GARRISON

FREEDOM's first champion in our fettered land!

Nor politician nor base citizen

Could gibbet thee, nor silence, nor withstand.

Thy trenchant and emancipating pen The patriot Lincoln snatched with steady hand,

Writing his name and thine on parchment white,

'Midst war's resistless and ensanguined flood;

Then held that proclamation high in sight Before his fratricidal countrymen, "Freedom henceforth throughout the land for all,"

And sealed the instrument with his own blood,

Bowing his mighty strength for slavery's

fall;

Whilst thou, stanch friend of largest liberty, Survived, its ruin and our peace to see.

A SERENADE

LOOK out upon the stars, my love,
And shame them with thine eyes,
On which, than on the lights above,
There hang more destinies.
Night's beauty is the harmony

Of blending shades and light;
Then, lady, up, look out, and be
A sister to the night!

Sleep not! thine image wakes for aye
Within my watching breast:
Sleep not! from her soft sleep should fly
Who robs all hearts of rest.

Nay, lady, from thy slumbers break,
Änd make this darkness gay

Where woke the transient smile or tear, When you and I were boys.

We were youths together,
And castles built in air,
Your heart was like a feather,

And mine weighed down with care;

To you came wealth with manhood's prime,
To me it brought alloys -
Foreshadowed in the primrose time,
When you and I were boys.

We're old men together:

The friends we loved of yore,

With leaves of autumn weather,
Are gone forevermore.

How blest to age the impulse given,
The hope time ne'er destroys,

Which led our thoughts from earth to heaven

When you and I were boys!

NEAR THE LAKE

NEAR the lake where drooped the willow,
Long time ago!

Where the rock threw back the billow,
Brighter than snow,

Dwelt a maid, beloved and cherished
By high and low;

But with autumn's leaf she perished,
Long time ago!

Rock and tree and flowing water,
Long time ago!

Bee and bird and blossom taught her
Love's spell to know.

While to my fond words she listened,
Murmuring low,

Tenderly ber dove-eyes glistened,
Long time ago!

Mingled were our hearts forever,
Long time ago!

Can I now forget her?- Never!
No-lost one - no!

To her grave these tears are given,
Ever to flow:

She's the star I missed from heaven,
Long time ago!

MY MOTHER'S BIBLE

THIS book is all that 's left me now!

Tears will unbidden start,
With faltering lip and throbbing brow
I press it to my heart.

For many generations past,
Here is our family tree;

My mother's hands this Bible clasped,
She, dying, gave it me.

Ah! well do I remember those

Whose names these records bear; Who round the hearth-stone used to close

After the evening prayer,

And speak of what these pages said,
In tones my heart would thrill!
Though they are with the silent dead,
Here are they living still.

My father read this holy book
To brothers, sisters dear;
How calm was my poor mother's look
Who leaned God's word to hear!
Her angel face I see it yet!

What vivid memories come!
Again that little group is met
Within the halls of home!

Thou truest friend man ever knew,
Thy constancy I've tried;

Where all were false I found thee true,
My counsellor and guide.

The mines of earth no treasures give
That could this volume buy:

In teaching me the way to live,
It taught me how to die.

WHERE HUDSON'S WAVE

WHERE Hudson's wave o'er silvery sands
Winds through the hills afar,
Old Cronest like a monarch stands,
Crowned with a single star!
And there, amid the billowy swells
Of rock-ribbed, cloud-capped earth,
My fair and gentle Ida dwells,
A nymph of mountain-birth.