138 THE HOPES, THE JOYS OF EARLY YEARS.

Such once was I :—in early days

This pictured world was fair;

The very

clouds were beautiful;

I knew not then a care;

The sun seemed shining but for me;

I danced away the hours, like thee.

But here how altered all appears!
Changed, heartless, worldly, I-

On thy unclouded brow I gaze,
So think of time gone by,

And dream a time may come when thou

Shall feel and weep as I do now.

THE STARS.

Gaze on, thou dreamer, gaze with adoration

Far, far above, to that dark cloudless blue,

That lighted heaven, where planets, ceaseless rolling,
Tell that Omnipotence is wise and true.

High o'er our heads that wide expanse is gleaming;

Starry worlds unsearchable to mortal eye :

Are they th' abode of spirits blessed, those seeming globes of fire,

The dwellings of departed ones, made happy in the sky?

Gaze on; thou canst not fathom the secrets of that heaven: Rest content with admiration for the GOD who gave

them birth,

Who deigns to look with pity, from a throne far more

exalted,

To the meanest of his children on this little speck of

earth.

OLD TIMES.

I cannot bear to think the spring
Of my young life is o'er,

That I shall hear the merry voice
Of early friends no more.

And all the wild and sunny hopes
That brightened oft my way;-

E'en darkened days had parted clouds,
When gladdened by their ray.

I cannot fancy all my youth

Has like a sunbeam gone,

Nor bear to think how many a friend

Lies cold within the tomb.

Yet it is true-the spring is fled;

All passeth here away,

Tho' still my autumn path is blessed
With ties "that breathe of May."

And calmer hopes and calmer thoughts To me are ofttimes given,

Whisp'ring, "Thy rest is not on earth; Seek it with Christ in heaven."