return no more; +And I am lonely left and broken-hearted, + Like some sad exile on a foreign shore,-- + +Who, gazing backwards, through the years can picture + A time when love and friendship were his own; +Then turning to the present, lone and cheerless, + Finds all his happiness in life is gone. + +So, now, life's evening shadows, grim and dreary, + In deepest gloom, are round my pathway shed; +The beams of hope are growing dim and weary, + And all that once was bright is cold and dead! + +Oh, long-lost love! the gloomy years are fleeting, + Through life's dark dream they ever hurry fast; +Great waves upon the brink of Time they're meeting, + And, mingling, rush to form the shadowy Past! + + + + +THE GIFTED. + + +Say, are the gifted born the sons of woe-- +The favoured ones on whom kind Heaven hath smiled, +And dowered so richly with its priceless store; +The lords of earth, the monarchs of the soil-- +Men who are bless'd with minds that angels have: +Are these to bear the jibe of vulgar tongues, +To feel the taunts fell Envy madly hurls, +Or brook the scorn gaunt Jealousy may show? +To them such things are but the angry blast +That mars the bosom of the placid lake, +Which smiles in dimpling ripples at its wrath! +They _have_ their "world of flower, and song, and gem," +The land of beauty where the poet dwells-- +His green Parnassus where the muses reign: +_Not_ hidden nor unseen; oh! look abroad, +And tell me if thine eye no beauty sees. +The solemn grandeur of the Autumn woods, +Bright-crimsoned with the dying Summer's blood; +The mountains in their hoary splendour drest, +The valleys with their fields of golden grain, +The glens deep hidden, where a thousand flowers +In modest beauty shun the noontide glare; +The wild-birds' song, the murmur of the streams +That through their heathery banks of fragrance glide. +All these are theirs--their solace, their delight; +Each with its charm of mystic beauty fraught; +The gleams that pierce the clouds of common life, +And let the light of Heaven's own sunshine in! +They have their dreams in twilight's shadowy hour, +When they can strike their golden lyre, and feel +The holy joy the poet calls his own. +And the soft breeze that sings among the boughs +In numbers like the famed Æolian harp +Seems blending with its tones, till earthly cares +Melt, as beneath the syren's spell, and die! + +Thus lightly o'er the waves his bark goes on, +Hope for a beacon shining bright above. +While firmly at the helm stands fair Content +To steer him safely till he reach the shore. +And then, when Death's grim portals open wide, +And he has reached the Land he dreamed and sung, +Oh! bliss to wander o'er the streets of gold, +_His_ harp-notes mingling with the choirs of Heaven! +His hopes all realized, "faith lost in sight"-- +His life a poem which God Himself hath read! + + + + +MORNING. + + +The gladsome Morning looked across the hills, +Clad in his richly tinted robes; the opal dawn, +Faint blushing in the East, grew clear and brighter, +Till the resplendent sunrise decked the sky. +It shone upon the woods--the birds awoke +To chant their welcome to the god of day. +It shone upon the meadows, and the flowers +Ope'd their eyes, where the bright dew-tears glistened +As they had wept thro' the long hours of night, +Heedless of how the star-beams smiled and played; +And the pale, tender moon, with pitying ray, +Looked down upon their lowly, drooping heads, +Now lifted gladly to the morning light, +Till the warm sunshine kissed their tears away. +And clouds of fragrance from their beds arose, +That amorous zephyrs, as they wandered by, +Wafted, like sweetest incense, to the sky! +It shone upon the rivers, as they flowed +Through fertile meadow-lands, so rich in loveliness; +Sweet streams, that, rippling on in restful song, +Took up a tone more joyous in that hour; +And whispering leaves, and birds that, far and near, +From grove and hedgerow, warbling clear and sweet +In blending music, trembled in the air-- +Like matin hymns, that on Creation's wings +Were upwards borne to the Creator's Throne! + + + + +ANOTHER YEAR. + + +Another year has well nigh passed, + With all its smiles and tears, +And joys and sorrows that are cast +In Time's great stream, whose waters vast +Roll to the ocean of the Past, + Bearing our hopes and fears, +Where 'neath its waves they mingle fast + With all our vanished years. + +Another year! a span of Time, + That tells of lifework done; +A book, some pages dark with crime-- +Some grand, and holy, and sublime; +A trumpet, telling every clime + Of battles lost and won: +A knell of woe--a joy-bell's chime, + Hope dead, and bliss begun! + +Another year! In Spring's sweet hours + What blissful thoughts we knew! +What hopes, that came with opening flowers, +What visions, nurse in spring-wreathed bowers, +When Fancy lent her magic powers + To trace in brilliant hue +Castles of air, and dream-built towers + Too soon to fade from view! + +Another year! and I can trace + Footprints o'er Summer's way, +But turn to find a vacant place, +Where once I met a cherished face, +And well-loved form of youth and grace, + Now pass'd from earth away-- +This year the goal of one bright race, + The close of one fair day. + +Autumn is dead. The year is old, + The dull November days are chill; +The bare woods dreary to behold; +The northern blast blows keen and cold, +Far sighing over waste and world, + O'er wintry vale and hill; +And in its moan are requiems told + For true hearts dead and still! + +So must it be. Each passing year + Still bears some joy away; +Some darling treasure, held too dear, +In trembling bliss, in hope and fear, +Which we would fancy safe and near, + Departs, and seems to say-- +"We have no lasting city here, + Earth's life is but a day!" + +But Christmas, coming round again, + Shall bring his wonted cheer; +And Pleasure, in his jovial train, +With rosy mirth and glee shall reign, +To chase these thoughts of gloom and pain + That haunt the dying year; +And grief-parched lips the cup shall drain + Of "Peace and good-will here!" + + + + +WITH A SHAMROCK. + + +Here, in these triple leaves, oh! read from me, + What I, for _thee_, have dreamed their mystic spell, +Faith, Hope and Love, joined hand in hand, I see, + And this the message that they seem to tell:-- + +Love, for the present, and the time to he, + Faith, that its might and truth can never die; +Hope, that beyond the future clouds and mystery + Points to a smiling scene, and cloudless sky. + + + + +"WAITING FOR THE MAY," + + +"Ah! my heart is weary waiting, waiting for the May!" +Old thoughts come back from the old time, + Where, at even, the sunset light +Gilds wood and world, ere the glory dies, +And darkness gathers along the skies + And the world is left in night. + +Old songs float round in the gloaming, + Sweet fragments that come and go; +They are echoes, I know, from the olden times, +Holy, as music vesper chimes, + In the days of "Long Ago!" + +And faces shine in the firelight; + And laughter rings through the rooms; +And memories of bygone springtime eves +Come back to my lone heart that aches and grieves + In the chill of life's winter glooms, + +Then, the May of love that I longed-for + Was hid in the future haze; +I dreamed it a land of joy unknown, +Where bliss and beauty would be my own + Through the length of life's fair days. + +So in hope for the May I waited + As gay as the joyous hours +That sped so fast, on their lightsome wings +Thro' flowers, and sunlight, and glorious things + That lived in youth's fairy bowers; + +But the hopes I nursed in that springtime-- + Ah! me, but those times were bright! +Are withered now, and no fruit I see, +Though the blossoms were fair on every tree + In the glow of their promise-light! + +Yet, when by the grave where I buried + Those hopes, I stand and weep, +I hear Faith say, as