It is most genial to a soul refined,

When love can smile unblushing, unconcealed, When mutual thoughts, and words, and acts are kind, And inmost hopes and feelings are revealed; When interest, duty, trust, together bind,

And the heart's deep affections are unsealed, When for each other live the kindred pair, Here is indeed a picture passing fair!

Hail, happy state! which few have heart to sing,
Because they feel how faintly words express
So kind, and dear, and chaste, and sweet a thing
As tried affection's lasting tenderness;

Yet stop, my venturous muse! and fold thy wing,
Nor to a shrine so sacred rudely press;

For, marriage, thine is still a silent boast, "Like beauty unadorned, adorned the most."

A GLIMPSE

OF PARADISE.

NoT many rays of heaven's unfallen sun
Reach the dull distance of this world of ours,
Nor oft dispel its shadows cold and dun,

Nor oft with glory tint its faded flowers: But, oh, if ever yet there wandered one, Like Peri from her amaranthine bowers, Or ministering angel, sent to bless, 'Twas to thy hearth, domestic happiness! Where, in the sunshine of a peaceful home, Love's choicest roses bud, and burst, and bloom, And bleeding hearts, lull'd in a holy calm, Bathe their deep wounds in Gilead's healing balm.

THOU, more than all endeared to this glad heart
By gentle smiles, and patience under pain,
I bless my God and thee, for all thou art,
My crowning joy, my richest earthly gain!
To thee is due this tributary strain
For all the well-observed kind offices

That spring spontaneous from a heart, imbued,
With the sweet wish of living but to please;
Due for thy liberal hand, thy frugal mind,
Thy pitying eye, thy voice for ever kind,
For tenderness, truth, confidence, all these:

My heaven-blest vine, that hast thy tendrils twin'd Round one who loves thee, though his strain be rude, Accept thy best reward, thy husband's gratitude.

TO LITTLE ELLEN.

My precious babe, my guileless little girl,
The soft sweet beauty of thy cherub face
Is smiling on me, radiant as a pearl

With young intelligence, and infant grace;
And must the wintry breath of life efface
Thy purity, fair snow-drop of the spring?

Must evil taint thee, must the world enthrall
Thine innocent mind, poor harmless little thing?
Ah, yes! thou too must taste the cup of woe,
Thy heart must learn to grieve, as others do,
Thy soul must feel life's many-pointed sting:
But fear not, darling child, for well I know
Whatever cares may meet thee, ills befall,

Thy God, thy father's God, shall lead thee safe through all.

ON THE BIRTH OF LITTLE MARY.

Lo, Thou hast crowned me with another blessing,

Into my lot has dropt one mercy more;

All good, all kind, all wise in Thee possessing,
My cup, O bounteous Giver, runneth o'er,

And still thy princely hand doth without ceasing pour:

For the sweet fruit of undecaying love

Clusters in beauty round my cottage door,

And this new little one, like Noah's dove,

Comes to mine ark with peace, and plenty for my store.

O happy home, O bright and cheerful hearth!

Look round with me, my lover, friend, and wife,

On these fair faces we have lit with life,

And, in the perfect blessing of their birth,

Help me to live our thanks for so much heaven on earth.

FAIR Charity, thou rarest, best, and brightest!
Who would not gladly hide thee in his heart,
With all thine angel guests?-for thou delightest
To bring such with thee,— guests that ne'er depart;
Cherub, with what enticement thou invitest,

Perfect in winning beauty as thou art,
World-wearied man to plant thee in his bosom,
And graft upon his cares thy balmy blossom.

Fain would he be frank-hearted, generous, cheerful,
Forgiving, aiding, loving, trusting ALL,-
But knowledge of his kind has made him fearful
All are not friends, whom friends he longs to call;
For prudence makes men cold, and misery tearful,
And interest bids them rise upon his fall,