And sweet is all the land about, and all the flowers

that blow, And sweeter far is death than life to me that long

to go.

III. It seemed so hard at first, mother, to leave the

blessed sun, And now it seems as hard to stay; and yet, His will

be done! But still I think it can't be long before I find re

lease; And that good man, the clergyman, has told me

words of peace.

IV.

O blessings on his kindly voice and on his silver

hair! And blessings on his whole life long, until he meet

me there! O blessings on his kindly heart and on his silver

head! A thousand times I blest him, as he knelt beside my

bed.

He taught me all the mercy, for he showed me all

the sin. Now, though my lamp was lighted late, there's One

will let me in : Nor would I now be well, mother, again, if that

could be, For my desire is but to pass to Him that died for

me.

VI.

I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the death

watch beat, There came a sweeter token when the night and

morning meet:

But sit beside my bed, mother, and put your hand

in mine, And Effie on the other side, and I will tell the sign.

VIJ.

call;

All in the wild March-morning I heard the angels It was when the moon was setting, and the dark

was over all; The trees began to whisper, and the wind began to

roll, And in the wild March-morning I heard them call

my soul.

VIII.

dear;

For lying broad awake I thought of you and Effie I saw you sitting in the house, and I no longer With all my strength I prayed for both, and so I

felt resigned, And up the valley came a swell of music on the

wind.

here;

IX.

I thought that it was fancy, and I listened in my

bed, And then did something speak to me, I know not

what was said ; For great delight and shuddering took hold of all And up the valley came again the music on the

wind.

my mind,

But you were sleeping; and I said, " It's not for

them; it's mine.' And if it comes three times, I thought, I take it for

a sign.

And once again it came, and close beside th

window-bars, Then seemed to go right up to heaven and die

among the stars.

XI.

So now I think my time is near. I trust it is. 1

know The blessed music went that way my soul will have And for myself, indeed, I care not if I

go to-day, But, Effie, you must comfort her when I am past

away.

to go.

XII.

And say to Robin a kind word, and tell him not to

fret; There's many worthier than I would make him

happy yet If I had lived—I cannot tell—I might have been

his wife; But all these things have ceased to be, with my

desire of life.

XIII.

O look! the sun begins to rise, the heavens are in

a glow; He shines upon a hundred fields, and all of them 1

know. And there I move no longer now, and there his

shineWild flowers in the valley for other hands than

mine.

light may

XIV.

O sweet and strange it seems to me, that ere this

day is done The voice that now is speaking nay be beyond the

sun

Forever and forever with those just souls and true And what is life, that we should moan? why make

we such ado?

XV.

come

Forever and forever, all in a blessed home-
And there to wait a little while till you and Effie
To lie within the light of God, as I lie upon your

breastAnd the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary

are at rest.

THE LOTOS-EATERS.

I. “ COURAGE !” he said, and pointed toward the

land; “ This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon." In the afternoon they came unto a land, In which it seemed always afternoon. All round the coast the languid air did swoon, Breathing like one that hath a weary dream. Full-faced above the valley stood the moon ; And like a downward smoke, the slender stream Along the cliff to fall and pause and fall did seem.

A land of streams ! some, like a downward smoke,
Slow-dropping veils of thinnest lawn, did go ;
And some through wavering lights and shadows

broke
Rolling a slumbrous sheet of foam below.
They saw the gleaming river seaward flow
From the inner land : far-off, three mountain-tops,
Three silent pinnacles of aged snow,

Stood sunset-flushed : and, dewed with showery

drops, Up-clomb the shadowy pine above the woven copse.

III.

The charmed sunset lingered low adown
In the red West : through mountain clefts the dale
Was seen far inland, and the yellow down
Bordered with palm, and many a winding vale
And meadow, set with slender galingale;
A land where all things always seemed the same !
And round about the keel with faces pale,
Dark faces pale against that rosy flame,
The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came.

IV. Branches they bore of that enchanted stem, Laden with flower and fruit, whereof they gave To each, but whoso did receive of them, And taste, to him the gushing of the wave Far, far away did seem to mourn and rave On alien shores ; and if his fellow spake, His voice was thin, as voices from the grave; And deep-asleep he seemed, yet all awake, And music in his ears his beating heart did make.

V.

They sat them down upon the yellow sand,
Between the sun and moon upon the shore;
And sweet it was to dream of Father-land,
Of child, and wife, and slave; but evermore
Most weary seemed the sea, weary the oar,
Weary the wandering fields of barren foam.
Then some one said, “ We will return no more;”.
And all at once they sang,

“ Our island home Is far beyond the wave; we will no longer roam.”