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LINES WRITTEN ON VALENTINE'S DAY.

Or can thy many-colour'd art

Portray unfading truth?

Behold, my love, the azure hue
Thou'st lent these mimic eyes;

Is not the soft cerulean blue,

Th' original supplies!

Nor deem the roses thou hast thrown

O'er this pictorial fair,

Can mate the blooming of thine own,
That Hebe's blushes wear.

'Twere idle, trust me, to devise
Such glowing charms as thine,
So mock no more thy sunny eyes,
My peerless Valentine.

TO CATHERINE JOSEPHINA M

(On happily meeting after a tedious separation.)

"To be plain,

I think there's not half a kiss to choose
Which loves the other best."

"One turf shall serve as pillow for us both;
One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth.”

'Tis true, my Josephina, we

Have been estrang'd a gloomy season,
And time, my girl, (at least to me,)
Has pass'd right weary for that reason.

I've glean'd from memory's golden cell,
(In sweet review,) the bliss that's over;
And fed my mind on fancy's spell,
While future joys around would hover.

Some fleeting years have sped their round,
Since near the church at B- we parted;
Yet truth's bright hour-glass still has found
Your William fond and faithful-hearted.

Since then, alas! the cup of woe

Has drench'd my lip full many a minute,
And bitter are the tears that flow

From those who sip the dregs within it.

Heav'n knows, I've quaff'd my ample share,
Of grief-and oft I 've wonder'd, Kitty,
That reason triumphs o'er despair,

When misery's unbless'd by pity.

There are on life's eventful stage,

Who bask, I ween, in other's sorrow,
And when misfortune dims our page,
Nor cheer with hope affliction's morrow.

But this in truth is not the hour

To wail the past-we 're now together

Once more-and why should sadness low'r
Upon the smiling brow of either.

You've said, methinks, that you could love-
Now if, my love, you'd "love and cherish,"
I'd vow your other half to prove,
"For worse or better," till I perish.

What sayest" Wilt thou have this man (That's me) to be thy wedded partner? To live by wise and holy plan”—

—“I will”—(the woman shall make answer.)

Agreed-and since a church 'twas near
We parted-when our troth was plighted,
What think you now, my Kitty dear,
If in a church-we are united?

TO C. J. A.

(ON HER BIRTH DAY.)

"My love is thine to teach, teach it but how,

And thou shalt see how apt it is to learu
Any hard lesson that may do thee good.".

"One woman is fair, yet I am well; Another is wise, yet I am well;

Another virtuous, yet I am well; but

Till all graces be in one woman,

One woman shall not come in my grace."

THIS morn Aurora scarce did meet

The messenger of day,

Ere I uprose to welcome greet

Sol's first resplendent ray;

I musing view'd the radiant sight,
And hail'd the lustrous flood of light.

In orient pride from ocean's cave,

The God refulgent rose,

And 'neath his beam the drowsy wave

In sheeny splendour glows;