There's a fount about to stream, Men of thought and men of action, Once the welcome light has broken, What the unimagined glories What the evil that shall perish Aid the dawning, tongue and pen; Aid it, for the hour is ripe, And our earnest must not slacken Men of thought and men of action, Lo! a cloud's about to vanish From the day; And a brazen wrong to crumble Lo! the right's about to conquer With the Right shall many more Men of thought and men of action, Robert Browning. Born 1812. BORN at London in 1812, he was educated at the London University. He first appeared as an author in 1835. His poem "Paracelsus," then published, attracted general attention in the literary world. In 1837 he published "Strafford," a tragedy. This was followed by "Sordello," in 1840. In 1849 he published a collected edition of his smaller pieces. In the same year he married Miss Elizabeth Barrett, a well-known poetess, and from that time they resided chiefly on the Continent. His wife died in 1861. EVELYN HOPE. BEAUTIFUL Evelyn Hope is dead, She plucked that piece of geranium flower, Little has yet been changed, I think- Save two long rays through the hinges' chink. · Sixteen years old when she died! Perhaps she had scarcely heard my name It was not her time to love: besides, Her life had many a hope and aim. Duties enough and little cares, And now was quiet, now astir- Is it too late then, Evelyn Hope? And our paths in the world diverged so wide, We were fellow-mortals, nought beside? Professor Aytoun. Born 1813. BORN in Edinburgh in 1813, of a Fifeshire family, he was educated for the Scottish bar, to which he was admitted in 1840. In 1845 he was appointed Professor of Rhetorie and Belles Lettres in Edinburgh University. His poetical talents were early displayed. "Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers," his finest poems, were originally contributed to "Blackwood's Magazine." They were issued in a collected form in 1849. "Bothwell, a poem," appeared in 1856. The Professor was appointed by Lord Derby's Government, in 1852, Sheriff and Vice-Admiral of Orkney. THE BURIED FLOWER. IN the silence of my chamber, When the night is still and deep, Oft I hear the angel voices That have thrilled me long ago,- Where are now the flowers we tended? For ye, too, were flowers, ye dear ones! To the clear blue heaven above: Smiling on the sun that cheered us, Never shaken, save by accents O! 'tis sad to lie and reckon Sever'd-were it sever'd only By an idle thought of strife, O my heart! that once so truly * 1813. Robert Murray M'Cheyne. {Died 1843. A DEVOTED and talented minister of the Church of Scotland in Dundee, who wrote some religious poetry imbued with the deepest devotional feeling. TO YONDER SIDE. THE Cooling breath of evening woke The waves of Galilee, Till on the shore the waters broke In softest melody. "Now launch the bark," the Saviour cried, The chosen twelve stood by, "And let us cross to yonder side, Where the hills are steep and high." Gently the bark o'er the water creeps, On downy bed the world seeks rest, But he who leans on the Father's breast But soon the lowering sky grew dark The storm rushed down upon the bark, The pale disciples trembling spake, Calmly He rose, with sovereign will, "Ye waves," He whispered, "Peace! be still!" They calmed like a pardoned breast. When first the Saviour wakened me, And said, "to yonder side." "Peace, peace! be still thou raging breast, My fulness is for thee," The Saviour speaks, and all is rest, Like the waves of Galilee. |