POWER AND GENTLENESS.

Bernard Barton.

NOBLE the Mountain-stream,

Bursting in grandeur from its vantage-ground; Glory is in its gleam

Of brightness;-thundering in its deafening sound!

Mark, how its foamy spray,

Tinged by the sunbeams with reflected dyes,

Mimics the bow of day

Arching in majesty the vaulted skies ;

Thence in a summer-shower,

Steeping the rocks around :-O! tell me where Could majesty and power

Be clothed in forms more beautifully fair?

Yet lovelier, in my view,

The Streamlet, flowing silently serene;

Traced by the brighter hue,

And livelier growth it gives ;-itself unseen;

It flows through flowery meads,

Gladdening the herds which on its margin browse,

Its quiet beauty feeds

The alders that o'ershade it with their boughs.

Gently it murmurs by

The village churchyard :-its low, plaintive, tone, A dirge-like melody,

For worth and beauty modest as its own.

More gaily now it sweeps

By the small school-house, in the sunshine bright; And o'er the pebbles leaps,

Like happy hearts by holiday made light.

May not its course express,

In characters which they who run may read,
The charms of gentleness,

Were but its still small voice allowed to plead ?

What are the trophies gain'd
By power, alone, with all its noise and strife,
To that meek wreath, unstain'd,
Won by the charities that gladden life?

Niagara's streams might fail,

And human happiness be undisturb'd:

But Egypt would turn pale,

Were her still Nile's o'erflowing bounty curb'd!

TO HOPE.

Mrs. Hemans.

FAIR enchantress, gaily kind,
Sweet the dream inspired by thee;
Ever bless thy poet's mind
With thy heavenly energy,

Thine, oh! Hope, the magic art,
To charm the sorrows of the heart;
To chase the fond, the plaintive sigh,
With visions of felicity!

Ah! when real joys are o'er,

And love and peace delight no more,
Then thy melting syren-voice
Bids the pensive mind rejoice.
Ah! thy dreams are too beguiling ;
Ah! thy prospect is too smiling.
Welcome still, thy dear illusions;
Ever sweet thy wild effusions;
"Fair enchantress, gaily kind,
Ever bless thy poet's mind,"
Thine the inspiring song of peace,
Soon the plaint of woe shall cease;

Soon again a brighter guest

Calm the mourning soul to rest.
Roses in thy path shall bloom;
Think, oh! think of joys to come!
Come, Hope, and all my steps attend,
Oh! ever be my bosom friend;
To me thy fairest dreams impart,
And whisper comfort to my heart.
Oh! shed thy sweet, enchanting ray,
To bless my wild, romantic way.
In thy magic scene we view
Gay delusions, seeming true.
"Sweet musician, gaily kind,
Ever bless thy poet's mind!"

WISDOM.

Mrs. Hemans.

ALL Wisdom's ways are smooth and fair,
No treasures can with hers compare ;
More precious than the ruby bright,
She leads to honour and delight.
Seek her, and she is quickly found,
With never-fading olives crown'd.

T

Riches may fly within an hour,
Pale sickness wither Beauty's flower,
Death may our dearest friendships sever,
And rend the social tie for ever;

Ah! what but Wisdom then remains,
To cheer the heart beneath its pains!
To bid each murmuring thought arise,
And soar with rapture to the skies.
She calms the passions of the breast
With soothing hopes of future rest;
And, like a minister of Heaven,

She tells us

mortals are forgiven."

Then Ophir's gold to her is nought,
Nor polish'd silver finely wrought;
Nor all the jewels of the mine,
Compared with Wisdom's gem divine.

SONNET.

Rev. Henry Alford.

SLOWLY and softly let the music go,

As

ye wind upwards to the gray church-tower; Check the shrill hautboy,-let the pipe breathe low, Tread lightly on the pathside daisy-flower;