Nay, nay! I shall give him a smile!—
For I know by the sleet,
And the snow in the street,
He has come to tarry awhile.
Ho, for the sleigh-bells merrily ringing!
Ho, for the skaters joyously singing—
Over the ice-fields gliding, swinging!—
So let the Winter-king whiten the plain!
Fetter the fountains and frost the pane,
His greeting shall be—
Not a frown from me,
But a smile—a smile!
TILL TO-MORROW.
Good night! good night!—the golden day
Has veiled its sunset beam,
And twilight's star its beauteous ray
Has mirrored in the stream;—
Low voices come from vale and height,
And murmur soft, good night! good night!
Good night!—the bee with folded wings
Sleeps sweet in honeyed flowers,
And far away the night-bird sings
In dreamy forest bowers,
And slowly fades the western light
In deepening shade,—good night! good night!
Good night! good night!—in whispers low
The ling'ring zephyr sighs,
And softly, in its dreamy flow,
The murm'ring brook replies;
And, where yon casement still is bright,
A softer voice has breathed good-night!
Good night!—as steals the cooling dew
Where the young violet lies,
E'en so may slumber steal anew
To weary human eyes,
And softly steep the aching sight
In dewy rest—good night! good night!
OUR COUNTRY; —OR,— A CENTURY OF PROGRESS.
Over the waves of the Western sea,
Led by the hand of Hope she came—
The beautiful Angel of Liberty—
When the sky was red with the sunset's flame,—
Came to a rocky and surf-beat shore,
Lone, and wintry, and stern, and wild,
The waves behind her, and wastes before,
And the Angel of Liberty, pausing, smiled.
"Here, O Sister, shall be our rest!"
Softly she sang, and the waters shone
While a mellower radiance flushed the west,
Lingering mountain and vale upon;—
Sweetly the murmurous melody blent
With flow of rivers and woodland song,
And wandering breezes that singing went,
Joyously wafted the notes along.
Acadia lifted her mist-wreathed brow,
Westerly gazing with eager eye,
And lakes that sat in the sunset glow
Flashed back upon her in glad reply;—
On, with every murmuring stream,
On, with every wandering breeze,
Floated the strain through the New World's dream,
Till it died on the far Pacific seas.