the storm-winds blow,-- +"If in patience, and sorrow, and tears ye sow, + The guerdon of joy ye shall reap!" + + + + +AWAKENED. + + +The glories of fair April's pride + Are smiling round on every hand, +And springtide beauties, far and wide, + As with a garment clothe the land. + +In shady nooks, in lonely glades, + In forest alleys wild flowers spring, +In budding stalls, in twilight shades, + In lonely woods the birdies sing. + +The violet's bloom on many a bank + Is mirror'd in the waters sheen; +And 'mong the grasses long and rank + The yellow primrose flower is seen. + +In yon dim wood the trestle sings + 'Mong boughs that clasp hands overhead, +And through the air his glad song rings, + As in that April long since dead. + +The brook has still the same soft flow, + Whose murmur filled the evening air +In those old days of long ago, + Though I may never wander there. + +I shut my eyes, and see no more + The hurrying throng of city ways +And call to life that dream of yore, + And feel the thrall of bygone days. + +The passion'd yearning for the time, + The glorious time that was to be, +The restless young heart's dreams sublime, + Of all the future held for me. + +Ah! fair the blossoms Hope's tree bore! + I dreamed of Autumn's golden grain-- +Oh! fatal blooms! ye brought a store + Of deep remorse, of life-long pain! + +Oh! dream of youth, I see you now + With calmer eyes, and world-taught mind, +And know these care-lines on my brow + My waking hour has left behind. + +All false the glow that round you shone, + Though fair as Fancy's dream-land light:-- +With all your rainbow decking gone + I view your naked wreck to-night. + +I look and bless the sudden blast + That tore my idol from its throne; +And bless the keen pain of the past-- + If pain for error could atone. + +False love! bereft of all your wiles + Dead dream whose sweetness all is o'er, +The memories of your tears or smiles + Can touch my wakened heart no more. + +I lay you in your grave to-night + And seal the stone without a sigh, +Rejoicing that your gloom and blight + No more can cloud my brightening sky. + + + + +"ONLY." + + +Only relics, yet precious and pure + Are the dreams of the days of old, +Though they tell of wounds that no charm can cure, + And of bright hopes, dead and cold. + Only visions of forest ways, + Only thoughts of happier days, + Only the glow of Life's sunrise haze + When the morning sun was shining. + +Only, it may be, a lock of hair, + Or a flower sere and dry; +Only a pictured face, how fair + In the light of the times gone by! + Only a sigh for what may not be, + Only a yearning wish to see + The light beyond the mystery + That for weary souls is shining. + +Only thoughts of the gladsome time + When the world of youth was bright; +Only memories of joys sublime-- + The gleams of youth's fairy light, + Only sweet flashes that come and go, + Only the thrall that sets heart aglow, + Only the spells we were wont to know + When Fancy's rays were shining. + +Only voices we hear no more, + But the echoes haunt our ears; +Only dreams that are past and o'er + That we mourn through the lonely years + Only to find that the sunny gleam + Of earth's love fades like a passing dream, + Only to wait for that deathless beam + That "beyond the tide" is shining. + +Only the clasp of a parting hand + On the silent rivers' shore, +As the dear one sails for the unseen Land + And we see his face no more,-- + Only to gaze o'er the waters drear, + Only to wait till the call we hear, + "Come over now, for rest is near + Where the true life light is shining." + +Only the burden all must bear, + Only earth's weight of woe; +Only to learn from each dreary care + The patience the pure must know. + Only this:--but what welcomes wait + To hail us home at the pearly gate; + Only to toil until night is late + And awake where the Morn is shining. + + + + +FIRST PSALM. + + +How blessed are they who turn their steps + From paths the wicked choose, +Who stand not in the sinners ways, + And scorners' seats refuse. + +Who take their solace and delight + In meditation pure-- +The law of God--its depth and height, + Its wisdom, might, and power. + +They, like the trees on verdant banks + Whereby sweet rivers flow, +Shall bring forth fruit, and fadeless leaves, + And prosperously grow. + +But such is not the sinners' end-- + Like the light chaff are they, +Which when the softest winds arise, + Are quickly swept away. + +They shall not in the judgment stand, + Nor sinners, scorning grace +Be in the congregation found + Where righteous men find place. + +The Lord himself the righteous knows-- + He marks them from their birth, +But godless ways of sinful men + Shall perish from the earth. + + + + +HER NAME. + + +The purple heather on the brae + Was all abloom; by glen and weld +The wild birds sang the live-long day, + The corn-fields ripened into gold. + +The garden blooms were wonderous fair; + Red roses blushed in regal glow; +Carnations scented all the air, + Pure was the lilies' virgin snow. + +But fairer than the garden flowers, + Or all the summer blooms, wean +Was she, whose smiles beguiled the hours-- + Was she, whose presence charmed the scene. + +Oh! pleasant were the sylvian glades, + Oh! sweet the hush of summer noon; +Roaming 'neath tangled green-wood shades + We deemed _that_ twilight came too soon! + +Our home-ward way lay through the wood, + We lingered by the streamlet's side,-- +False vows were made what time we stood + There, 'neath the elms, that eventide. + +I carved her name upon a tree,-- + A gnarled old ash-tree, gaunt and grey; +"The name may stay," she said to me, + "When I, perchance, am far away!" + +Swiftly the summers come and go, + And life grows stern, and love grows cold; +Dim are the days of long ago-- + Their joys a story long since told. + +But, sometimes, at the close of day, + I dream of that dim wood, and see, +A name upon an ash-tree grey-- + 'Tis all the past has left to me! + + + + +MEMORY. + + + "And other days come back to me + With recollected music."--BYRON. + +How memory's boundless store is fraught + With wonders, mystic and sublime! +Bright gleams, that oft we set at nought; + Sweet messengers from Heaven's own clime. +The wind that stirs the boughs at eve-- + A star that glimmers in the blue +Of nights gemm'd crown, oftimes may wreathe + A halo, strangely sweet and new. + Round hopes and fears we used to know + In life's young morning, long ago. + +The cadence of the sighing waves + That break in song along the shore, +The winds that sigh thro', hidden caves + Are echoes from the days of yore. +The moonlight, stealing o'er the sea, + So calm, above the restless tide, +Is like the light that used to be + In many a by-gone eventide, + As memory comes, and paints each scene, + Of loves and joys that once have been. + +We feel the power, and own the spell, + That bid the lonely spirit stray, +In thought, to where our lost ones dwell, + Now from our paths so far away +We say "'tis dreams that Fancy brings," + And go our way, forgetting still; +But on the winds are angels' wings, + And spirit power, our souls that thrill + With yearning for that life unseen, + Hid far behind this mortal screen. + +For Memory still with subtle art + Unfolds the bygone to our eyes, +And still the lonely, longing heart + Would soar beyond earth's mysteries, +Till wearied grown of useless tears, + And longing for the olden days, +We turn to see the future years + Lie smiling 'neath hope's rosy haze, + And view the past with hopeful love, + Made sure our life is "hid above."