A GARLAND OF GREETINGS. "Could love make worthy music of you, And match my Master's powers, Had even my love less heart to love you, A better song were ours; With all the rhymes like stars above you, A. C. SWINBURNE. Studies in Song. PAST AND FUTURE. O PAST, old Past, fair life and sweet, long ended, Why backward wilt thou draw my face, and twine My love with that from which my feet have wended, And whence I should go onward, nor repine? Drear are these moors, and yonder, high upheaping Their brown bleak heads, the mountains fold my way; But still in sunlight is that sweet plain sleeping, And thither backward still my heart will stray. Farewell-alas, farewell, old life lived over ! I face yon track through night's uncertainty. Take nie, dark heights, black mists that wheel and hover I must tramp on, or here lie down and die. LONG for my birthday I've waited, One royal day in the year! Pleasure each moment must bring; No one is half so hard-hearted As to refuse me a thing! Poems Written for a Child. [A.] (Strahan.) ONE-AND-TWENTY. Loosen'd from the minor's tether, Call the Betsies, Kates, and Jennies, All the names that banish care; All that prey on vice and folly Call the jockey, call the pander, Bid them come and take their fill. Should the guardian friend or mother MY BIRTHDAY. "My birthday!"-What a different sound How hard that chain will press at last! Who said-" Were he ordain'd to run His long career of life again, He would do all that he had done." Lavish'd unwisely, carelessly— The imperfect picture o'er again, The lights and shades, the joy and pain, Which hath been more than wealth to me,— Those friendships in my boyhood twin'd, And kept till now unchangingly; And that dear home, that saving ark, Cheering within, when all grows dark, Give Youth and Hope a parting tear- And Reason takes the guidance nowOne backward look-the last-the last! One silent tear-for Youth is past! Who goes with Hope and Passion back? Who comes with me and Memory on? Oh, lonely looks the downward track — Joy's music hush'd-Hope's roses gone! To Pleasure and her giddy troop Farewell, without a sigh or tear! But heart gives way, and spirits droop, To think that Love may leave us here! Have we no charm when Youth is flownMidway to death left sad and lone! Yet stay!-as 'twere a twilight star And, by its chastening light, All love from life's midway is driven Save hers whose clasped hand will bring thee on to heaven." N. P. WILLIS. Poetical Works. (Routledge.) I ASK and wish not to appear CHARLES LAMB. Poems and Essays: Chandos Classics. (Warne.) THIRTY-FIVE. "The years of a man's life are threescore and ten." Он, weary heart! thou'rt half-way home! We stand on life's meridian heightAs far from childhood's morning come, As to the grave's forgetful night. A BIRTHDAY AWAY FROM HOME. DEAR mother! dost thou love me yet? Am I remember'd in my home? When those I love for joy are met, Does some one wish that I would come? Thou dost-I am beloved of these! And finds the stars he found before— As counts the miser aye his gold So, till life's silver cord is broken, Would I of thy fond love be told. N. P. WILLIS. "Certainly I will be with thee."-Exod. iii. 12. "CERTAINLY I will be with thee!" Father, I have found it true: To Thy faithfulness and mercy I would set my seal anew. All the year Thy grace hath kept me, Thou my help indeed hast been, Marvellous the loving-kindness every day and hour hath seen. Certainly I will be with thee!" Let me feel it, Let me know that Thou art with me, very precious, very near. "Certainly I will be with thee" He hath True of old, and true this moment, I will trust FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL. TO HIS MOTHER. GOOD morrow to the golden morning, I have brought no roses, sweetest, THOMAS HOOD. WHEN Time was entwining the garland of years, Yet the flow'rs were all gather'd in heaven! On this day of solemn pausing, with Thyself all And long may this garland be sweet to the eye, longing still, May its verdure for ever be new! Let Thy pardon, let Thy presence, let Thy peace Young Love shall enrich it with many a sigh, my spirit fill. "Certainly I will be with thee!" Blessèd Spirit, come to me, Rest upon me, dwell within me, let my heart Thy temple be; Through the trackless year before me, Holy One, with me abide ! Teach me, comfort me, and calm me, be my everpresent Guide. "Certainly I will be with thee!" Starry promise in the night! All uncertainties, like shadows, flee away before its light. And Pity shall nurse it with dew! THOMAS MOORE. TO MRS. THRALE, ON HER COMPLETING HER THIRTY- OFT in danger, yet alive, Time his hours should never drive T |