THE CONVICT'S DREAM.

"A wreck of crime upon his stony bed."
R. Montgomery.

He who would learn the true remorse for crime

Should watch (when slumbers innocence, and guilt

Or wakes in sleepless pain, or dreams of blood)

The convict stretched on his reposeless bed.

Then conscience plays th' accusing angel;

Spectres of murder'd victims flit before

His eyes, with soul-appalling vividness;

Hideous phantasma shadow o'er his mind;

Guilt, incubus-like, sits on his soul

With leaden weight,—types of the pangs of hell.

His memory to the scene of blood reverts;

He hears the echo of his victims' cry,

Whose agonizing eyes again are fixed

Upon his face, pleading for mercy.

See! how he writhes in speechless agony!

As morning dew-drops on the face of nature,

So hangs upon his brow the clammy sweat.

Each feature of his face, each limb, each nerve,

Distorted with remorse and agony,

Is fraught with nature's speechless eloquence,

And is a faithful witness to his sin.

It is not all a dream, but memory holds

Before the sleeper's eyes her magic glass,

In which he sees the image of the past.

Huddersfield. S.J.