-- + +Hid far away from mortal ken,-- + These wonderous gleams that round us stray, +These meteors, 'mong the haunts of men, + These holy thoughts, that day by day, +Shine in their light of Heavenly hue + O'er chequered paths of work and love, +Refreshing as the tender dew, + Are stray-beams from the light above + Men call it Memory, but we know + 'Tis Heaven's warm light on earth's cold snow! + + +TWILIGHT. + + +Twilight's shades are round me creeping, + Nature dons her robe of gray; +Through the blue the stars are peeping, + Sunset's last, faint streaks decay. + +Visions come of bygone hours, + Ere these eyes were dimmed by tears, +Youth's bright scenes unwreathed with flowers + Dimly seen through mist of years. + +Softly through the summer gloaming + Steals this picture of the past; +Through the wood the breeze is roaming + Moon beams round their shadows cast. + +By the murmuring, flowing river, + Sits a maiden waiting there; +Graven on my heart forever + Is that form of beauty rare! + +Vows are plighted, love is given, + Trusting love without alloy, +And the calm, blue, starry heaven + Whispers but of truth and joy! + +By the murmuring, flowing river, + Where the shore the waters lave, +Now the moon beams fall and quiver + On a green and lonely grave! + +Token sad of fond love slighted, + Of a rose cut down in bloom, +Of a fair young blossom blighted + All too lovely for the tomb. + +Softly through the summer gloaming + Sighs the breeze a requiem low, +And my sad heart, ever moaning + Answers to its tones of woe! + + + + +TOLD IN THE TWILIGHT. + + +We left our ink-stained office-desk, + Two, young in years, yet old in care; +We laid aside our world-face mask, +We laid aside our daily task + To breathe the country air. + +We laid aside our musty books, + Grown almost hateful to our eyes; +We longed to roam the country nooks, +We longed to hear the murmuring brooks, + And see the sunny skies. + +We longed to hear the birds again, + Minstrels that through the woodlands stray; +We longed to hear the reaper's strain +Sung in the fields of golden grain + On the bright harvest day. + +Oh! pleasant were the breezy downs! + Oh! fair the lanes and fields; +Far from the weary noise of towns, +We half-forgot grim Care's dark frowns, + 'Mong peace such quiet yields. + +He said, The busy city's street + The path of labour and of woe, +The anxious faces, hurrying feet, +The things that every day I meet, + Are what I hate to know! + +Oh! might I bathe in Lethe's stream, + Forget the happy days gone by, +And know this life a fleeting dream, +And look on every passing scene + As with a stranger's eye. + +To walk along this quiet lane, + To feel this evening calm, +Ah! how it soothes my tired brain +With peace I thought that ne'er again + Would bless me with its balm. + +'Twas in a lane like this, at even + My life's peace came to me; +A great, sweet joy to me was given, +A pure, true love, whose hope has riven + Earth's gloom and mystery. + +A maiden, lovely as the glow + Of Fancy's soul-land light, +Once vowed to me for weal and woe, +As calm or storm would come or go, + Her love was 'mine by right!' + +Twas Spring-time then, ere Autumn's blast + Sighed with its dreary moan, +To shake the brown leaves falling fast, +Her sweet life-tale was told and past, + And I was left alone! + +'Twas hard to think that _she_ was dead, + 'Twas hard to bear such pain; +'Twas hard to feel all brightness fled, +'Twas hard to count bright days swift sped + That could not come again! + +I sought her grave at eve, alone, + And there before me lay +Her tomb, a lily carved on stone, +Meet emblem of my darling one + So early called away. + +And, 'neath the lily, words so sweet, + In dreams they haunt my rest; +Oft at their sound I turn to weep +'He giveth His beloved sleep.' + Oh! portion purest, best! + +Sleep to the weary body, worn, + On earth, with pain and care, +To meet the ransomed soul, new-born, +On the Great Resurrection Morn, + In God-like beauty fair. + +There, at her grave, I bade farewell + To all my heart loved best; +I left our home, I could not dwell +"Mong scenes our love had marked so well, + I felt Grief's wild unrest." + +This is my story told to you-- + My holiest dream of life; +The blest home-love that once I knew +When she, so good, so fair, so true, + I called my own--my wife! + +My sunshine faded when she died, + Such joy I might not know; +God called her early from my side, +And when I lost my gentle bride + The world seemed full of woe! + +He knew 'twas best--my stubborn heart + Had need of chastening pain; +To bow beneath the rod's keen smart, +To learn, by grief, the better part, + To feel such loss is gain. + +And now no earthly idol smiles, + No pleasant passions lure; +No fleeting phantom now beguiles +My soul from heaven with tempting wiles, + My hope is fixed and sure. + +She waits for me--the swift year's flight + I count like miser's gold; +I keep the "watches of the night," +I wait until the morning light + Its glories snail unfold. + + + + +SUNSET. + + +A burning flood of glory blazing far along the West, +And clouds on clouds aglowing towering o'er the mountains' + crest +Till the shining, burnished columns and the ranks of crimson + vie +In a living trail of splendour, lighting all the evening sky. + +The grand October sunset burns above the mountains' brow, +Whose grey old heads shine redly, light-kissed and ruddy now; +There the sunshine loves to linger in a parting glow of + light, +Ere Day his throne resigneth to the dusky reign of Night. + +But low and lower sinking, the sun goes down the West +And the dazzling beams are fading along the Ocean's breast +Till, pale and paler growing, the grandeur dies away, +And the wild waves and the breezes seem wailing for the Day! + +For the fair Day, that has vanished--the brightness that is + fled, +And for all the sunny hours that are passed away and dead, +The rosy flush of sunrise, the gladsome time of morn, +And bird-songs sweet, that far and near told when the Day was + born! + +The tranquil hush of noontide, the mellow evening hours +But ah! the Day's departure left desolate the bowers, +And woodland haunts, and flowery dells, and mountain streams + and glades +Are lonely left in deepening gloom, and mystic twilight + shades! + +But through the Night's grim darkness the star-lamps bright + shall burn, +'Till the lone Earth, cheered and hopeful, shall wait for + Day's return, +And gaze with wistful longing, till the dawn the far East + hills, +And the sun in regal beauty smile o'er the grand old hills. + +Then life and light and brightness shall be her own again, +And in the new-found gladness she'll forget the night of pain +Forget the hours of darkness when deep in gloom she lay, +And her weeping-time of sadness be "as waters that pass + away!" + +Thus, this dreary night of sorrow through which we wander + here +Be only transient darkness the long bright Day is near, +Whose light of peace and glory the ransomed spirit fills, +As it hails the dawn eternal upon the Heavenly Hills! + + + + +"CONSIDER THE LILIES." + + +Not gold nor diamond flash of dazzling brightness, +No costly thing of earth Thou givest for thought; +But these sweet simple flowers, beside whose whiteness +The great king's glory all would seem as nought. + +Thou knewest how soon must fade all earth's poor splendour, +Worthless its wealth to Thine all-seeing eye; +The short-lived glimmer of its pomp and grandeur +Fleeting and transient only born to die. + +Thou would'st not point our love to earth's frail treasure, +But to these lilies, beautiful and pure; +They toil nor spin not, yet their life's full measure +Thou metest, and their day is kept secure. + +Oh, lilies! well I love your snowy pureness! + That once the Master deigned while here to trace, +Pledges of His dear love, whose truth and serene + Are faintly shadowed in your beauty's grace. + +Meek teachers! could I learn that lesson given! + If God so clothe the grass with beauty rare, +Shall He not guide us on our way to heaven, + And guard our pathway till we enter there? + +Oh give me, Lord, a soul of lily whiteness, + Washed in the blood that Thou hast shed for me, +Thy Spirit's light to pierce earth's gloom with brightness + And show the way thro' mist and cloud to Thee + +Give me a heart whose treasure is in heaven, + Not for to-morrow feeling anxious thought; +Even as my day, so shall my strength be given, + And grace sufficient--can I want for aught? + +Oh, give me faith, that on Thy love relying, + From doubt's dark thrall I may be ever free; +And clothe me, Lord, that in the hour of dying, + Thy righteousness, blest robe, may cover me! + +Thus may I walk, by Thee, my Guide, befriended, + 'Joyous with joy that knows no sad decay; +That when earth's sun has set her brief day ended + My morn may break and shine to "perfect day'" + + + + +SONGS OF THE SEA. + + +"My soul is full of longing +For the secret of the sea, +And the heart of the great ocean +Sends a restless pulse through me."