tions bold
Of higher hopes and prouder promise told--
Those days have flown--
Now we are old,
Old and alone!

Old in our youth--for sorrow maketh old,
And disappointment withereth the frame,
And harsh neglect will smother up the flame,
That else had proudly burned--and the cold
Offcasting of affection will repel
The warm life-current back upon the heart,
And choke it nigh to bursting--yet 't is well,
And wise-intended, that the venomed dart
Shall bear its sure and speedy remedy.
Why should the wretched wish to live? to be
One in this cold wide world--ever to feel
That others feel not--wounds that will not heal--
A bruised, though yet unbroken spirit's strife--
A waning and a wasting out of life--
A longing after loving--and the curse
To know
One's self unknown--
In secrecy a hopeless hope to nurse--
Down to the grave to go
Unloved--alone!

Yet not alone! Pardon, thou gentle breeze,
That comest o'er the waters with the tread
Of beauty stealing to the sufferer's bed,
To cool the burning brow, and whisper peace.
Pardon, ye sweet wild flow'rets, that each morn
Woo us to brush the dew-drop from the lid
Of tearful innocence, and meekly warn
Of worth in garb of lowliest texture hid.
Beings of gentlest life, ye murmuring streams,
Lull of our waking, music of our dreams,
Ye things of artless merriment, that throw
Around you gladness, wheresoe'er ye flow--
And ye dark mountains, down whose changeful sides
The mystic guardian, giant shadow strides,
Whose kindly frown, howe'er the storms prevail,
Peace and repose ensureth to the vale--
Ye tall proud forests, that forever sway
In kingly fury, or in graceful play--
Ye bright blue waters whose untiring drip
Against this island shore doth lightly break,
Gentle and noiseless as the parting lip
Of dreaming infant on its mother's cheek,
Pardon my rash averment--pardon, ye
Flow'rets and streamlets, mountains, woods and waves,
That pour into the soul a melody,
Like to the far down music of the caves
Of ocean, heard not, felt not, save within,
Seeking to joy the darker depths to win--
Oh! while your sweet and sacred voices steal
Into my spirit, as the joyous fall
Of the warm sunbea