Welcome!

A WORD TO THE MANY.

Yes! welcome, right welcome—and give us your hand,— I like not to stand in the cold!

If new friends are true friends I can't understand

Why hearts should hold back till they're old;
For life is so short, and there's so much to do,
And so many pleasures and cares-

And somewhere I've read that, though angels are few,
They're frequently met unawares!

The eye of sincerity shines like a star

Through the clouds of suspicion and doubt;
I love its fair lustre, and lure it from far,
And wouldn't for worlds put it out:
Away with such wisdom, as risking the chance
Of killing young love with old fears-
The face that is honest is known at a glance,
And needn't be studied for years!

And when petty prudence would put me to school
About caution, and care, and all that,

I trust that, like some folks, I yield to the rule
Of wearing a head in my hat;

But more that remains is better than brains,

And I know not that some folks are blest Like me, with a share in a custom more rare, Of wearing a heart in my breast!

Then come with all welcome! I fear not to fling
Reserve to the winds and the waves,

And never can cling to the cold-blooded thing
Society makes of its slaves:

Thou dignified dullard, so cloudy and cold,
Get out of the sunshine for me;

But, hearty good friend! whether new one or old,
A Welcome for Ever to thee!

Balm.

A FEW CONSOLATORY STANZAS.

Patience yet one little hour,
Pale, unloved, uncourted flower,
Seeing not the sun;

Patience,-heart of depth and duty,
Yearning for the smiles of beauty,
Never catching one:

Patience, martyr following faintly,
Gentle nun, serene and saintly,
Kneeling in the dust;

Oh not vain thy long-enduring!
- Still with meekest might securing

Triumph to thy trust!

Hushing every mutter'd murmur,

Tranquil Fortitude the firmer

Girdeth thee with strength;

While, no treason near her lurking,

Patience, in her perfect working,

Shall be Queen at length.

And, behold! thy pious daring
Is a glorious crown preparing

For thine own sweet brow;

Precious pearls of softest lustre
Shall with brightest jewels cluster

Where the thorns are now!

Faith and Patience! sister, brother,-
Lean in love on one another,

Calm for good or ill:

Comforted by surely knowing

That the Ruler is bestowing

Strength in sitting still!

O ye virgin spirits wasting,
O ye hearts of thousands, hasting
Darkly to decay,

Through the blight of disappointment,-
Tenderly, with precious ointment,

Lull those cares away,

Tenderly, with wise beguilings,
Court sweet Patience for her smilings
On that ruin drear;

Soon, with other sister graces,

Shall she make your hearts and faces
Laugh away their fear:

Soft Contentment, bright-eyed Duty,
Faith in his archangel beauty,

Joy, and Love sublime,

Follow, Patience, where thy finger

Gently beckons Hope to linger

On the wrecks of time!

Selfishness.

A BALLAD FOR THE WORLDLY.

How little and how lightly
We care for one another!
How seldom and how slightly
Consider each a brother!
For all the world is every man
To his own self alone,

And all beside no better than
A thing he doesn't own.

And O, the shame and sadness,
To see how insincerely
The heart, that in its gladness,

Went forth to love men dearly,
Is chill'd, and all its warmth repell'd
As just a low mistake,

And half the cordial yearnings quell'd
It felt for other's sake.

The service it would render

Is call'd intrusive boldness,
And thus, that heart so tender,
Now hardening to coldness,
Returns, returns,-a blighted thing!

To scorn those early days,

The freshness of its green young spring, Its beauty and its praise.

Self-Possession.

A BALLAD FOR A MAN'S OWN INNER WORLD.

Whirling, eddying, ebbing Present,
Foamy tide of strife and noise,
Mingled-bitter, mingled-pleasant,
Loves and worries, cares and joys,—
O ye changing chancing surges !
Calmly doth my Mind forecast
How restless spirit merges

your

In the Future and the Past!

Lo, I stand your master-pilot;
Though the cataracts be near,
Safe I swing round rock or islet,
Strong, and still, and god-like Here!
Stout I stand, and sway the tiller
Through these rapids glancing down,
While the very flood flows stiller,
Frozen by my monarch-frown!

O'er the rock-entangled shallows
Staunch I steer, adown the stream;
And the Past the Present hallows
With its melancholy dream,-
And the Future, nearing surely
Like Niagara's cliff ahead,
Steadily I reach, securely

As a child that feels no dread!