THE DEATH OF THE FLOWERS.

BY THE AUTHOR OF SOLITARY HOURS.'

I.

How happily, how happily the flowers die away!
Oh, could we but return to earth as easily as they!
Just live a life of sunshine, of innocence and bloom,
Then drop without decrepitude, or pain, into the tomb!

II.

The gay and glorious creatures! they neither "toil nor spin ;"

Yet, lo! what goodly raiment, they're all apparelled

in;

No tears are on their beauty, but dewy gems more

bright

Than ever brow of eastern queen endiademed with

light.

III.

The young rejoicing creatures! their pleasures never pall;

Nor lose in sweet contentment, because so free to all!The dew, the showers, the sunshine, the balmy, blessed air,

Spend nothing of their freshness, though all may freely

share.

IV.

The happy careless creatures! of time they take no heed;

Nor

weary of his creeping, nor tremble at his speed; Nor sigh with sick impatience, and wish the light away; Nor when 'tis gone, cry dolefully, "would God that it were day!"

V.

And when their lives are over, they drop away to rest, Unconscious of the penal doom, on holy Nature's

breast;

No pain have they in dying-no shrinking from decay Oh! could we but return to earth as easily as they!

THE SHIP AT SEA.

BY JOHN MALCOLM, ESQ.

I.

A WHITE Sail gleaming on the flood,
And the bright-orbed sun on high,

Are all that break the solitude

Of the circling sea and sky ;— Nor cloud, nor cape is imaged there; Nor isle of ocean, nor of air.

II.

Led by the magnet o'er the tides,
That bark her path explores,-
Sure as unerring instinct guides
The birds to unseen shores :

With wings that o'er the waves expand,

She wanders to a viewless land.

III.

Yet not alone; -on ocean's breast,
Though no green islet glows,
No sweet, refreshing spot of rest,
Where fancy may repose;

Nor rock, nor hill, nor tower, nor tree,
Breaks the blank solitude of sea ;-

IV.

No! not alone ;-her beauteous shade
Attends her noiseless way;
As some sweet memory, undecayed,
Clings to the heart for aye,

And haunts it-wheresoe'er we go,
Through every scene of joy and woe.

V.

And not alone;-for day and night
Escort her o'er the deep;

And round her solitary flight

The stars their vigils keep.

Above, below, are circling skies,

And heaven around her pathway lies.

VI.

And not alone ;-for hopes and fears Go with her wandering sail;

And bright eyes watch, through gathering tears,

Its distant cloud to hail;

And prayers for her at midnight lone

Ascend, unheard by all, save One.

VII.

And not alone;with her, bright dreams

Are on the pathless main;

And o'er its moan-earth's woods and streams

Pour forth their choral strain

;

When sweetly are her slumberers blest

With visions of the land of rest.

VIII.

And not alone ;-for round her glow
The vital light and air;

And something that in whispers low

Tells to man's spirit there, Upon her waste and weary road, A present, all-pervading God!