So we, who best approve

Thy loveliness and worth,

Still want for words to speak the love
That in our hearts hath birth!

Not for that thou art fair

And beautiful, alone,

Though every bright endowment rare

Of beauty is thine own ;

Not for thy lofty brow—

Thine eye of sparkling jet—

Thy ruby lip—thy cheek's bright glow— Thy raven hair-nor yet

For thy commanding form— Thy queenly step and air; Nor for thy face, though beauties śwarm

In rich profusion there ;

Oh! not for one, or each

Of these bright gifts—thine all— Thou livest ever in our speech

Our blessings on thee fall;

171

BLANCH E.

But for thine inner self

The graces deeper set

The wealth more worth than glittering pelf, Gem, crown, or coronet!—

For the ennobled mind,

With generous feelings fraught ;

Rich gifts of intellect, combined

With pure and tender thought;

The gentle heart, imbued
With charity for all ;-

The lofty soul-high, yet subdued
To pity's softest call ;-

The love for all are near;

The self-forgetfulness ;—

These are the traits that make thee dear,

For these thyself we bless!

For these, till life departs—

Through weal and wo the sameOf earth's, the deepest on our hearts Graven shall be thy name!

KATE.

KATE!-Oh! never fairer lass
Set a poet's fancy dreaming!
In her face, as in a glass,

Imaged lie thoughts gentlest seeming:
KATE!—she has a speaking smile!
Her's are many a witching wile;
KATE!--the music of her voice
Might the saddest heart rejoice;
With such melody 'tis fraught,
As from Heaven alone is caught!

KATE has all sweet, winning ways!

KATE is truth-'twere sin to doubt her!

Grace, in all she does and says,

Flings some nameless charm about her;

E'en the tresses of her hair

Have a grace none other wear;

KATE.

In the well of her dark eye,

Founts of deepest feeling lie;
And the nectar of her lip

It were Heaven itself to sip!

KATE!-She is no light coquette !

Old friends leaving still for new ones; Few her warm professions, yet

All her kindest words are true ones:
KATE!-she hath a balanced mind!
KATE is to herself defined—

Truth and reason her twain guides,
KATE weighs well, ere she decides;
Then, from right 'twere hard to move her,
As the Heaven of Truth above her!

KATE, alas! hath sorrow seen!

So she bears a gentle spirit;

One of those is she, I ween,

Who, 'tis said, "the earth inherit :"

Meek and lowly is her mind,—

Gentle all her ways, and kind,

Playful yet is she, as one,
Sorrow never looked upon;

As a face of smiles and tears

Heaven's own sky alternate wears!

173

KATE!-if you shall win her love-
KATE will love you well and truly;
Not with worship paid above,

But as mortal, wisely, duly ;—
Love that not with time shall change-
But unkindness may estrange;

KATE will ever be the same,

Pure and lovely as her name;

Light from Heaven to Earth still lending,
Till from Earth to Heaven ascending!

LINES IMPROMPTU.

TO A YOUNG LADY ON HER BIRTH-DAY.

THY BIRTH-DAY, LADY!-May it be
By thee so wisely numbered ever,
That still, as on towards Death's lone sea,
Thou glidest down Time's silent river,
It may be thine-Life's voyage past-
By prospering gales all gently driven—
Thy peaceful bark to moor at last,

Safely within the harbour-HEAVEN!