--LONGFELLOW + +In the grey light of the morning, ere the sun has lit the sky +When the winds rave loud and wildly, to the angry waters +How the mighty, foaming billows thunder forth, in ceaseless + roar, +Songs majestic, wild with anguish, woeful waitings evermore. +In the dawn light, in the gloaming, beating, breaking, o'er + and o'er, +Telling out the ocean stories, to the wide, encircling shore; +And I listen, till the legends of the past, a shadowy host, +Seem to gather round, and people storied Antrim's rock-bound + coast. + +Where the grandeur of the Causeway smiles in scorn at Art's + weak hand, +Seem the wild waves ever singing of the high schemes Nature + plann'd, +When she hurled the giant columns, by some mighty earthquake + shock, +Till they stand, huge pillar-wonders, by the paved, + mysterious rock; +And the dark caves, weird and frowning, echoing the sea's + wild strife, +Seem to hold some spell unearthly, of the ocean's secret + life. + +Where th'Atlantic rolls sublimely, lashing round Port + Ballintrae, +Language cannot paint the grandeur of the waves, in awful + play! +Beating, breaking, wildly seething, whilst in restless, + fitful roar, +Deep to far-off deep is calling, answering round from shore + to shore. +And the spirit of the ocean seems to fill its heaving breast +With ten thousand prison'd longings, wailing out in wild + unrest. + +Softening down to calmer music, round the White Rocks and the + caves, +With a tender, nameless pathos, softly sing the curling waves +To the battlements and turrets, and the old towers, grim and + hoary. +Where the stern Macquillan chieftains reigned in once + unconquered glory. +There Dunluce, in lonely grandeur, frowns in wild, and + deathless pride, +Sentinel of bygone ages, Time-tried warder by the tide. + +Grey Dunluce, in concert blending, winds, and waves, and + sounding sea, +Seem to sing a dirge of sorrow for the glory fled from thee, +Rolling onward to the Skerries, wailing far in requiem moan +Till they catch the surf's bold thunder round toe rock at + Innishone, +Where the foam-girt shore re-echoes with the burthen of the + song, +And the angry dashing billows wide and far the cry prolong. + +When the moonlight, pale and faintly, gleams on Malin Head's + blue crest, +And its silvery pathway shimmers far across the ocean's + breast; +When the yeasty breakers glisten softly in the shadowy light, +When the rocks seem mystic castles, looming grimly thro' the + night; +Then the solemn songs of Ocean, fraught with precious, new- + found lore +Bring for Fancy unknown treasure, priceless gems for + Thought's great store! + +Grand old Ocean! how my spirit longs to catch thy melody +Do thine heart's great pulses quicken with a secret life, oh, + Sea? +Far adown the blue waves, hidden by the hearings of your + breast, +Is there soul to tune your singing, to its ceaseless, wild + unrest? +Oh! thou dread and wondrous ocean, tell these mystic songs to + me +For their cadence, grand and changeful, haunts my path with + mystery. + + + + +THE MOONLIGHT. + + +Silvery moonlight, clear and bright, +Shining down on our earth to-night, +Soft as the touch of an angels' wing, +Tender, beautiful, holy thing! + +Seeking the glen where the cool waters flow-- +Lighting the bank where the violets grow; +Gilding the crest of the foamy rill; +Falling in silence upon the hill; +Piercing the depths of the forest glade, +Glancing down thro' the leafy shade, +Till the loneliest haunts of the wild wood seem +To rejoice in the light of thy radiant beam! + +Glistening out on the trackless deep, +Where the spirits of ocean their revels keep; +Lighting the path over the billows' foam, +As the mermaid glides from her gem-built home, +And the peri's song o'er the heaving sea +Sounds in fitful, plaintive melody! + +Pouring down on the mountain pass, +Where, tripping light o'er the dewy grass, +The fairies join in their wild, weird dance, +And the mystic forms thro' the moonbeams glance, +While far and wide on the wind is borne +Through answering echoes, the elfin horn. + +Flooding with glory the prairie's breast, +Till, all transformed, in the radiance drest, +The shanty, south of the poplar wood, +Seems a sylvian lodge in the solitude; +And the settler dreams, with a moistened eye, +Of the moonlights and loves of the times gone by. + +Gleaming fair on the city towers +Where the clocks, thro' the night, chime the passing hours, +On the city's heart that no longer beats, +With the ebb and flow of its noisy streets, +And their living pulse-throbs that come and go, +To the smile of joy, and the throb of woe! + +Smiling down from a cloudless sky, +On the village homes, that all peaceful lie; +Where simple hearts, in a happier life, +Know nought of the city's cares and strife,-- +The hardy sons of honest toil, +Pensioners free of their parent soil! + +To hopeful hearts in the morn of youth, +The dream-land of Love, and the type of Truth, +Where the future shows 'neath its veil of light +An Eden of blissful, untold delight + +In the stern, hard struggle of manhood's days +When tired feet stumble o'er life's rough ways, +And in age's twilight of shadowy gloom, +A dream of the rest that is yet to come. + +Shine on, silvery moonlight, shine! +Gladden earth with your beams benign; +On restless ocean, on tranquil lake, +Through forest alleys, by fern and brake; +By quiet village, and crowded town, +By mountain, prairie, and breezy down; +O'er sights of gladness, o'er scenes of woe, +Let the tender light of thy pure beams glow, +And the weary and hopeless shall bless your light. +And the child of joy have more pure delight. + + + + +"GOODNIGHT." + + +"Until the day break, and the shadows flee away." +Cant. 2.17 + +Goodnight, beloved! see the sun descending, + Behind the woodlands of the far, bright West, +And in the glory of the daylights ending, + The "light at eventide" brings dreams of rest. + +Goodnight, beloved! now the grey-eyed gloaming + Glides through the valleys with an unheard tread, +And haunts the woodlands, where the wild winds moaning + Wails o'er the leaves of Autumn, sere and dead. + +Goodnight, beloved! see the pale stars peeping + Through the blue curtain of the shadowy skies;-- +The lamps the angels hold, their night-watch keeping, + O'er souls who wait their call to Paradise! + +Goodnight, beloved! a faint, lingering glory, + Of dying daylight glows in parting smile; +Its last kiss lighting all the hill-tops hoary, + As though the hour with brightness to beguile. + +So now, I dream, a tender love-light lingers + O'er all the bygone, in a charmed glow,-- +That hides the marks of Time's relentless fingers + And gilds the cherished dreams of long ago. + +How fair it shines! but ah! the West grows dimmer, + The crimson radiance melts to sober grey, +And so earth's dream-light fades in fitful glimmer, + Its meteor brightness swiftly dies away. + +Goodnight, beloved! for the shadows darken + In gloom around me, and I cannot see; +Come nearer, nearer still; beloved, hearken; + I