THE VOTIVE WREATH.

"TWAS on a bleak and dreary day,
When clouds obscured my devious way,
When Winter's snow the earth o'erspread,
And sorrow's gloom hung o'er my head,
I wander'd through the wilderness,
In painful thought, and deep distress :
Pondering o'er days to memory dear;
And blotting out, with many a tear,

The records of enjoyments past,

Too dear-too precious long to last.

How could I think they would endure,

Where nought but change and death are sure?

Was I to be the only one,

Whom evil should not light upon?

B

Or was my eyry built so high,

That every storm I might defy?

No,-gliding on in middle state,

Not meanly low-nor proudly great,
I hoped a steady course to steer;
I hoped-but had not learnt to fear.

I had not learnt that I must prove
How soon are snapp'd the links of love:
Now memory breathes in every sigh
Some loss that wakens agony.

As through the lonely path I stray'd, And Nature's cheerless face survey'd ;

I

saw, from out it's wintry bed,

A snow-drop rear it's modest head,

The early harbinger of Spring,

With promise brighter days to bring:

Like those fair flowers of life's

young morn

Which blossom in it's early dawn,

Ere chilling blasts have nipp'd their bloom,

Or Hope has wither'd in the tomb;

I pluck'd the bud, and vow'd to twine

A Wreath, to place on Friendship's shrine, Of this first blossom of the year,

Which seem'd the drooping heart to cheer.

But 'twas a solitary flower Condemn'd to perish in an hour;

And not a shrub beside it grew,

Save the dark shadowing baneful yew.

Oh! not from them the chaplet twine!

Weave it of amaranth divine:

Unfading wreaths alone should wave

O'er Friendship's altar-Friendship's grave.

But I must wait a happier hour
To gather that immortal Flower;
Celestial plant of heavenly birth,
Too delicate for clay-cold earth,
It flourishes in realms above,
Water'd by Charity and Love.

For those bright realms, for those blest springs, My eager spirit plumes her wings:

For worldly interest there shall cease;

And sever'd friends shall meet in

peace:

Yet, in my heart, the steady flame

Of hallow'd friendship burns the same,

As when, by sympathy inspired,

Its generous glow my bosom fired;

And if beneath th' inclement sky

All earth-born flowers must fade and die,

Let me o'er Friendship's altar raise

This VOTIVE WREATH of GRATEFUL LAYS.

ON THE EPICUREAN SYSTEM.

LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TO-Morrow we die. 1 CORINTH. xv. 32.

SUCH Epicurus, votary of ease

And worldly pleasure, thy erroneous faith.
To future glory blind, thy dearest wish
It's acmé reach'd on earth; and in the joys
Of soft luxurious ease all good comprised:
Perversion strange of that celestial gift
Which gives to man-but little favour'd else,
His blest pre-eminence in Nature's scale.

But thine were days when error's gloomy night

In intellectual darkness wrapt mankind;

Who, wandering on, in superstition's maze
Bewilder'd, each a devious track pursued:

And God, compassionate, with pitying eye