Turn thy curved prow ashore, And in our green isle rest forevermore! Forevermore !" And Echo half wakes in the w oded hill, And, to her heart so calm and deep, Murmurs over in her sleep, Doubtfully pausing and murmuring still, "Evermore! Thus, on Life's weary sea, Voices sweet, from far and near, Is it not better here to be, To see the still seals only Solemnly lift their faces gray, १ Making it yet more lonely? A restless grave, where thou shalt li Look down beneath thy wave-worn bark, The leaden eye of the sidelong shark Ever waiting there for thee: And snorting through the angry spray, Look down beneath thy wave-worn bark Thus, on Life's lonely sea, Voice's sad, from far and near, Here all is pleasant as a dream; Here is a gush of many streams, A song of many birds, And every wish and longing seems Lulled to a numbered flow of words, Here ever hum the golden bees with glowing fruit and flowers crowned; The sand is so smooth, the yellow sand, That ty keel will not grate as it touches th the land; All erund with a slumberous sound, The waters gurgle longingly, Forevermore. Thus, on Life's gloomy sea, "Here is rest and peace for thee!" IRENÉ. HERS is a spirit deep, and crystal-clear; Calmly beneath her earnest face it lies, Free without boldness, meek without a fear, Quicker to look than speak its sympathies, Far down into her large and patient eyes So circled lives she with Love's holy light, That from the shade of self she walketh free; The garden of her soul still keepeth she A dignity as moveless as the centre; Unto her queenly soul doth minister. Most gentle is she; her large charity (An all unwitting, childlike gift in her) Not freer is to give than meek to bear; And, though herself not unacquaint with care, Hath in her heart wide room for all that be, Her heart that hath no secrets of its own, But open is as eglantine full blown. Cloudless forever is her brow serene, Speaking calm hope and trust within her, whence Welleth a noiseless spring of patience, That keepeth all her life so fresh, so green And full of holiness, that every look, The greatness of her woman's soul revealing, Unto me bringeth blessing, and a feeling As when I read in God's own holy book. A graciousness in giving that doth make The small'st gift greatest, and a sense most meek Of worthiness, that doth not fear to take From others, but which always fears to speak Its thanks in utterance, for the giver's sake; The deep religion of a thankful heart, Which rests instinctively in Heaven's clear law With a full peace, that never can depart From its own steadfastness;- a holy awe For holy things, - not those which men call holy, But such as are revealed to the eyes Of a true woman's soul bent down and | But hath gone calmly forth into the lowly Before the face of daily mysteries; To the full goldenness of fruitful prime, By a sure insight knowing where to cling, state. FROM the close-shut windows gleams no spark, moan, The night is chilly, the night is dark, ind, ear, ar, The world is happy, the world is wide, O, 't is a bitter and dreary word, WITH A PRESSED FLOWER. THIS little blossom from afar Perchance some fair-haired German maid Hath plucked one from the selfsame stalk, And numbered over, half afraid, The changeful April sky of chance Some of thy pensiveness serene, That griefs may fall like snow-flakes light, And deck me in a robe of white, A little of thy merriment, “He loves me, loves me not," she cries; Of thy sparkling, light content, "He loves me more than earth or heaven!" And then glad tears have filled her eyes To find the number was uneven. And thou must count its petals well, But here at home, where we were born, For Nature, ever kind to love, Hath granted them the same sweet tongue, Whether with German skies above, Give me, my cheerful brook, Ye have been very kind and good Of all good things I would have part, Heaven help me! how could I forget That blossoms here as well, unseen, |