hear a far-off voice that calls for me. + +Goodnight, beloved! a new light is breaking + As earth's light fades to brighten nevermore; +Goodnight, beloved! till that glad awaking + When morning shines upon the other shore. + + + + +LOST. + + +The sunset burns on roof and spire, + And streets with busy passers rife; +But ah! it lacks the dream-world fire, + That once 'twas wont to call to life. + +That once it kindled in the days + Of woodland haunt and country lane, +Before I knew the city's ways, + Before I learned that life has pain. + +Oh! present, with your armed host + Of anxious cares, barbed sharp, and keen +Fade! for the light of pleasures lost + Shines forth from days that once have been. + +A fairer sunset charms the West + A mellower radiance fills the air; +A scene with old-time beauty drest, + Lies stretched before me, smiling fair. + +A rustic range-wall, gnarled and old, + A wooden bridge that spans a stream; +The glory of the sunset's gold. + The sweetness of my first love-dream! + +Two hearts that meet in passion'd thrill, + Whose perfect bliss no words can tell; +But once in life that joy we feel, + And feeling, prize, alas! too well! + +Oh! Time and Doubt! ye fill the heart + With sepulchres of Love and Truth; +Our hopes lie dead but memory's part + Must still be played till life shall cease. + +Oh! swift years ever drifting fleet + Adown life's current, tempest toss'd, +Roll on! till on Time's brink we meet + And hail the life where nought is lost! + + + + +GOOD WISHES + +TO ------ ON HIS MARRIAGE. + + +My friend, on this your wedding-day, + Where Love and Hope unite, +To yield with Hymenal ray + The bridal morning bright.-- + When hands are clasped + And cups are quaffed, +When round go wishes true, + This song of mine + For Auld Lang Syne +I send to her and you. + An echo of the bygone times + To mingle with your wedding chimes! + +"Good luck," on this your wedding morn, + "God speed" for years to be; +Good wishes, of old friendship born + For days ye both shall see. + When in your bowers, + Bloom promise-flowers, +Ah! ne'er may sorrow's gloom + Bring shadow there, + May sunlight fair +Your hearth and home illume! + All good, all joy, all blessing true, + I wish to your fair bride and you! + +May Heaven its choicest riches send + To bless your life's long way; +May Love its lasting beauty lend + That age can't steal away. + Oh! may your sky + As swift years fly +Be cloudless, bright and fair; + May joys' own glow + Dispel all woe, +And chase away grim care! + May every good that God can send + Be yours through all your life, my friend! + + + + +"ONLY FRIENDS." + + +We said "good-bye" in a quiet lane, + the gloaming, years ago; + few were our words about "parting pain"-- +we were "only friends" you know. + +Good friends had we been in the dear, dead hours, + that still in our hearts would live, +At morn we had wandered the wild-wood bowers, + We had roamed through the lanes at eve. + +We had gathered the sweets of the summer glades, + The rose, and the violet blue; +We had talked of Love in the twilight shades, + And of hearts that were tried and true. + +But of our heart's hopes, or our own love-dreams, + Ah! never a word said we, +For Fate had forbidden our lips such themes, + And "friends" we could only be. + +And our farewell came, like a boding gloom, + That darkened life's morning ray, +And joy's glad glow, and Hope's tender bloom + Died out of one heart that day. + +How we thought in that hour of the bygone days, + Of the golden summer prime, +Of the mountains wild, and the woodland ways, + And the spell of the gloaming time! + +And, it may be, the memory of whispered words + Came o'er us with subtle power, +Awaking, unbidden, our full hearts' chords + In the pain of that parting hour. + +For our hands were clasped, and our lips once met, + The first time, and the last; +Ah me! 'twere well could we all forget, + Some scenes in our buried past;-- + +For the blue outline of the mountains high, + The lake, and the woodland green, +The quiet lane, and the twilight sky, + Too oft in my dreams are seen! + +And still, tho' the summers are bright and fair, + And the summer woods are gay, +To me there is something wanting there + That has passed from my life away! + + + + +ODE TO SUMMER. + + +Beauteous Queen! with crown of flowers, + On your tresses sunny sheen; +Welcome! to the "Lone-Land" bowers, + To our prairies, wild and green! + In your path spring flowers to meet you, + Nature's choicest glories greet you, + Fair Enchantress! I entreat you, + Listen to my lay! + +Smiling Summer, down the ages, + Still your praises have been sung, +And the poets and the sages, + Who have spoke with gifted tongue,-- + In our legends, old and hoary, + Thrilling song, and 'trancing story, + Live to-day in deathless glory, + Thrill our souls anew! + +Still their songs our breasts inspire, + Still is theirs undying fame; +Theirs the untaught poet-fire, + That I may not hope to claim;-- + Louder than the war-host dashing, + Brighter than their bright spears clashing, + Shine their souls, like lightning flashing + Through their thunder-words! + +Radiant Queen! Their songs combining + Yield to thee their highest praise, +Round thy brows of beauty twining, + Fadeless garlands of their lays;-- + Lays whose light our gloom has rifted, + And our yearnings heavenward lifted, + As we soar with them, the gifted, + Far from earth away. + +Queen of Beauty! Still we sing thee, + Worthy of the poets' song; +Willing homage still we bring thee + As the ages roll along. + Songs of birds, and breath of flowers, + Wind-notes, charming woodland bowers, + Morn's fresh glories, gloaming hours, + Yield their sweets to thee! + +Now the prairie-lands are smiling + With the wealth thy reign bestows, +Brightness golden days beguiling, + O'er smooth sands life's river flows. + Through the air glad sounds are ringing, + Nature summer idylls singing, + I, my simple off'ring bringing, + Kneel at Summer's feet! + + + + +CHANGED. + + +It seems the same as it used to be, when I watched the sunset + glow, +In the days of beauty and gladness, the times of long ago; +Like a light that is dim and far-off, for dark years, full of + pain, +Lie, rolled between me and the beautiful past, that never can + come again! + +Yet Ireland's hills are as verdant now, and the sun, as he + sinks to rest, +As then pours his parting glory, o'er Slieve Gallion's purple + crest, +A glory that brightens and lingers, as though it were fain to + stay, +Till the twilight shadows darken, and daylight dies away. + +On Mullaboy the darkness looms weird on the lonely hill, +The cattle have ceased their lowing, and the song-birds' + notes are still; +And here, in the gloom and silence, 'neath the stars and the + quiet sky, +Old memories throng around me, of days long, long gone by. + +Two scenes are ever fairest, and first in this heart of mine, +And with clearer light and brighter, 'mong the dimmer + phantoms shine, +And perfect in light and shadow, in tracing true and grand +Are the pictures as memory paints them, with firm and master- + hand. + +The first is a cloudless moonlight, in calm and silvery + sheen, +And the range of the Morne Mountains in the dim background is + seen; +Beneath them the sea is rolling, all fair in the gentle + light, +And beauty and peace are blending in the hush of the summer + night. + +I gaze, till again in fancy, I hear the waves' soft roar, +As they break in wild sweet music along Rostrevor's shore; +And a voice with their song is blending telling the old sweet + tale, +Of a fond, true love, that through life's long years would + never change or fail. + +That picture fades before me and the second comes in view-- +A walk 'neath o'er-arching beeches, with the sunlight + glinting through +Leaves that rustle and whisper on branches that wave above, +A