The Unchanged.
I saw her ’mid the birds and blossoms when a rosy laughing child,
Playing by the silver rivulet, joyous in its murmurings wild;
Now wandering o’er the sunny green with buoyant step and free,
In the mild and balmy breeze that fanned the flowery lee.
In life’s fair spring-time, when the heart is lightest, free from care,
When fancy spreads her pinions wide and soars on wings of air,
Earth’s mantling robe, so brightly decked with rainbow-colored hue,
Came o’er the soul in visions soft as falls the pearly dew.
The morn of youth was on her cheek when love her bosom thrilled,