Loyd's appointment came by return of mail from Washington. In due time the wedding-cake was cut, and Our Village Post-master is as happy as love and fortune can make him.
It was a bright thought in a philanthropist of one of our cities, to note down the actual good deeds that passed under his observation. We have imitated his example in recording an act of rare disinterestedness and generosity. It certainly merits a more enduring memorial; but it has its fitting reward in the respect it inspires, and in its blessed tendency to vanquish the prejudices and soften the asperities of political parties.
[SONNETS: BY 'QUINCE.']
AUTUMN.
Imperial Autumn! Season's Monarch! throned
In more than orient pomp and majesty—
Earth's harvest king! with smiles and sunshine crowned,
Full of perfection and maturity!
Thou art the vaunted glory of the year;
Scarlet and gold and emerald leaves are thine,
Rocks, trees and forests thy rich mantles wear,
And all earth's verdures in thy lustres shine:
Yet, as the expiring lamp most brightly glows—
Or as the hectic on Consumption's cheek—
So to the year, thy beauty paints the close,
Thy added lustre does grim death bespeak:
But even in death thou own'st supremacy,
And mayest example—not exampled—be.
APPEARANCES.
In fruit most tempting, ashes hidden lie;
In richest flowers lives not the sweetest breath;
In berries are, most beauteous to the eye,
Poisons impregnate, in whose taste is death;
The sweetest song-bird's plumage is not gay,
But birds which sing not are most fair to see,
Yet from the beautiful we turn away,
To list the song-bird's dulcet melody!
So homely virtue sometimes lowly lies,
By brazen vice's gaudy lustre seen;
But vice discerned, in ermine we despise;
And virtue known, we honor as a queen.
From fruit, flower, bird, from all the inference is,
We may mistake, full oft, appearances.