silent, tearful parting, the death of a deathless love! + +Dead, and yet unforgotten, worn, but never estranged, +The glory and brightness of morning to the darkness of + midnight changed! +And life is dull and dreary, and joy from earth is fled, +For the love that was light and beauty, and joy and peace, is + dead. + + + + +SABBATH ON THE PRAIRIE. + + +The year's first, blushing roses, + Were decking the prairie's breast; +And the summer garb of beauty + Made fair the wild North-West. +It flashed in the sedgy hollows, + And smiled in the woodland dell; +It whispered in low, soft zephyrs + That breathed o'er the lake and fell. +How it glowed in the mystic star-shine + Of the clear blue Northern sky; +How it crmison'd and flushed in grandeur + In the sunset's sweet good-bye! +And gaudy birds from the South-land + Made brilliant the poplar grove, +And plaintiff calls came sounding, + From the haunts where the plovers rove. + +With dream-notes in the gloaming + The wind-lutes swept the boughs,-- +Sweet songs of the distant stretches, + Where the moose and bison browse. +And we lay in our camp, and listened, + And thought of the wilds untrod; +Of the misty, lonely future, + And the homes on the stranger sod. + +And still o'er the wide, wide ocean, + Our eager thoughts would stray, +To the homes and scenes, to the loves and hopes + Of the youth-time, far away. +Then we slept, to dream of the morrow, + "'Twill be Sunday at home," we said; +"But our church must be the prairie, + With the blue sky overhead." + +The Sabbath dawned in beauty, + With a calm whose breath of peace, +Made a solemn grand cathedral + Of the wild vast wilderness. +The woods were the soft-toned organs, + And the winds, thro' their alleys dim, +Now raised some high, glad anthem, + Now chanted some low, sweet hymn. + +We came from our tents together, + And stood on the lone hill-side, +To join in the songs of Nature, + That Sabbath morning-tide. +"With one consent let all the earth," + Swelled on' the sunny air. +And then, how each home-sick, heart went forth + In that strange hour of prayer! +And the text the preacher gave us + Was, "Rejoice in the Lord always," +Alike in the summer sunshine, + And the gloom of winter days. +And the clouds of our gloom were banished + Like the mists from the morning air; +We had strength for the untried future + For God is everywhere. + + + + +AT EVENING. + + +Slowly along the darkening sky + The twilight comes with stealthy tread; +Far out to west great cloud-ranks lie, + By sunset flushed a rosy red. +Oh! shadows of the gloaming time, + Gather, and loom, and darkly fall, +The winding path to Fancy's clime, + Lies hidden 'neath your dusky pall. + +Pent in the city, now I dream + Of country scenes, of lanes and flowers, +Of woodland glen, and woodland stream, + Pictures of bygone sunset hours! +Oh, bygone! mighty claims you own, + That summon me to seek your shrine, +I hear the call and wait alone, + Until the charmed light shall shine. + +'Tis breaking! Glistening near and far + A radiance floats, of dazzling light +Untouched by Time, or Tempest-scar + I view my past again to-night! +Oh! fair, false hope, your fruit is pain, + Oh, Love! when life's spring leaves were green, +Sweet, e'en in thought to see again + Th' Elysian called "what might have been." + +"What might have been," we scan it o'er + And charmed we live the dreams in thought, +But wake to find that mist-world shore, + Like cloudy vapor melt to nought-- +The brightness fades, the sweet rays die, + Deep darkness falls and night is come; +A wan new moon looks down the sky, + And stars are trembling in the gloom. + +Morning, and noon, and evening grey, + And mystic twilight, all are flown; +And e'en my dreams are pass'd away,-- + Again I find myself alone! +Young love's sweet morn, when hope was nigh. + Stern noonday toiling, which is best? +Ah! me, they all must fade and die,-- + 'Tis but the end can give us rest. + + + + +IN PEACE. + + +The name, the age, and a sentence written + On a marble cross o'er a grassy mound, +Where, calmly beneath sleeps the tired heart smitten, + Cruelly pierced by a dastard wound, +At peace in the heart of the restless city. + She slumbers well in her lowly bed, +With never a tear of love or pity + By kindly mourner above her shed. + +High birth is safely, its rank and splendor, + Blazoned lineage, pride and show, +Scorn coward justice, who fears to tender, + The lash to vice, in this world below, +What matter--a thousand such things have happened + Man has been false since woman was fair;-- +But say, must he stand at yon High Tribunal, + And what account shall he render there? + + + + +TO THE SEA. + + +'Tis eventide and the sun is dying, + Painting the sky in its roseate beam, +And out to sea-ward the cloud-ranks lying, + Are crimson-bright in his parting beam; +In dazzling light o'er the waves extending, + In burnished glow on each foamy crest, +At the golden portals of sunset ending, + Its pathway illumines the ocean's breast. +Oh! light of the sunset, soft and tender, + Oh! waves that shine in the rosy glow, +Oh! mountains, so grand in your hoary splendour, + Oh! billowy ocean that heaves below! + +Oh! rolling waves, that are ever beating, + In wild, sweet music along the shore, +Tell me tales ye are still repeating, + Sighing and moaning forever more; +In seething foam 'mong the grey rocks meeting, + Where, rushing, ye break in doleful roar! + +Sighing on in your restless roaming + Wailing so wildly and ceaselessly; +In the morning light, or the shadowy gloaming, + Tell me, what are thy songs, oh, sea! + +Is thine the wail of a life-long sorrow, + The hopeless crying of hope long dead; +The dearth of loneness that cannot borrow + One beam of light from the brightness fed, +To point to the dawn of a fairer morrow + Far away in the future spread? + +But, heedless, it rolls in its wonderous splendour, + Onward, in cadence sublime and vast; +Are these ocean-songs, in their mystic grandeur + Requiems sung for the vanished past? +It is buried and dead, yet still unsmitten, + It lives and blooms in one hidden spot, +Where in Memory's chamber each scene is written, + Graven too deeply for Time to blot! + +But see! o'er the waters the light grows dimmer, + The white-winged sea-gulls to Westward fly; +Pale stars look down in a fitful glimmer + As the crimson fades from the opal sky. +I soon shall sleep, and perchance in dreaming, + I'll live again in the time that's fled, +And fancy the rays of its brightness beaming + In mellow radiance around my bed +And it may be I'll dream not of bliss that's fleeting + But of that fair life that is yet to be, +Where no cloud can arise to dim our meeting + As I stand with _him_ by the Jasper Sea! + + + + +NOT LOST. + + +"Mine," saith the Lord, "these jewels bright and pearless. + Mine, in the day when I shall count mine own!" +So He has called them, and the hearts left cheerless + Sad and bereaved, must mourn the loved ones flown +"Mine," saith the Lord, He gave, and He has taken + In wisdom infinite He dealt the blow; +And round our hearth their places are forsaken + But _they_ are gathered to His fold, we know! + +Home-gathered early, when the sun so brightly + In life's fair morning tinged their curls with gold, +And o'er their snowy brows all calm and lightly-- + The joyous span of earth's brief time had roll'd. +Home-gathered early; fair to mortal seeming, + The promises that o'er their pathway hung, +But ah! we cannot e'en in fondest dreaming + Conceive their bliss amid the cherub throng. + +Eye hath not seen, nor to man's heart is given, + To know what to His loved one He bestows +What joys untold the ransomed band in heaven, + Through the eternal, blissful ages knows. +And the bereavement is no hopeless sorrow, + No lasting parting, but an ending pain; +We feel that upward, toward the glad to-morrow + Are drawn