THE HOMES OF ENGLAND. BY MRS. HEMANS. THE stately homes of England, O'er all the pleasant land! The deer across their greensward bound And the swan glides past them with the sound The merry homes of England ! Around their hearths by night, What gladsome looks of household love Meet in the ruddy light! There woman's voice flows forth in song, Or lips move tunefully along The cottage homes of England! Each from its nook of leaves; And fearless there the lowly sleep As birds beneath their eaves. The free fair homes of England! HYMN TO THE VIRGIN. BY SIR WALTER SCOTT. AVE MARIA ! maiden mild ! Listen to a maiden's prayer; Though banished, outcast, and reviled ; Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer; Mother! hear a suppliant child. Ave Maria! AVE MARIA! undefiled! The flinty couch we now must share Shall seem with down of eider piled, If thy protection hover there. The murky cavern's heavy air Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled; Then maiden, hear a maiden's prayer; Mother! list a suppliant child. Ave Maria! AVE MARIA! stainless styled! Ave Maria! THE BETTER LAND. BY MRS. HEMANS. "I HEAR thee speak of the better land, Thou callest its children a happy band; Mother! oh, where is that radiant shore? Shall we not seek it, and weep no more? Is it where the flower of the orange blows? And the fire-flies glance through the myrtleboughs?" "Not there, not there, my child!" "Is it where the feathery palm-trees rise, -“Not there, not there, my child!” "Is it far away in some region old, Where the rivers wander o'er sands of gold? Where the burning rays of the ruby shine, And the diamond lights up the secret mine, And the pearl gleams forth from the coral strand Is it there, sweet mother, that better land?" -"Not there, not there, my child !” 66 Eye hath not seen it, my gentle boy! Ear hath not heard its deep songs of joy; Dreams cannot picture a world so fair Sorrow and death may not enter there; Time doth not breathe on its fadeless bloom, For beyond the clouds, and beyond the tomb, It is there, it is there, my child!" MAY DAY. FROM A PAINTING BY LESLIE. BY MISS LANDON. BEAUTIFUL and radiant May, |