THE FOOTSTEP'S FAL L. [W. JERDAN, ESQ.] THE Footstep's Fall! time presses on, I recollect those childish days, When, blest in love's sweet thrall, Echoed the footstep's fall. I've known the dream, that flies ere proved, I've known the busy, business world, And now the tottering frame of eld Life wanes apace, still hastening down, The end is near,-the last dark step,- Silence-and never more on earth LOVE'S IMMORTALITY. [SOUTHEY.] THEY sin who tell us love can die! In heaven ambition cannot dwell Its holy flame for ever burneth, From heaven it came, to heaven returneth : At times deceived, at times opprest, Then hath in heaven its perfect rest: The babe she lost in infancy, An over-payment of delight? ODE TO DUTY. [WORDSWORTH.] STERN daughter of the voice of God! When empty terrors overawe; From strife and from despair; a glorious ministry. Be on them; who, in love and truth, Upon the genial sense of youth: [fast! And Thou, if they should totter, teach them to stand Serene will be our days and bright, And happy will our nature be, When love is an unerring light, And joy its own security. And bless'd are they who in the main This faith, even now, do entertain: Live in the spirit of this creed; Yet find that other strength, according to their need. I, loving freedom, and untried; No sport of every random gust, Yet being to myself a guide, Too blindly have reposed my trust: Upon my present happiness, I shoved unwelcome tasks away; But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may. Through no disturbance of my soul, My hopes no more must change their name, Yet not the less would I throughout Of my own wish; and feel past doubt 6 For precepts over dignified,' Denial and restraint I prize No farther than they breed a second Will more wise. Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear The Godhead's most benignant grace; Flowers laugh before thee on their beds; Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong; And the most ancient Heavens through thee are fresh and strong. To humbler functions, awful Power! I call thee: myself commend Unto thy guidance from this hour; The spirit of self-sacrifice; The confidence of reason give, And in the light of truth thy bondman let me live! LOVE'S GROWTH. [REV. H. STEBBING.] I KNEW them when the rosiest light of love was on their brow When their hearts were throbbing deep and quick first conscious of its glow. Beautiful were they in its joy and the brightness of their truth, And musical as silver harps the voices of their youth. I walked with them through many years-their gladness shed a light O'er a path that my own fate or hopes had never made so bright; And every sun that rose and set, their love more fervent grew, As if heaven never from hearts its burning beams with drew. And sweeter seemed the tones of each gentle voice to sound, As time and converse fond and sweet, their souls more closely bound; And brighter every day, I thought, their beaming brows became, With the living thoughts that nurture hope, and love's undying flame. I saw them in their happy home, and by their winter hearth, The world nor harmed them with its lures, nor tempests with their wrath; |