O Venus' myrtles, fresh and green! Though gentler care may shield your buds, ANNIE D. GREEN. Spinning-Wheel Song. MELLOW the moonlight to shine is beginning; Close by the window young Eileen is spinning; 66 Eileen, achora, I hear some one tapping." "T is the ivy, dear mother, against the glass flapping." "Eileen, I surely hear somebody sighing." "'Tis the sound, mother dear, of the summer wind dying.” Merrily, cheerily, noisily whirring, Swings the wheel, spins the reel, while the foot's stirring; Sprightly, and lightly, and airily ringing, Thrills the sweet voice of the young maiden singing. "What's that noise that I hear at the window, I wonder?" "'T is the little birds chirping the holly-bush under." "What makes you be shoving and moving your stool on, And singing all wrong that old song of The Coolun!'' There's a form at the casement- the form of her true-loveAnd he whispers, with face bent, "I'm waiting for you, love; Get up on the stool, through the lattice step lightly, We'll rove in the grove while the moon's shining brightly." WHEN THE KYE COMES HAME. 33 Merrily, cheerily, noisily whirring; Swings the wheel, spins the reel, while the foot 's stirring; Sprightly, and lightly, and airily ringing, Thrills the sweet voice of the young maiden singing. The maid shakes her head, on her lip lays her fingers, Slowly and lowly is heard now the reel's sound; The maid steps, then leaps to the arms of her lover. Slower, and slower, and slower the wheel swings; Lower, and lower, and lower the reel rings. Ere the reel and the wheel stopped their ringing and rubbing, Thro' the grove the young lovers by moonlight are roving. JOHN FRANCIS WALLER. When the Kye comes Hame. 'OME, all ye jolly shepherds, COME, That whistle through the glen, I'll tell ye of a secret That courtiers dinna ken: What is the greatest bliss That the tongue of man can name? 'Tis to woo a bonny lassie When the kye comes hame. 'T is not beneath a coronet, Nor arbor of the great, — 3 'Tis beneath the spreadin' birk, In the glen without the name, Wi' a bonny, bonny lassie When the kye comes hame. There the blackbird bigs his nest Oh, a happy bird is he; When the blewart bears a pearl, Has fauldit up her e'e, Then the laverock frae the blue lift Droops down, an' thinks nae shame To woo his bonny lassie When the kye comes hame. See yonder pawkie shepherd, That lingers on the hill, His ewes are in the fauld, An' his lambs are lying still; Yet he downa gang to bed, For his heart is in a flame, To meet his bonny lassie When the kye comes hame. When the little wee bit heart Oh, there's a joy sae dear That the heart can hardly frame, Wi' a bonny, bonny lassie, When the kye comes hame! BEFORE THE GATE. Then since all Nature joins In this love without alloy, When the kye comes hame ? JAMES HOGG. 35 Before the Gate. THEY gave the whole long day to idle laughter, THEY To fitful song and jest, To moods of soberness as idle, after, And silences, as idle too as the rest. But when at last upon their way returning, Through the broad meadow in the sunset burning, Her heart was troubled with a subtile anguish Such as but women know That wait, and lest love speak or speak not, languish, And what they would, would rather they would not so; Till he said, man-like nothing comprehending Of all the wondrous guile That women won win themselves with, and bending Eyes of relentless asking on her the while, — "Ah, if beyond this gate the path united Our steps as far as death, And I might open it!—” His voice, affrighted At his own daring, faltered under his breath. Then she-whom both his faith and fear enchanted Far beyond words to tell, Feeling her woman's finest wit had wanted The art he had that knew to blunder so well Slyly drew near, a little step, and mocking, "Shall we not be too late For tea?" she said. "I'm quite worn out with walking: Yes, thanks, your arm. And will you open the gate ?" WILLIAM D. HOWELLS. M Plighted. INE to the core of the heart, my beauty! Love given willingly, full and free, Duty's a slave that keeps the keys, Mine, from the dear head's crown, brown-golden, Give a few friends hand or smile, Like a generous lady, now and awhile, But the sanctuary heart, that none dare win, Keep holiest of holiest evermore; The crowd in the aisles may watch the door, Mine, my own, without doubts or terrors, |