"When I was young, a single man, And after youthful follies ran, Though little given to care and thought, Of sheep I numbered a full score, "Year after year my stock it grew; And now I care not if we die, "Six children, sir, had I to feed! 'Do this: how can we give to you,' "I sold a sheep, as they had said, A woeful time it was for me, To see the end of all my gains, The pretty flock which I had reared "Another still! and still another! Like blood-drops from my heart they dropped. Till thirty were not left alive, They dwindled, dwindled, one by one, And I may say, that many a time "To wicked deeds I was inclined, Oft-times I thought to run away; "Sir, 'twas a precious flock to me, God cursed me in my sore distress; And every week and every day, "They dwindled, sir, sad sight to see! I had but only one; And here it lies upon my arm, XIV. A COMPLAINT. THERE is a change-and I am poor; What happy moments did I count A well of love-it may be deep; What matter? if the waters sleep -Such change, and at the very door XV. RUTH. WHEN Ruth was left half-desolate, And she had made a pipe of straw, Beneath her father's roof, alone She seemed to live; her thoughts her own; Herself her own delight: Pleased with herself, nor sad, nor gay, She passed her time; and in this way Grew up to woman's height. There came a youth from Georgia's shore, A military casque he wore With splendid feathers dressed; He brought them from the Cherokees; The feathers nodded in the breeze, And made a gallant crest. From Indian blood you deem him sprung: Ah! no, he spake the English tongue And bore a soldier's name; And, when America was free From battle and from jeopardy, He 'cross the ocean came. With hues of genius on his cheek, In finest tones the youth could speak. -While he was yet a boy, The moon, the glory of the sun, And streams that murmur as they run, Had been his dearest joy. He was a lovely youth! I guess The panther in the wilderness Was not so fair as he; And, when he chose to sport and play, Upon the tropic sea. Among the Indians he had fought; Such tales as, told to any maid He told of girls, a happy rout! Who quit their fold with dance and shout, To gather strawberries all day long; When daylight is gone down He spake of plants divine and strange With budding, fading, faded flowers, He told of the magnolia,* spread The cypress and her spire, -Of Howers that with one scarlet gleam To set the hills on fire. The youth of green savannahs spake, Among the evening clouds. And then he said, "How sweet it were A fisher or a hunter there, A gardener in the shade, Still wandering with an easy mind To build a household fire, and find A home in every glade! "What days and what sweet years! Ah me! Our life were life indeed, with thee Magnolia grandiflora. †The splendid appearance of these scarlet flowers, which are scattere with such profusion over the hills in the southern parts of North America is frequently mentioned by Bartram in his travels. So passed in quiet bliss; And all the while," said he, "to know And then he sometimes interwove "Sweet Ruth! and could you go with me, My helpmate in the woods to be, Our shed at night to rear; Or run, my own adopted bride, "Beloved Ruth!"-No more he said. She thought again-and did agree And drive the flying deer. "And now, as fitting is and right, Even so they did; and I may say Through dream and vision did she sink, And green savannahs, she should share His board with lawful joy, and bear But, as you have before been told, This stripling, sportive, gay, and bold, So beautiful, through savage lands The wind, the tempest roaring high, |