common way divide!"

Choral voices float around us, music on the night air swells;
Hill and dell resound with echoes of the gleeful wedding bells!
Ushered thus, we haste to enter on a scene of radiant joy--
List'ning vows in ardor plighted, which alone can death destroy.
Passing fair the bride appeareth, in her robes of snowy white,
While the veil around her streameth, like a silvery halo's light;
And amid her hair's rich braidings rests the pearly orange bough,
With its fragrant blossoms pressing on her pure, unclouded brow.
Love's devotion yields the future with young Hope's resplendent beam;
And her spirit thrills with rapture, yielding to its blissful dream!

* * * *

DEATH.

"Death, thou art infinite!"
"All that live must die,
Passing through nature to Eternity."

Now we chant a miserere which proclaims the _end of man_--
Telling, in prophetic language, "_Life,"_ at best, "_is but a span!"_
Scarcely treading, slowly enter, reverently bend the knee--
List the Spirit's inward whisper, and from _worldly thoughts_ be free.
Here we view a weary pilgrim, cradled in a dreamless sleep;
Human sounds no more shall reach her, for its spell is "long and deep!"
Gaze upon the marble features! Mark how peacefully they rest!
Anguished thought, and sorrow's heavings, all are parted from that
breast!
Soon on mother earth reposing, this cold form shall calmly lie,
Till, by God's dread trump awakened, it shall mount to realms on high.

* * * * *

FOUR SONNETS TO THE FOUR SEASONS.

BY MARY SPENSER PEASE.

(_See Plate._)

SPRING.

From mountain top, and from the deep-voiced valley,
The snow-white mists are slowly upward wreathing:
Now floating wide, now hovering close, to dally
With sportive winds, around them lightly breathing,
Till, in the quickening Spring-shine through them creeping,
Their gloomy power dissolves in warmth and gladness;
While swift, new tides through Nature's heart-pulse sweeping.
Floods all her veins with a delicious madness.
Warmed into life, a world of bright shapes thronging--
Young, tender leaf-buds in fresh greenness swelling,
Flower, bird, and insect, with prophetic longing,
Pour forth their joy in tremulous hymns upwelling:
Thus, Love's Spring sun dispels all chill and sorrow
With joyful promise of Love's fullest