THE BRIDGE. H. W. LONGFELLOW. [By permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co.] STOOD on the bridge at midnight, As the clocks were striking the hour, And the moon rose o'er the city, Behind the dark church-tower. I saw her bright reflection And far in the hazy distance Among the long, black rafters The wavering shadows lay, And the current that came from the ocean Seemed to lift ană bear them away; As, sweeping and eddying through them, Rose the belated tide, And, streaming into the moonlight, And like those waters rushing How often, O how often, In the days that had gone by, I had stood on that bridge at midnight, And gazed on that wave and sky! How often, O how often, I had wished that the ebbing tide Would bear me away on its bosom O'er the ocean wild and wide! For my heart was hot and restless, But now it has fallen from me, Yet whenever I cross the river On its bridge with wooden piers, Like the odor of brine from the ocean Comes the thought of other years. And I think how many thousands THE BRIDGE. Each bearing his burden of sorrow, Have crossed the bridge since then. I see the long procession Still passing to and fro, The young heart hot and restless, And forever and forever, As long as the river flows, As long as the heart has passions, The moon and its broken reflection And its wavering image here. 223 NEVER FAILED US. UPON the sadness of the sea, So out of life the splendor dies; And up the east another day Shall chase the bitter dark away; What though our eyes with tears be wet? The sunrise never failed us yet, The blush of dawn may yet restore Our light and hope and joy once more; Sad soul, take comfort, nor forget That sunrise never failed us yet. SONGS. SHAKSPERE. W ARIEL'S SONG. HERE the bee sucks, there lurk I; There I couch when owls do cry; After summer merrily, Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, Under the blossom that hangs on the bough THE FAIRY TO PUCK. Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Thorough flood, thorough fire, |