THE HOUR OF DEATH. LEAVES have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the North-wind's breath, And stars to set-but all, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Day is for mortal care; Eve for glad meetings round the joyous hearth; Night for the dreams of sleep, the voice of prayer; We know when moons shall wane, When Summer birds from far shall cross the sea, When Autumn's hue shall tinge the golden grain; But who shall teach us when to look for thee? Is it when Spring's first gale Comes forth to whisper where the violets lie? Is it when roses in our paths grow pale? But all for thee, thou Mightiest of the They have one season-all are ours to die! Earth! The banquet hath its hour, Its feverish hour of mirth, and song, and wine; Thou art where billows foam, Thou art where music melts upon the air; Thou art around us in our peaceful home; There comes a day for Grief's o'erwhelm- And the world calls us forth-and thou art ing power, A time for softer tears--but all are thine! there. Thou art where friend meets friend, Beneath the shadow of the elm to rest; Thou art where foe meets foe, and trumpets rend The skies, and swords beat down the princely crest. Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the North-wind's breath, And stars to set-but all, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, 0 Death! MRS. HEMANS. SUNSHINE AND SHOWER. Two children stood at their father's gate, Two girls with golden hair; And their eyes were bright, and their voices Because the morn was fair. [glad, For they said, "We will take that long, long walk To the hawthorn copse to-day; And gather great bunches of lovely flowers From off the scented May; And oh! we shall be so happy there, "Twill be sorrow to come away!" As the children spoke, a little cloud Passed slowly across the sky; But the other said, "Oh! heed it not; That little cloud may search the sky And soon the children's voices rose But ere the morning hours had waned The wind began to blow, And the children, in their nice warm room, Went fretting to and fro; For they said, "When we have aught in It always happens so!" [store, Now these two fair-haired sisters When they stood beside the gate, With the other sailors round him, Beyond, they saw the cool green land— But above them the burning noontide sun And they knelt down one by one, And then that little cloud was sent, Their bark was landward driven. ANON. THE MARINER'S CHILD. Он, weep no more, sweet mother! Then the bright blue sky is joyful, But now the wind goes wailing O'er the dark and trackless deep; And I know your grief, sweet mother, Though I only hear you weep. My father's ship will come, mother, When the grapes are dyed with purple He will be back again. The vines were but in blossom When he bade me watch them grow; And now the large leaves, mother, Conceal their crimson glow. He'll bring us shells and sea-weed, I'll watch with thee, sweet mother, But the stars fade from my sight; Come, come and sleep, dear mother-Oh, weep no more to-night! L. E. LANDON. |