The space is small, but there is room

For Rover at their feet,

The tea-urn gives its hissing sound,
The bread is white and sweet.

Methinks I've seen that full clear eye

Less brilliant in its beams,

And that elastic, graceful step,

Graver than now it seems.

List to that laugh of heartfelt mirth,
List to that tender word,

And see the frequent chaste caress
From sympathy new-stirr'd!

Oh, Julia, in misfortune's scale

Thy worth has well been tried,

And thou art happy, for thy lord
Is happy at thy side.

Awakened from his worldly dream,

Absorbing, selfish, vain,

He finds the path to happiness.

Lies not in ceaseless gain.

In unaspiring competence

He seeks the golden mean, Contented in life's calmer fields His needful wants to glean.

And Julia walks in dignity,
A heaven-relying mind
Enkindling up a latent power,
Scarcely before defined.

More beautiful the Merchant's bride

Thus school'd to self-control,

Than when light winds of pleasure flew Across her passive soul.

O who shall call adversity

A dark and cheerless night,

When on her brow such stars appear

Of calm and lovely light?

THE GAMESTER.

THEY came before the altar in their love, "And both were young, and one was beautiful." He stood in strength, and she in trustingness. The dark curls, flung from off his open brow, Revealed its Jove-like fullness, while her hair With free and floating tresses, veil'd the cheek That blush'd and paled in beautiful surprise, As the strong waves of hope and memory, With struggling current, mov'd her depth of heart. Firm was his step, like one whose soul is nerv'd For combat with the world; a rock for life's Rough waves to dash on; while her airy tread "Scarce from the heath-flower dash'd the morning dew.” They sought their fair and solitary home;

Fit residence! The silent trees stood round,

Nor mock'd young love's first tenderness. Spring flowers
Look'd up and smil'd; and happy birds trill'd out
The epithalamium chaunt. It was the heart's
Fresh holiday.

A rolling year went by,

"When on their eyes a new existence smil'd,"
And Agnes clasp'd a babe, a living boy,

To her young throbbing breast, and Winton press'd
His lips, with thoughts that man but once can know,
Upon his first-born's brow. O was not this
Earth's Paradise? Alas, that in its path

A serpent should arise with specious wile!

A change come o'er that scene of quiet bliss,
And Agnes' soft caress and the boy's smile

Fell cold on Winton's heart; he stray'd from home;
His brow grew pale, abstracted, and dark words
Broke muttering through his sleep. Rumor awoke
Whispering of guilty haunts, and rumor grew
To dreadful certainty.

One night, among

The reckless band that seek the gamester's hall,
Frantic, young Winton stood, a ruin'd man.
With staggering step, clench'd hands and fiery eyes
He wildly raved; then, crush'd and impotent,
As thoughts of home and Agnes cross'd his mind,
Lean'd his hot, aching brow, upon his hand.
Ha! is it so? A mirror to his eye

Discloses signs and looks, from one in view,

That speak of fraud and trickery! Winton sprang,

And with a bound fierce as a tiger's leap,
Levell'd a blow with word opprobrious.

The morning light rose coldly on his eyes! That eve must stamp him murderer, or must lay His senseless form within a hurried grave.

He call'd on one who long had lov'd and warn'd, (Alas, how fruitlessly he lov'd and warn'd!) To aid him in the coming scene of blood.

The good physician went. Strange courtesies Pass'd round; the studied bow, the measur'd step,

And gravely busy air. Upon a mound

He sat, and mark'd the scene.

There was the sky

Expanding its wide arms in love; the trees

Were whispering kindness; blossoms smilingly Turn'd their soft leaves upon the passing breeze, Which kiss'd them as it rov'd;

In harmony with heaven.

all, all but man

His heart was touch'd;

Thought with its busy tide came deep and strong; Earth seem'd a speck, -eternity was all;

And on that mound arose his solemn vow,

That never, while the life-blood fill'd his veins,

And reason kept her throne, would he by thought, Or word, or deed, or presence, sanction give

To the duello's dark and murderous rite.