THE STREAM OF LIFE. I THREW three flowers into a stream, And sparkled in the golden gleam Of May's reviving sky. Now said I, calmly as I stood, That sweeps to the eternal flood, And these,-three men of strife! I placed them gently, side by side, And on they rush'd like things of pride, Awhile they journey'd on in joy, But soon earth's common lot, alloy, One, that bade well to be the first 'Mong the ambitious three, Has hit upon a jarring rock, And to the side runs he ! The others, heedless of his fate, Move joyously along, Nor mourn their downcast brother now, Self-love has grown so strong! But, ha! the foremost of the two, Has caught upon a brier; And now the third one rushes past,— Impatient with desire ! Though all are travelling down to death, Ne'er to retrace life's stream,— Thus do they mark each other's woe, On bounds the one triumphantly,- And laughing at the two behind, And gaze on their relentless friend, With an indignant eye. Thus moves mankind o'er mother earth Exceptions little claim All are alike at weakly birth, But growing into manhood bold, Which some find, and some never! THE OLD WOMAN. I USED to watch a withering, poor old woman, Methinks I see her yet creeping along, To prop her body up.-There now she stands- Her load of frailties; looking all around, Feels safe as one, who from the raging waves Where will she go To win her scanty bread?-Behold she turns As one who smiles, because she soon shall die! Alas! we know not all her sympathies,Her recollections of the dreamy past: All that we know is, that she is alone, And though fourscore of winters, with their chill, Have wandered o'er her head, she still ekes out An honest industry, in sweet content, Knowing the grave will soon relieve her woes. * K 12 |