And the sounds of joy and grief From her people wildly rose, As death withdrew his shades from the day. O'er a wide and woful sight, Where the fires of funeral light Now joy, old England, raise! Whilst the wine cup shines in light; Let us think of them that sleep, Full many a fathom deep, By thy wild and stormy steep, VIII. Brave hearts! to Britain's pride Once so faithful and so true, On the deck of fame that died, With the gallant good Riou: Soft sigh the winds of Heaven o'er their grave! While the billow mournful rolls, And the mermaid's song condoles, Singing glory to the souls. Of the brave ! A THOUGHT SUGGESTED BY THE NEW YEAR. [THE RIVER OF LIFE.] The more we live, more brief appear Our life's succeeding stages: A day to childhood seems a year, The gladsome current of our youth, Ere passion yet disorders, Steals, lingering like a river smooth Along its grassy borders. But, as the care-worn cheek grows wan, Ye stars, that measure life to man, Why seem your courses quicker? When joys have lost their bloom and breath, And life itself is vapid, Why, as we reach the Falls of death, Feel we its tide more rapid? It may be strange-yet who would change Time's course to slower speeding; When one by one our friends have gone, Heaven gives our years of fading strength And those of youth, a seeming length, LONGFELLOW. A PSALM OF LIFE. WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN SAID TO THE PSALMIST. TELL me not, in mournful numbers, And things are not what they seem. A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE. THIS is the place. Stand still, my steed, Let me review the scene, And summon from the shadowy Past 5 10 The Past and Present here unite Like footprints hidden by a brook, But seen on either side. Here runs the highway to the town; There the green lane descends, Through which I walked to church with thee, O gentlest of my friends! The shadow of the linden-trees Lay moving on the grass; Between them and the moving boughs, A shadow, thou didst pass. Thy dress was like the lilies, And thy heart as pure as they : |