these links of the earth-binding chain. + +For well we know that these, our darlings, entered, + Into His joy, shall be at last restored +So while our hope in perfect faith is centred + We wait for resurrection in the Lord. + + + + +LOOKING UNTO JESUS. + + +Worn and wearied on earth's road + Oft with stumbling feet I go; +Eyes that fain would look to God + Dim and weak with sin and woe. +But when, all my guilty stains + Rise in dread immensity, +Then I know my Saviour's pains + Took the load of guilt from me. + Pardoned, healed, redeemed, restored, + Then I look to Christ, my Lord! + +When the clouds of sorrow rise, + And the light of woe is dim, +When the subtle Tempter tries + To win back my soul to him. +Then I look to One Who said, + "All things I have overcome; +Onward go, be not afraid + I shall guide to yonder Home!" + Then what evil can betide + While I lean on Christ, my Guide? + +Worn with toil of earthly strife-- + Wearied hands and heart grown faint, +Tired of all the ills of life, + For the water brooks I pant, +Then above the world's wild din, + I can hear "Come unto Me; +I shall heal these wounds of sin, + Give you rest, and make you free!" + When my doubting soul is blest + When I look to Christ my Rest. + +Journeying o'er this path of tears + Oft my doubting heart is cold, +Far away my Home appears-- + The gates of pearl--the street of gold. +Can I ever enter there? + All the way with danger rife,-- +Then the Master's voice I hear, + +"I am the Way, the Truth, the Life! + Ah! what doubt can then dismay + While I walk with Christ, the Way! + +"Looking unto Jesus" still + I can bid my doubting cease, +Joyful, though beset with ill, + Fighting, yet at perfect peace-- +Sorrowful, yet filled with joy, + Tossed, yet feeling all secure; +Earth nor Hell cannot annoy + While my peace with Him is sure! + "Looking unto Jesus," blest! + Soul at anchor, heart at rest! + + + + +BY THE WAVES. + + +A merry leap on the sunny air, + And a gleam of tresses, golden bright; +A 'witching face that is wonderous fair, + A creature of beauty and joy and light. + +A rocky coast with the waves at play, + Wild wandering waves that are mad with glee; +"Tell me, what do the wild waves say, + Are their words in their music?" she asks of me. + +I start and shiver, my heart grows cold, + Aye, cold in the flush of the August sun, +Whose glory lies on the sea like gold, + In farewell radiance, ere day is done. + +The eager smile from her lips has died, + For the pain on my face was plain to see, +And she turns to pace the sand by my side + Watching the billows silently. + +She does not know--could my darling dream, + Of lost, dead love in her golden world, +Where the hope-flowers bloom, and the joy-lights gleam + 'Neath the rosy light of Love's flag unfurled! + +Oh! girlie mine, with the true brown eyes, + And the perfect faith in your fair to be, +Could I lead you back o'er the bridge of sighs + That spans the gulf 'tween the past and me. + +I could show you love in its full-tide swell, + Its syren beauty its dream-world light; +Then, the gathering storm, and the deep-toned knell, + As Love lies bleeding in clouds and night! + +Would you step aside from the shining coils + That circle to-day round your dainty feet, +Could I show you the woes without the wiles, + In the dregs of that chalice, bitter-sweet? + +Ah! no, sweet maid, you must "live and learn," + Though experience is bought, it cannot be sold; +And the heart joy's thrill, and the heartache's burn, + Must needs be felt, they were never told! + +So live and smile in your fair to-day + And wear the jewel of maiden-faith; +May its diadem gleam on your brow for aye, + And Truth with your Love walks in step with death. + + + + +IN MEMORIAM. +A. S. + + +Oh! land of partings, brief and sad probation-- + When all is brightest, then farewell must come! +And the lone mourner weeps in desolation, + Earth's fairest seeping in the silent tomb. + +Far from her home, where kindly hands have tendered + As graceful tribute, to her well-loved name; +Not by chill stranger-feeling coldly rendered, + But by the care respect and love can claim. + +And still her memory shall be loved and cherished, + By all who knew her in her sojourn here; +Like some fair flower that in the morning perished + In spring's bright hours when skies were blue and clear + +Oh' widowed mother-heart! dead e'en to hoping + Longing to leave the life whence joy has flown. +The eager hands through earth's grim shadows groping! + "Darling, come back to me, I am alone!" + +Oh! yearning heart-cry, in deep anguish spoken, + In sleepless midnights, or in twilight dreams! +Oh! aching pain-throb of the spirit broken, + Soon shall these clouds be pierced by Mercy's beams. + +These deep, dense clouds of anguish and repining-- + Darkness and gloom that but the present show +E'en now, behind them, in the brightness shining. + Wait angel-bands that minister to woe. + +Soon shall they come, and bring the consolation, + When the first burst of agony is o'er, +Then when thy soul is calmed by resignation, + Point to the meeting on the other shore:-- + +Where safe at home, in Christ's eternal keeping, + Celestial joy her ransomed being fills, +She waits, when thou hast left this vale of weeping + To greet thee on the Everlasting Hills. + + + + +CHRISTMAS. + +FIFTY YEARS AGO. + + +Christmas! why child, can this be Christmas Eve? + Ah, me! the years run swiftly on; +Threads in the warp of this short life we live. + And now my chequered web is well nigh spun. + +And Christmas seems not what it used to be,-- + The good old customs all are changed, I wean; +Yet memory of old times is left with me-- + The days whose brightness these dimm'd eyes have seen. + +Come, Elsie, bring your stool beside my chair, + Stir up the fire to shine with brighter glow, +And while it flickers on your sunny hair, + I'll tell a Christmas-tale of long ago-- + +Full fifty years ago, when I was young, + And this grey hair like yours was golden-bright, +When mirth and laughter dwelt on brow and tongue, + In fleet winged hours, that sped with magic flight. + +Sometimes, in waking dreams it all comes back,-- + Familiar forms move softly through the room, +Then leave me, gliding up the moonlight track, + Wafting sweet music down the twilight gloom. + +And at these times I see the home that stood, + In the lone highland valley far away; +The snow-crowned hills, the lake, the lonely wood, + Through which I wandered many a summer day. + +And I was happy in those summers, child!-- + Life in its morning brightness knows not gloom, +The rose-tinged future-mists hide waste and wild + As sharp thorns hide beneath the rose's bloom. + +And girlhood seemed like some fair sunny day + Without a cloud to mar the summer sky. +On pleasure's airy pinions borne away + Too swiftly far the winged hours sped by. + +Then came a glory-crown to gild the years,-- + I loved; but 'twas no fancy of the hour, +No fleeting day-dream fraught with hopes and fears, + But Love, that ruled my soul with sovereign power. + +A love that strengthened as the days went past,-- + Dearer and holier far than all beside; +An Eden-world of beauty grand and vast, + With joys new-born, out spreading far and wide. + +Seemed then mine own; and the long years to be, + Would fill my life with happiness and light, +While this great love would shed its beams on me + In glad refulgence making all things bright + +For he--the hero of my life's romance, + Was dear to me--ah! words can never show +That passion'd love, how every tone and glance + Tender or cold, brought happiness or woe + +But cherished hatred goads to bitter end + And, mocking, fain would quench youth's ardent fire +We saw a shadow on our life descend-- + The full charged storm-cloud of long-gathering ire. + +My father boasted his high birth and name + And owned a pedigree that he could