A HEART'S HOME AND HAVEN OF THE SPIRIT.

Face of her, and grace of her, whose gleaming Soothes his gentle spirit into dreamingGentle eyes that shine and seem to love him! Tender touch, the touch of her quick fingers, Touch that reach'd his soul, and burns and lingers;

Breath of her, and scent of her, and bliss of her,

Dream of her, and smile of her, and kiss of her!

Soul beyond his soul, yet ever near it,
His heart's home, and haven of his spirit;
Joy of wind and wave and cloud and blossom!
Robert Buchanan.

WITCHERY OF A LAUGH.

A woman has no natural gift more bewitching than a sweet laugh. It is like the sound of flutes on the water. It leaps from her like a clear sparkling rill, and the heart that hears it seems as if bathed in the cool, exhilarating spring. Have you ever pursued an unseen fugitive through trees-led on by a fairy laugh-now here, now lost, now found? We have, and we are pursuing that wandering voice this day. Sometimes it comes to us in the midst of care or sorrow or irksome business, and then we turn away and listen, and hear it ringing in the room like a silver bell, with power to scare away the evil spirit of the mind. How much we owe to that sweet laugh! It turns the prose to poetry. It flings flowers of sunshine over the darkness of the wood in which we are travelling. It touches with light even our sleep, which is no more than the image of death; but it is consumed with dreams that are the shadows of immortality. Prentice.

STOLEN TREASURES.

Before the urchin well could go,
She stole the whiteness of the snow,
And, more that whiteness to adorn,
She stole the blushes of the morn-
Stole all the sweets that ether sheds
On primrose buds and violet beds.
Still to reveal her artful wiles,
She stole the Graces' silken smiles;
She stole Aurora's balmy breath,
And pilfer'd orient pearls for teeth.
The cherry, dipt in morning dew,
Gave moisture to her lips and hue.
These were her infant spoils, a store
To which in time she added more.
At twelve, she stole from Cypria's queen
Her air, and love-inspiring mien—
Stole Juno's dignity, and stole
From Pallas sense to charm the soul.
Apollo's wit was next her prey;
The next, the beam that lights the day.
She sang amazed the Syrens heard,
And to assert their claims appear'd.
She play'd-the Muses from the hill
Wonder'd who thus had stolen their skill.
Great Jove approved her charms and art;
And t'other day she stole my heart.
If lovers, Cupid, are thy care,
Exert thy influence on the fair;
To trial bring her stolen charms,
And let her prison be my arms.

Earl of Egremont.

THOU ART MINE, I THINE.

If, should times grow harder,
We have lack of pelf,
Little in the larder,
Less upon the shelf;
Will you, never tearful,
Make your old gowns do,
Mend my stockings, cheerful,
And pay visits few?
Crave nor gift nor donor,
Old days ne'er regret,
Seek no friend save honour,
Dread no foe but debt;
Meet ill-fortune steady,
Hand to hand with mine,
Like a gallant lady,
Will you, Valentine?

Then, whatever weather

Come, or shine or shade,
We'll set out together,
Not a whit afraid.
Age is ne'er alarming,—
I shall find, I ween,

You at sixty charming

As at sweet sixteen;

Let's pray, nothing loth, dear,
That our funeral may

Make one date serve both, dear,
As our marriage-day.
Then, come joy or sorrow,

Thou art mine,-I thine.
So we'll wed to-morrow,
Dearest Valentine.

Miss Muloch.

A HEAVEN ON EARTH.

Yester evening she twice spake my name, Meaning another's. Hence am I most proud, Hence potent; hence, such bliss it is to love With smallest thought of being loved again, That though I know not how this heaven on earth

Can change to one still heavenlier, nor less holy,

I am caught up, like sain's in ecstasies, Above the ground; tread air; see not the

streets

Through which I pass, for swiftness of delight,

And, hugging to my secret heart one bosom,
I live as though the earth held but two faces,
And mine perpetually look'd on hers.
Leigh Hunt.

A LOVE-DISTRACTED MAID.
Far o'er the rest, in grace unmatch'd, alone,
And charms superior, youthful Jason shone;
Him thro' her veil the love-distracted maid
With melting eyes and glance oblique sur-
vey'd ;

Her mind, as in a dream, bewilder'd ran,
And traced the footsteps of the godlike man.
His graceful image in her mind she bore,
His gait, his manner, and the robe he wore;
His pointed words;-thro' earth's remotest
bound

No prince she deem'd with such perfections crown'd;

His tuneful voice, still, still she seems to hear,

Still the sweet accents charm her listening Fawkes.

ear.

SHE SLEEPS!

Stars of the summer night!
Far in yon azure deeps,

Hide, hide your golden light!
She sleeps, my lady sleeps!
Sleeps!

Moon of the summer night!
Far down yon western steeps,
Sink, sink in silver light!

She sleeps, my lady sleeps!
Sleeps!

Wind of the summer night!
Where yonder woodbine creeps,
Fold, fold thy pinions light!
She sleeps, my lady sleps!
Sleeps!

Dreams of the summer night!
Tell her her lover keeps
Watch, while in slumbers light
She sleeps, my lady sleeps!
Sleeps!

Longfellow.

INTUITIVE LOVE.

She knew

For quickly comes such knowledge that his heart

Was darken'd with her shadow.

Byron.

Why, she would hang on him, As if increase of appetite had grown By what it fed on. Shakespeare.

Thou must begin again, and love renew.
If when she appears i' th' room
Thou dost not quake, part struck dumb,
And in striving this to cover
Dost not speak thy words twice over ;
Know this, &c.

If fondly thou dost not mistake,
And all defects for graces take,
Persuad'st thyself that jests are broken
When she hath little or nothing spoken;
Know this, &c.

If when thou appear'st to be within
Thou lett'st not men ask, and ask again,
And when thou answer'st, if it be
To what was ask'd thee properly;
Know this, &c.

If when thy stomach calls to eat
Thou cutt'st not fingers 'stead of meat,
And with much gazing on her face
Dost not rise hungry from the place;
Know this, &c.

If by this thou dost discover
That thou art no perfect lover;
And, desiring to love true,

Thou dost begin to love anew;
Know this,

Thou lov'st amiss :

And to love true

Thou must begin again, and love anew! Sir John Suckling.