ΤΟ How few are the hours on earth which are given, Where joy, and joy only, is known to exist— When the clouds that enthral us are far away driven, And sorrow and care for a while are dismiss'd. But oh! if there be one occasion endearing, Thus is it with thee-I have seen thee revealing The graces of childhood have not all departed, But blended I view them with womanhood's bloom; And as gentle thou art, and as tender hearted, As when thou wert free from all sadness and gloom. And tho' from the path that is righteous and holy Thus be it with thee!-ere the bloom of existence B TO FAREWELL. FAREWELL! oh, Farewell!-how lonely the feeling That throbs in my bosom when parting from thee; And sorrow its power to me is revealing, Like the rays of the sun on the lone desert tree. Oh! tho' I have known but life's early morning, Think not that its course is unclouded and bright; Deem not that the sun is always adorning Youth's beautiful season with lustre and light. Thus when the ties of affection are broken Ties hallowed by kindness and strengthened by love; When the low words of parting are mournfully spoken, A cloud charged with grief seems to lower above. I bid thee Farewell!-no outward emotion Ere the storm and the tempest their wrath have begun. Thus is it with me: we have met—but oh, never Again on this earth shall I meet thee the same; For Time's ruthless course, which the dearest can sever, May wither the feelings as well as the frame. Farewell!--tho' to think on the future be bitter, When we shadow it forth with the deepest regret, Midst the world's darkest frown, or its vanishing glitter, Forgotten I may be-but I will not forget! THE MEETING. "If it were now to die, 'twere now to be most happy." SHAKSPEARE. In childhood's gay hour, Ere care thou hads't known- On thy feelings had shown In life's early morning I beheld thee depart: With what gladness 1 hail thee- In man's journey, so fleeting, What this long hoped-for meeting So deeply reveals: Tho' I suffered from anguish, Or sorrow's deep smart, |