Of unmix'd blood, and ancestry remote,
Stooping to wed with one of low degree.
But these are not thy praises ; and I wrong
Thy honor'd memory, recording chiefly
Things light or trivial. Better 'twere to tell,
How with a nobler zeal and warmer love,
She serv'd her heavenly Master. I have seen
That reverend form bent down with age and pain,
And rankling malady: yet not for this
Ceas'd she to praise her Maker, or withdrew
Her trust from Him, her faith, and humble hope ;
So meekly had she learn'd to bear her cross ;
For she had studied patience in the school
Of Christ; much comfort she had thence deriv'd,
And was a follower of the Nazarene.

II.-A VISION OF REPENTANCE.

1797

SAW a famous fountain in my dream,

Where shady pathways to a valley led ; A weeping willow lay upon that stream,

And all around the fountain brink were spread Wide branching trees, with dark green leaf rich clad, Forming a doubtful twilight desolate and sad.

The place was such, that whoso enter'd in,

Disrobéd was of every earthly thought,
And straight became as one that knew not sin,

Or to the world's first innocence was brought;
Enseem'd it now, he stood on holy ground,
In sweet and tender melancholy wrapt around.

A most strange calm stole o'er my soothèd sprite;

Long time I stood, and longer had I staid, When lo! I saw, saw by the sweet moonlight,

Which came in silence o'er that silent shade, Where near the fountain SOMETHING like DESPAIR Made of that weeping willow garlands for her hair.

And eke with painful fingers she inwove

Many an uncouth stem of savage thorn“The willow garland, that was for her love,

And these her bleeding temples would adorn.” With sighs her heart nigh burst,-salt tears fast fell, As mournfully she bended o'er that sacred well.

To whom when I addrest myself to speak,

She lifted up her eyes, and nothing said;
The delicate red came mantling o'er her cheek,

And, gathering up her loose attire, she fled
To the dark covert of that woody shade,
And in her goings seem'd a timid gentle maid.

Revolving in my mind what this should mean,

And why that lovely lady plainèd so; Perplex'd in thought at that mysterious scene,

And doubting if 'twere best to stay or go, I cast mine eyes in wistful gaze around, When from the shades came slow a small and plain

tive sound :

“Psyche am I, who love to dwell
In these brown shades, this woody dell,
Where never busy mortal came,
Till now, to pry upon my shame.

“At thy feet what thou dost see
The Waters of Repentance be,
Which, night and day, I must augment
With tears, like a true penitent,

“If haply so my day of grace
Be not yet past; and this lone place,
O'er-shadowy, dark, excludeth hence
All thoughts but grief and penitence.”

“Why dost thou weep, thou gentle maid ?
And wherefore in this barren shade
Thy hidden thoughts with sorrow feed ?
Can thing so fair repentance need ? "

“O! I have done a deed of shame,
And tainted is my virgin fame,
And staind the beauteous maiden white
In which my bridal robes were dight.”

“ And who the promis'd spouse declare, And what those bridal garments were ?”

“Severe and saintly righteousness Compos'd the clear white bridal dress; JESUS, the son of Heaven's high King, Bought with His blood the marriage-ring.

“A wretched sinful creature, I
Deem'd lightly of that sacred tie,
Gave to a treacherous WORLD my heart,
And play'd the foolish wanton's part.

“Soon to these murky shades I came,
To hide from the Sun's light my shame.-
And still I haunt this woody dell,.
And bathe me in that healing well,
Whose waters clear have influence
From sin's foul stains the soul to cleanse;
And night and day I them augment
With tears, like a true penitent,
Until, due expiation made,
And fit atonement fully paid,
The Lord and Bridegroom me present,
Where in sweet strains of high consent,
God's throne before, the Seraphim
Shall chaunt the ecstatic marriage hymn."

" Now Christ restore thee soon"_I said, And thenceforth all my dream was fled.

III.-THE OLD FAMILIAR FACES.

January 1798.

WHERE are they gone, the old familiar faces ?
I had a mother, but she died, and left me,
Died prematurely in a day of horrors-
All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

I have had playmates, I have had companions,
In my days of childhood, in my joyful school-days-
All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

I have been laughing, I have been carousing, Drinking late, sitting late, with my bosom cronies All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

I lov'd a love once, fairest among women;
Clos'd are her doors on me, I must not see her-
All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.
I have a friend, a kinder friend has no man.
Like an ingrate, I left my friend abruptly;
Left him, to muse on the old familiar faces.

Ghost-like, I pac'd round the haunts of my childhood. Earth seem'd a desert I was bound to traverse, Seeking to find the old familiar faces.

Friend of my bosom, thou more than a brother! Why wert not thou born in my father's dwelling? So might we talk of the old familiar faces.

For some they have died, and some they have left me,
And some are taken from me; all are departed;
All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.