trace, +Back to the stern old chiefs, whose hostile fame-- + He held the pride and honor of our race. + +And still when Christmas came he loved to see + All the old customs of our sires kept up, +Huge yule-logs graced the hearth, and Christmas glee + Rang high, 'mid merry song and festal cup. + +And on that Christmas day of which I tell + The seasons revelry was held the same; +The stately hall with guests was furnished well + And, 'mong, the rest, was bidden Hector Graem + +He drank to me--"his lady fair and bright," + As was the custom of the olden time, +"Your lady! never, while the sun gives light + Shall Graem ever wed with child of mine!" + +And pointing to the door with haughty mein + My father bade him from his board begone;-- +And then a curtain fell upon life's scene-- + Blackness of darkness where Hope's sun had shone + +Some family-feud, in days long passed away + Between the Graems and the MacDonnell's rose. +And still its memory in his bosom lay + Though seeming peace was made between the foes + +But ah! my child, how can I tell the rest? + I lived; but Heaven in mercy spared the blow +Of thought and memory then, and weeks that pass'd + Were one drear blank--I felt not then my woe. + +Child, you have never loved, and cannot know + How drear and hopeless youth itself may seem; +The long, blank loveless years to wonder through, + With nought, save memory of a bygone dream. + +But sorrow kills not, we may laugh or weep, + Still Time by stealthy gliding steals away; +And Winter snows again lay white and deep, + And once again they welcomed Christmas day. + +I watched them with sad eyes that knew no smile, + And a dull mind from which all hope had flown, +A listless heart that nothing could beguile + Back to the gladness that it once had known. + +The dull December twilight grey and cold, + Fell weird and grim upon the lonely moor; +The wild wind raged o'er wintry waste and old, + And in the storm a stranger sought our door. + +He asked a shelter from the bitter night + My father's brown cheek blanched to hear _that_ tone, +He led him forward to the yule-log's light, + A lost--a mourned, but now a new-found son! + +Oh! sweetest welcomes on the wanderer fell! + The last of our long race--returning home; +Home to the long-tired hearts that loved him well + No more an exile, by strange shores to roam. + +"Bid me not rest" he said, "until you know, + I have a friend who claims his welcome now, +For, but for him, the depth of Alpines snow + Had been my grave, and you had lost your son." + +"Then wherefore wait?" my mother gently said, + "Let him come hither till I bless his name!" +And Roderick turned, and forth the stranger led + And once again, I looked on Hector Graem. + +No welcome-glow lit up the old man's eye, + Surprise or anger seemed to hold him dumb, +My mother clasped his hand with sob and sigh, + But to full hearts the fewest words will come + +Then Hector kissed her hand with courtly grace,-- + Bowed lowly to my father, half in scorn, +"Old ills" he said "are hardest to erase + From hearts where gratitude was never born" + +But as he spoke the glistening tear drops fell + From those old eyes, that seldom tear drops know. +"You here" he said "love breaks hates baleful spell, + And gratitude comes forth to yield her due!" + +"Let feuds and errors perish with the Past,-- + 'Tis thus I lay them in a deep dug-grave'" +And, beckoning me beside him, there, at last, + His blessing, once refused, he fondly gave! + +Ah! life is very fair, and love is sweet! + The dark sky cleared, the sun shone out again, +Earth seemed a heaven, with perfect bliss replete, + And new-born gladness healed the sting of pain + +And standing by the window hand in hand, + Hearing the storm howl o'er the wastes of snow. +We were the happiest of the happy band + That merry Christmas fifty years ago! + + + + +BEGINNINGS. + + +At dawn sweet flushes softly creep + Along the brightening sky, +Pale watchers whom lone vigils keep + Perceive the sign, and cry, + The night is gone, the bright day comes, + And gladsome light the East illumes! + +Bright blossoms on the branches burst, + Then Autumn fruits grow there; +So, dreams that sickly hope had burst + Grown real, make life fair. + And dreams we prize as holy things + That haunt our path on mystic wings. + +And so, across life's weary road, + Made dark by many a woe, +We hear the tender words of God, + "Come, follow where I go!" + And listening to that gentle voice + Is fixed the best and earliest choice. + +First, we must pray, and watch, and wait, + And bear the daily cross, +And, till we reach the Master's gate, + Count earthly gain as lost, + Then hear, "good servant, nobly done," + By patience hath the crown been won. + + + + +IN REPLY TO "ALONE." + + +It is the joyous time of June, + And Nature glads the smiling land +Arrayed in garments gay and green + Bestowed by nature's lavish hand. +Oh! soft the lullaby of streams + 'Neath shadow of o'er arching trees, +When all sweet, summer music seems + To float around us on the breeze. +It greets us in the greenwood glades-- + By forest aisles and alleys lone, +Where, wandering in the twilight shades + The poet calls the hour his own. +Perchance he dreams some minstrel hand, + Wakes woodland harps to heavenly song, +While spirits from the golden land + On white wings bear the notes along. + +But to thine eyes the world is grim, + And life is dark through falling tears; +Hath Hope's soft ray grown dull and dim + And paled the brightness of your years? +I know your woe--for I have knelt + Beside the new made, grassy mound-- +The anguish of bereavement felt + And moaned beneath the piercing wound. + +Through the soft azur veil of e'en + The stars look down with watching eyes, +Beacons to life our souls to heaven + And tell of love beyond the skies +To tell, tho' earth is bright and fair, + Still Heaven must be our lasting home; +A land untouched by sin and care + Where pain and parting never come. + +Not far away; scarce out of sight, + A shadowy veil, a misty cloud, +Is roll'd between us and the light, + From mortal eyes the bliss to shroud. + +Oh, thou whose poet-mind can feel + The magic spell of beauty's powers +Let these, His "meaner works" reveal + That fairer life that shall be ours. +Where we shall find in fadeless bloom + The love Time's withering blast had slain, +Restored from death and from the tomb + To life, immortal life again. +And while we weep for earth-joys fled, + Or sigh to feel ourselves "alone," +While fragrant memories of the dead, + Like perfumes round our path are strewn; +Let us not think them wholly lost;-- + These flowers that glad the wondering vision, +Slept 'neath the winter storm and frost + Then sprung to beauty half Elysian. +Fair blossoms deck the orchard bough + The promise-fruit of harvest hours; +Nought have we but that promise now, + Yet faith already shows it ours. +Oh! sweet the light around our tombs, + Where promise-buds in faith are sown; +Faith's eye descerns eternal blooms, + In stature of God's fullness blown. +Still ours--the true and tender heart,-- + The form that trod these paths awhile; +We said "good-night" content to part + Until the morning light shall shine. +Oh! blessed hope! Oh! promise sweet + The harvest of the Lord is sure; +His Hand shall give the guerdon meet + To all that to the end endure! + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lays from the West, by M. A. Nicholl + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LAYS FROM THE WEST *** + +This file should be named 8lays10.txt or 8lays10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8lays11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8lays10a.txt + +This eBook was produced by Sergio Cangiano, Juliet Sutherland, +Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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