POEMS

OF

YOUT H.

by Mary Jade, White

"What is youth? a dancing billow;
Winds behind and rocks before."

BOSTON:

GEORGE COOLIDGE,

18 TREMONT ROW.

1861.

'(5257

HARVARD

COLLEGE
LIBRARY

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860,
BY GEORGE COOLIDGE,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.

Electrotyped at the
BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.

Damrell & Moore, Printers, Boston.

POEMS OF YOUTH.

SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY.

SHE walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half-impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face,
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure,
how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, so eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent.

Anna Lætitia Barbauld.

(3)

HERE'S TO THEE, MY SCOTTISH LASSIE.

HERE'S to thee, my Scottish lassie! here's a hearty health to thee,

For thine eye so bright, thy form so light, and thy step so firm and free;

For all thine artless elegance, and all thy native

grace,

To the music of thy mirthful voice, and the sunshine of thy face;

For thy guileless look and speech sincere, yet sweet as speech can be

Here's a health, my Scottish lassie! here's a hearty health to thee!

Here's to thee, my Scottish lassie! Though my glow of youth is o'er,

And I, as once I felt and dreamed, must feel and dream no more;

Though the world, with all its frosts and storms, has chilled my soul at last,

And genius with the foodful looks of youthful friendship passed;

Though my path is dark and lonely, now o'er this world's dreary sea,

Here's a health, my Scottish lassie! here's a hearty health to thee!

Here's to thee, my Scottish lassie! though I know that not for me

Is thine eye so bright, thy form so light, and thy step so firm and free;

Though thou, with cold and careless looks, wilt often pass me by,

Unconscious of my swelling heart, and of my wistful eye;

Though thou wilt wed some Highland love, nor waste one thought on me,

Here's a health, my Scottish lassie, here's a hearty health to thee!

Here's to thee, my Scottish lassie! when I meet thee in the throng

Of merry youths and maidens dancing lightsomely along,

I'll dream away an hour or twain, still gazing on thy form

As it flashes through the baser crowd, like lightning through a storm;

And I, perhaps, shall touch thy hand, and share thy looks of glee,

And for once, my Scottish lassie, dance a giddy dance with thee!

Here's to thee, my Scottish lassie! I shall think of thee at even,

When I see its first and fairest star come smiling up through heaven;