one, so pure and bright;
Lo! how grandly-great it gleameth,
Crown'd with everlasting light!

Then I started
From the valley calm and fair,
Hopeful-hearted,
Tow'rds the castle in the air--
High up in the dreamy air.

Many a tortuous path and winding
Rid my soul embattle through;
Many a thorn of bitter finding
Choked my way with perils new:
Upward still, footsore and bleeding,
On with lonesome heart I pressed;
And I heard the chimes receding
In the vale so calm and blest.

Still I wandered
Up the pathway rough and drear,
Till I pondered
By the castle in the air--
Like a spirit in the air.

I had reached the lofty glory;
I had gained the alpine peak;
Lowly lay the world before me--
Yet my heart was like to break!
Where I stood 'twas cold and dreary---
Crown'd with white and glistening snow:
"Ah," I sighed, with heart a-weary--
"Distance lent the golden glow!"

Thus Fame ever
Woos men from earth's valleys fair,
Oft to shiver
Near life's castles in the air--
In the far-off wintry air.

THE WITHERED ROSE.

I had a silver chalice once
Of exquisite design,
In shape 'twas like the human heart
This little vase of mine.
I plucked a rose and placed the flow'r
Within the shiny cup,
And drank the incense hour by hour
The rosebud offered up.
And as it opened leaf by leaf
Its beauties spreading wide,
I saw no blossom such as mine
In all the world beside.

The sunlight came, but came in vain,
And day succeeded day,
But leaf by leaf my rosebud drooped,
Until it passed away.
And thus in life we look for love
From other loves apart--
A gift from Heavenly hand above--
And plant it near the heart;
But Death comes forth with chilly touch;
The blossom droops and dies;
And breaking hearts are filled alone
With fragrant memories.

WRECKS OF LIFE.

I sat upon the shingly Beach
One sunny Summer-day,
A-listening to the mystic speech
Of a million waves at play.
And as I watched the flowing flood
I saw a little child,
Who near a mimic fabric stood
Of shells his hands had piled.
And as he turned to go away,
He said, with look of sorrow:
"Build up I cannot more to-day--
"I'll come again to-morrow!"

The morrow came--he thither h