Town and Country; Or, Life at Home and Abroad Part 32

TO THE UNKNOWN DONOR OF A BOUQUET.

RICHEST flowers of every hue, Lightly fringed with evening dew; Sparkling as from Eden's bowers, Brightly tinted-beauteous flowers!

Thee I've found, and thee I'll own, Though from one to me unknown; Knowing this, that one who'll send Such a treasure is my friend.

Who hath sent thee?-Flora knows, For with care she reared the rose.

Lo! here's a name!-it is the key That will unlock the mystery; This will tell from whom and why Thou didst to my presence hie.

Wait-the hand's disguised!-it will Remain to me a mystery still.

But I'm a "Yankee," and can "guess"

Who wove this flowery, fairy tress.

Yea, more than this, I almost know Who tied this pretty silken bow, Whose hand arranged them, and whose taste Each in such graceful order placed.

Yet, if unknown thou 'dst rather be, Let me wish this wish for thee: May'st thou live in joy forever, Naught from thee true pleasure sever; From thy heart arise no sigh; May no tear bedew thine eye.

Joys be many, cares be few, Smooth the path thou shalt pursue; And heaven's richest blessings shine Ever on both thee and thine.

Round thy path may fairest flowers, As in amaranthine bowers, Bloom and blossom bright and fair, Load with sweets the ambient air!

Be thy path with roses strewn, All thy hours to care unknown; Sorrow cloud thy pathway never, Happiness be thine forever.

TO A SISTER IN HEAVEN.

SISTER, in thy spirit home, Knowest thou my path below?

Knowest thou the steps I roam, And the devious road I go?

Many years have past since I Bade thee here a sad farewell; Many past since thou didst die, Since I heard thy funeral knell.

Thou didst go when thou wast young; Scarcely hadst thou oped thine eyes To the world, and it had flung Its bright sunshine from the skies, Ere thy Maker called for thee, Thou obeyed his high behest; Then I mourned, yet knew thou 'dst be Throned on high among the blest.

Gently thou didst fold thy wing, Gently thou didst sink in sleep; Birds their evening songs did sing, And the evening shades did creep Through the cas.e.m.e.nt, one by one, Telling of departing day; Then, thou and the glorious sun Didst together pa.s.s away.

Yet that sun hath rose since then, And hath brought a joy to me; Emblem 't is time will be when Once again I shall see thee,-- See thee in immortal bloom, Numbered with the ransomed throng, Where no sorrow sheds its gloom O'er the heart, or chills the song.

Spirit sister, throned on high, Now methinks I hear thee speak From thy home within the sky, In its accents low and meek.

Thou art saying, "Banish sadness; G.o.d is love,--O, trust him over!

Heaven is filled with joy and gladness- It shall be thy home forever."

This thou sayest, and thy voice, Like to none of earth I've heard, Bids my fainting soul rejoice; Follow G.o.d's reveald word, Follow that, 't is faithful true; 'Mid the trackless maze of this, It will guide the pilgrim through To a world of endless bliss.

Sister, in thy spirit home, Thou dost know my path below, Thou dost know the steps I roam, And the road I fain would go.

If my steps would err from right, If I'd listen to the wrong, If I'd close my eyes to light, Mingle with earth's careless throng: Then wilt thou with power be nigh; Power which angel spirits wield, That temptation may pa.s.s by, Be thou near my soul to shield!

As I close this simple lay, As I over it do bow, Sister, thou art round my way, Thou art standing near me now.

I DREAMED OF THEE, LAST NIGHT, LOVE!

I DREAMED of thee last night, love, And I thought that one came down From scenes of azure light, love, The most beautiful to crown.

He wandered forth where diamonds And jewels rich and rare Shone brightly 'mid the glittering throng, Yet crownd no one there.

He pa.s.sd by all others, Till he came to where thou stood; And chose thee as the beautiful, Because thou wast so good.

And said, as there he crowned thee, That Goodness did excel The jewels all around thee In which beauty seemed to dwell.

For Goodness is that beauty Which will forever last; Then, crowning thee most beautiful, From earth to heaven he pa.s.sed.

THEY TELL OF HAPPY BOWERS.

THEY tell of happy bowers,

Where rainbow-tinted flowers Bloom bright with sweetest fragrance, and never, never die;

Where friends are joined forever,

Where parting hours come never, And that that happier land is far beyond the sky;--

That when this life is ended

The spirit there ascended Shall meet in happy unison the spirits gone before;

And all that here hath vexed us,

With seeming ill perplexed us, We shall see was for the best, and G.o.d of all adore.

Then, brother, hope and cheer thee,

For glorious hours are near thee, If thou but livest holy, and hope, and trust, and wait;

Soon, trials all departed,

Thou, heavenward, homeward started, Shalt find a glorious entrance at heaven's golden gate.