In the soothing thoughts that spring In the faith that looks through death, XI. And O ye fountains, meadows, hills, and groves, Yet in my heart of hearts I feel your might; To live beneath your more habitual sway. I love the brooks which down their channels fret, Even more than when I tripped lightly as they ; The innocent brightness of a new-born day Is lovely yet; The clouds that gather round the setting sun That hath kept watch o'er man's mortality; RUTH. WHEN Ruth was left half desolate, And she had made a pipe of straw, Beneath her father's roof, alone She seemed to live; her thoughts her own; Herself her own delight; Pleased with herself, nor sad, nor gay; And, passing thus the livelong day, She grew to woman's height. There came a youth from Georgia's shore A military casque he wore, With splendid feathers drest; He brought them from the Cherokees; The feathers nodded in the breeze, And made a gallant crest. From Indian blood you deem him sprung : And when America was free From battle and from jeopardy, With hues of genius on his cheek The moon, the glory of the sun, And streams that murmur as they run, Had been his dearest joy. He was a lovely youth! I guess The panther in the wilderness Was not so fair as he ; And, when he chose to sport and play, No dolphin ever was so gay Upon the tropic sea. Among the Indians he had fought And with him many tales he brought Of pleasure and of fear; Such tales as told to any maid By such a youth, in the green shade, Were perilous to hear. He told of girls, a happy rout! Who quit their fold with dance and shout, Their pleasant Indian town, To gather strawberries all day long ; When daylight is gone down. He spake of plants divine and strange With budding, fading, faded flowers He told of the magnolia, spread High as a cloud, high over head! The cypress and her spire, -Of flowers that with one scarlet gleam Cover a hundred leagues, and seem The youth of green savannahs spake, Of islands, that together lie As quietly as spots of sky Among the evening clouds. And then he said, "How sweet it were A fisher or a hunter there, A gardener in the shade, Still wandering with an easy mind "What days and what sweet years! And all the while," said he, "to know On such an earth as this !" And then he sometimes interwove Ah me! "Sweet Ruth! and could you go with me My helpmate in the woods to be, Our shed at night to rear ; Or run, my own adopted bride, And drive the flying deer! "Beloved Ruth!"-No more he said. The wakeful Ruth at midnight shed A solitary tear : She thought again—and did agree With him to sail across the sea, And drive the flying deer. "And now, as fitting is and right, |