Nor he nor I did e'er incline Lead lives as glad as mine? My childhood from my life is parted, My footstep from the moss which drew Its fairy circle round : anew The garden is deserted. THERE are gains for all our losses, There are balms for all our pain, And it never comes again. Under manhood's sterner reign ; And will never come again. And we sigh for it in vain ; RICHARD HENRY STODDARD. Another thrush may there rehearse The madrigals which sweetest are ; No more for me ! — myself afar Do sing a sadder verse. ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. THE DESERTED GARDEN. THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET. I mind me in the days departed, How often underneath the sun With childish bounds I used to run To a garden long deserted. How dear to this heart are the scenes of my child. hood, When fond recollection presents them to view ! The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wild wood, And every loved spot which my infancy knew ;The wide-spreading pond, and the mill which stood by it, The beds and walks were vanished quite; And wheresoe'er had struck the spade, The bridge, and the rock where the cataract fell; | And I almost worshipped her when she smiled, The cot of my father, the dairy-house nigh it, And turned from her Bible to bless her child. Ande'en the rude bucket which hung in the well. Years rolled on, but the last one sped, The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket, My idol was shattered, my earth-star fled ! The moss-covered bucket which hung in the well. I learnt how much the heart can bear, When I saw her die in her old arm-chair. That moss-covered vessel I hail as a treasure ; For often, at noon, when returned from the field, 'Tis past, 't is past ! but I gaze on it now, I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure, With quivering breath and throbbing brow : The purest and sweetest that nature can yield. | 'T was there she nursed me, 't was there she died, How ardent I seized it, with hands that were glow. And memory flows with lava tide. ing! Say it is folly, and deem me weak, And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well; My soul from a mother's old arm-chair. ELIZA COOK WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE. How sweet from the green mossy brim to receive it, As, poised on the curb, it inclined to my lips ! Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it, Though filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips. And now, far removed from the loved situation, The tear of regret will intrusively swell, As fancy reverts to my father's plantation, And sighs for the bucket which hangs in the well; The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket, The moss-covered bucket which hangs in the well. WOODMAN, spare that tree! Touch not a single bough! And I'll protect it now. That placed it near his cot; Thy axe shall harm it not ! SAMUEL WOODWORTH. THE OLD ARM-CHAIR. That old familiar tree, Whose glory and renown And wouldst thou hew it down? Cut not its earth-bound ties; Now towering to the skies ! I LOVE it, I love it! and who shall dare sighs. When but an idle boy I sought its grateful shade ; Here too my sisters played. My father pressed my hand But let that old oak stand ! In childhood's hour I lingered near My heart-strings round thee cling, Close as thy bark, old friend ! And still thy branches bend, And, woodman, leave the spot ; GEORGE P. MORRIS. I sat, and watched her many a day, Home Sweet Home! seemt Mid plasures and palacer shough we may van Be it ever hamble, there's no place like home! A a charm from the sky to hallow as there which, seek through the the world, is neces met with elsewhere! home, - sweet, seweet home! There's no place like home! there's no place the home! Home John Stoward Fayne.) Fair Nature's book together read, The hills we climbed, the river seen Where'er I look, where'er I stray, O'er lapse of time and change of scene, COME then, my friend! my genius! come along; Thou lack'st not Friendship's spellword, nor With these good gifts of God is cast If, then, a fervent wish for thee ALEXANDER POPE. The sighing of a shaken reed, A GENEROUS friendship no cold medium knows, POPE'S ILIAD. |