When on the weary night dawned heavier day, And bitterer was the grief devoured alone : That I outlive such woes, Enchantress! is thy own. Hark! as my lingering footsteps stow retire, Some spirit of the air has waked thy string ! 'Tis now a seraph bold, with touch of fire; 'Tis now the brush of fairy's frolic wing. Receding now, the dying numbers ring, Fainter and fainter down the rugged dell; And now the mountain breezes scarcely bring A wandering witch-note of the distant spell; And now 'tis silent all !- Enchantress, fare thee well ! THE MOURNERS. Elisa Cook KING Death sped forth in his dreaded power, To make the most of his tyrant hour; And the first he took was a white-robed girl, With the orange-bloom twined in each glossy curl. Her fond betrothed hung over the bier, Bathing her shroud with the gushing tear; He madly raved, he shrieked his pain, With frantic speech and burning brain. . There's no joy,' cried he, now my dearest 6 6 is gone; Take, take me, Death, for I cannot live on !' The sire was robbed of his eldest-born, heir. cry, • Since my darling is dead I too would die.' The valued friend was snatched away, Bound to another from childhood's day: And the one that was left exclaimed in despair, Oh, he sleeps in the tomb - let me follow him there!' A mother was taken, whose constant love grown, thy child would be !' Death smiled as he heard each earnest word : breast; king. But the lover was ardently wooing again, Kneeling in serfdom, and proud of his chain; He had found an idol to adore Rarer than that he had worshipped before. His step was gay, his laugh was loud, As he led the way for the bridal crowd ; And his eyes still kept their joyous ray,. Though he went by the grave where his first Ha! ha!' shouted Death, "tis passing clear That I am a guest not wanted here.' love lay: The father was seen in his children's games, Kissing their flushed brows and blessing their names. And his eye grew bright as he marked the charms Of the boy at his knee and the girl in his arms. His voice rang out in their merry noise ; dart; • Nay, nay!' shrieked the father, ‘in mercy depart!' The friend again was quaffing the bowl, 6 But the orphan child ! oh, where was she? Hers was the love all holy and strong; smile. • There's a solace,' cried she, "for all others to find, But a mother leaves no equal behind.' And the kindest blow Death ever gave, Laid the mourning child in the parent's grave. INGRATITUDE. Shakespere. As man's ingratitude ; Although thy breath be rude. Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, As benefits forgot; As friend remembered not. |