LOST TIME.

With higher love than earthly love,
With higher hope and aim;
For love has everlasting growth!
'Tis no consuming flame,

To wither!

Its sap, tho' nourished by our tears,
Spreads out and widens, grows :
"Tis like a vital living stream

That blesses whilst it flows!

Do'st hear me?

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LOST TIME.

Could we gather together the days we have lost,

And live them all over again ;

Could we gather together our evil deeds,
And blot out those hours of pain!

Could we gather together our angry words—
Yea, blot them out one and all!

We should gather together two-thirds of our lives;
But the past we cannot recall!

Could we gather together our straggling thoughts,
Wandering like wand'ring sheep;

Could we gather together the loves of our heart,
Oh! how we should tremble and weep!

Could we gather together our chances in life,

Manifold, we did not heed;

Could we gather together our brilliant resolves— Never producing a deed!

Could we gather together the life of the soul,
Would its string of pearls be long?

Have our charities built us an ark of strength?
Is its anchor true and strong?

Let us gather together our blessings,
Scatter'd with liberal hands;

Let us gather together all sacred truths,
And live by our God's commands !

GOLD.

Gold! Oh, what is gold to me,

Whose hopes are number'd 'mongst the dead? Wealth! thou canst but buy, alas!

An earthly nook to lay my head.

My spirit cannot bound with joy
At new possessions, vast and grand ;
Still, they are precious, being gifts
Of mercy, from thy loving hand.

And now I tread these stately halls,

And wander thro' each fairy scene; Worlds would I give for poverty,

To see thee where thou once hast been!

I picture thee in every walk;

Surrounding objects bear a trace, An impress, of thine hand, and seem To look up smiling in my face.

MYSTERIES.

And then I turn

away to weep,

While uncheck'd sorrow bows my head;
For in the midst of wealth I feel
Poorer, lonelier, now thou'rt dead.

I cannot check the voiceless pain,
Nor can I quell the heavy sigh;
And this thy bounty makes me long
To creep into thy grave and die!

MYSTERIES.

Mysterious love, mysterious hate,
Mysterious sorrows of our state;
Mysterious joys, that do elate,

Or wound, distress;

Mysterious deeds, inysterious springs,
Mysterious soul, with heavenward wings,
Grovelling oft midst earthly things,
In dark excess.

Mysterious life, mysterious thought—
With tenderness ye both are fraught,
Mysteriously together wrought
By nature's hand :

Alike mysterious is the light,

As wonderful the shades of night,

As marvellous their mystic flight

O'er sea and land.

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TWILIGHT'S COMING.

BE NOT CAST DOWN.

Be not cast down, for genius hath a crown,
Adverse fate need not extract a jewel;
Noble 'tis to conquer every frown—
Conquest to the brave is mental fuel.

A path too easy for our feet oft mars,

Or dims, the victories we would achieve; Earth's pamper'd ones are rarely deathless stars ;Faint is the lustre they create, or leave.

True genius shineth lustrously for aye:
When darkness came upon our Milton's eyes,
Was he cast down, altho' the light of day

To him grew black as night ?—He was too wise

To let his mighty gifts deteriorate,

Because one precious sense his God dethroned; His attributes of greatness were too great, Far too imperious to be disown'd.

Be not cast down, for vigour hath a crown

To place upon the brow of struggling worth; Stretch forth thine eager hands to win renown, And wield thy sceptre wisely on the earth.

TWILIGHT'S COMING.

Long grow the shadows,

Twilight is coming;

Insects are clust'ring,

Bees softly humming.

VICE AND VIRTUE.

Sun sets in glory,

Bright colors dying;
Here and there shadows
On the earth lying.
Clouds rosy-tinted;
Birds softly twitter;
Shadow and sunshine
Tremble and glitter.
Air seems to whisper
Words of affection :
Hush'd is our sorrow,
Pass'd is dejection.
Golden the ether,

Sun like a giant !
Green leafy boughs wave

Sturdy, tho' pliant-
Talking and sportive
In the dim twilight,
Till twilight's beveil’d—
Lost in the starlight!
A globe of pure silver,
O'erhead suspended :
Day-time and night-time,
Earth is befriended.

VICE AND VIRTUE.

There is a sphere of glory on the earth,
A sphere of dignity and power;
With many paths for unaffected worth,
There virtue is the good man's dower.

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