BIRTH-DAY STANZAS.

Alas, the change! now, that which seemed,
Before me spread, an age's space—
Looked back upon, is scarcely deemed,
A hurried heat in life's short race!

My Birth-Day!" Shall I live to see
Another?" I have elsewhere asked;
And there have many been, like me,

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With this same thought themselves have tasked: Yet cui bono?-Still, like me,

No wiser they, than e'en before;

For-" that which is to be will be;"

Thus much we know, and can no more!

Yet this at least, I fain would know-
Not if my death be far or near,
But when it comes, if-is it so?

There yet is one will something care:
I would not have the many grieve,

When here my earthly course be run; But yet 'twere joy, when I should leave, To think that I were missed by one!

There are indeed full many-those
I have grown up beside, from youth—
Whom I should deeply mourn to lose;
And yet and yet, in very sooth,

I could not feel, if this day's sun
To any such the last should be-
I had lost all, in losing one,

As I should feel in losing THEE !

For thou indeed hast proven for me,
That which too many have professed;

Nor can they marvel that to thee
My spirit, wearied, flies for rest:
Vain now their efforts to beguile,

No farther would I seek to roam;
Since, in the sunshine of your smile,
My houseless heart hath built its home!

In troops of followers and friends

There have been those who made their boast;

I bless the fortune one that sends,

Not lightly gained-as lightly lost!
And while one such my friend I call,
I am content—upon my bier,
When I am dead, assured will fall

At least one kind, regretful tear!

OUR YOUNGER, HAPPIER DAYS.

OUR younger days! those happy days!Can happier ever be?—

When youth's first unbeclouded rays

Light up the spirit, free

From all the thousand after cares

Of this bewildering maze ;

As yet the heart nor knows, nor fears,
In younger, happier days!

Our younger days!-Oh! then the earth

Is robed in richer green;

And sweeter flowers have fairer birth

Than any after seen!

And bluer skies are spread above,

And brighter sunshine plays,
To lighten up the days we love,—

Those younger, happier days!

Our younger days!-In childhood's bowers

The spirit, free as air,

Knows not the weight of weary hours,
Press'd down with grief and care!

And youth's first friends!-the faithful few,
Whose worth we love to praise ;-
Where now are friends like those we knew
In younger, happier days?

Our younger days!-Oh! when the heart
Is sick with grief and pain,
How do our longing thoughts revert

To those bright days again!
The warrior would his laurels give,

The poet all his bays,

In childhood's home once more to live

Those younger, happier days!

LOVE OF COUNTRY.

"Wherever, oh man! God's sun first beamed upon thee-where the stars of Heaven first shone above thee-where his lightnings first declared his omnipotence, and his storm-wind shook thy soul with pious awe-there are thy affections-there is thy country!

"Where the first human eye bent lovingly over thy cradle-where thy mother first bore thee joyfully on her bosom-where thy father engraved the words of wisdom on thy heart-there are thy affections -there is thy country!"

WHERE'ER, oh man! was first imbibed
Thy vital, Godlike spark of life ;-
Where first with feelings undescribed
Thy dawning intellect was rife ;—
Where'er the glorious light of Heaven

Athwart thy vision first did gleam ;-
Where first the starry gems of even

ARNDT.

Shed o'er thy steps their gentle beam ;-
Wherever else those steps may roam,
That is thy Country-there thy Home!