THE MEETING OF THE SHIPS.

"We take each other by the hand, and we exchange a few words and looks of kindness, and we rejoice together for a few short moments; and then days, months, years intervene, and we see and know nothing of each other."-WASHINGTON IRVING.

Two barks met on the deep mid-sea,
When calms had still'd the tide;
A few bright days of summer glee
There found them side by side.

And voices of the fair and brave
Rose mingling thence in mirth;
And sweetly floated o'er the wave
The melodies of earth.

Moonlight on that lone Indian main
Cloudless and lovely slept;

While dancing step, and festive strain
Each deck in triumph swept.

And hands were link'd, and answering eyes

With kindly meaning shone;

Oh! brief and passing sympathies,

Like leaves together blown.

A little while such joy was cast
Over the deep's repose,

Till the loud singing winds at last
Like trumpet music rose.

And proudly, freely on their way
The parting vessels bore;

In calm or storm, by rock or bay,
To meet-oh, never more!

Never to blend in victory's cheer,
To aid in hours of woe;

And thus bright spirits mingle here,

Such ties are form'd below.

COME AWAY.'

COME away!-the child where flowers are springing,
Round its footsteps on the mountain slope,
Hears a glad voice from the upland singing,
Like the skylark's with its tone of hope:
Come away!

Bounding on, with sunny lands before him,

All the wealth of glowing life outspread, Ere the shadow of a cloud comes o'er him, By that strain the youth in joy is led: Come away!

Slowly, sadly, heavy change is falling

O'er the sweetness of the voice within; Yet its tones, on restless manhood calling, Urge the hunter still to chase, to win:

Come away!

This song is in the possession of Mr. Power, to be set to music.

Come away!-the heart, at last forsaken,
Smile by smile, hath proved each hope untrue;
Yet a breath can still those words awaken,
Though to other shores far hence they woo:
Come away!

In the light leaves, in the reed's faint sighing,
In the low sweet sounds of early spring,
Still their music wanders-till the dying
Hears them pass, as on a spirit's wing:
Come away!

FAIR HELEN OF KIRCONNEL.

"Fair Helen of Kirconnel," as she is called in the Scottish Minstrelsy, throwing herself between her betrothed lover and a rival by whom his life was assailed, received a mortal wound, and died in the arms of the former.

HOLD me upon thy faithful heart,
Keep back my flitting breath;
'Tis early, early to depart,

Beloved!-yet this is death!

Look on me still:-let that kind eye

Be the last light I see!
Oh! sad it is in spring to die,

But yet I die for thee!

For thee, my own! thy stately head

Was never thus to bow

Give tears when with me love hath fled,
True love, thou know'st it now!

Oh the free streams look'd bright, where'er

We in our gladness roved;
And the blue skies were very fair

O friend! because we loved.

Farewell!-I bless thee-live thou on,
When this young heart is low!
Surely my blood thy life hath won
Clasp me once more-I go!

MUSIC FROM SHORE.

A SOUND comes on the rising breeze,
A sweet and lovely sound!
Piercing the tumult of the seas
That wildly dash around.

From land, from sunny land it comes,
From hills with murmuring trees,
From paths by still and happy homes-
That sweet sound on the breeze.

Why should its faint and passing sigh
Thus bid my quick pulse leap?
No part in earth's glad melody
Is mine upon the deep.

Yet blessing, blessing on the spot
Whence those rich breathings flow!
Kind hearts, although they know me not,
Like mine there beat and glow.

And blessing, from the bark that roams

O'er solitary seas,

To those that far in happy homes
Give sweet sounds to the breeze!

LOOK ON ME WITH THY CLOUDLESS EYES.

Look on me with thy cloudless eyes,
Truth in their dark transparence lies;
Their sweetness gives me back the tears,
And the free trust of early years-
My gentle child!

The spirit of my infant prayer

Shines in the depths of quiet there;

And home and love once more are mine,
Found in that dewy calm divine,
My gentle child!

Oh! heaven is with thee in thy dreams,
Its light by day around thee gleams:
Thy smile hath gifts from vernal skies;
Look on me with thy cloudless eyes,
My gentle child!

The songs marked thus ‡ are in the possession of Mr. Willis,

to be published by him with music.