And he who has sought to set foot on its shore, THAT SILENT MOON. BY THE RT. REV. G. W. DOANE. THAT silent moon, that silent moon, Careering now through cloudless sky, How oft has guilt's unhallow'd hand, Profaned her pure and holy light: But dear to her, in summer eve, By rippling wave, or tufted grove, To smile, in quiet loneliness, And hear each whisper'd vow and bless. Dispersed along the world's wide way, When friends are far, and fond ones rove, How powerful she to wake the thought, And start the tear for those we love! Who watch, with us, at night's pale noon, And gaze upon that silent moon. How powerful, too, to hearts that mourn, And oft she looks, that silent moon, On lonely eyes that wake to weep, In dungeon dark, or sacred cell, Or couch, whence pain has banish'd sleep: Oh! softly beams that gentle eye, On those who mourn, and those who die. But beam on whomsoe'er she will, And fall where'er her splendour may, There's pureness in her chasten'd light, There's comfort in her tranquil ray : What power is hers to soothe the heartWhat power, the trembling tear to start! The dewy morn let others love, Or bask them in the noontide ray; SWEET antidote to sorrow, toil, and strife, And give a mourner happiness enough. Ah! what, dear sedative, my cares shall smother? If thou evaporate, the charm is broke, Till I, departing taper, light another. HOPE. BY J. R. DRAKE. SEE through yon cloud that rolls in wrath, To light along their trackless path The wanderers of the stormy deep. And thus, oh Hope! thy lovely form In sorrow's gloomy night shall be The sun that looks through cloud and storm Upon a dark and moonless sea. When heaven is all serene and fair, The rainbow, when the sun declines, And though Aurora's stealing beam "Tis only thy consoling gleam Will smile amid affliction's night. THE LAKE OF CAYOSTEA. BY ROBERT BARKER. Ob: 1831, at. 27. THY wave has ne'er by gondolier Nor festive train to music's strain Performed the dance upon thy shore. But there, at night, beneath the light The Indian maid, in forest glade, Would it were mine to join with thine, And dwell for ever here, In forest wild with nature's child, By the silent Cayostea. My joy with thee would ever be THE AMERICAN FLAG. BY J. R. DRAKE. WHEN Freedom from her mountain height Unfurled her standard to the air, She tore the azure robe of night, And set the stars of glory there. |