ch I saw not--my eyes
Were not on heaven--a star, perchance,
Or some bright drapery of the skies,
Had caught her earnest, upper glance.

And as she paused--Hal! we have played
Upon the very spot--a fir
Just touched me with its dreamy shade,
But the full moonlight fell on her--

And as she paused--I know not why--
I longed to speak, yet could not speak;
The bashful are the boldest--I--
I stooped and gently kissed her cheek.

A murmur (else some fragrant air
Stirred softly) and the faintest start--
O Hal! we were the happiest pair!
O Hal! I clasped her heart to heart!

And kissed away some tears that gushed;
But how she trembled, timid dove,
When my soul broke its silence, flushed
With a whole burning June of love.

Since then a happy year hath sped
Through months that seemed all June and May,
And soon a March sun, overhead,
Will usher in the crowning day.

Twelve blessed moons that seemed to glow
All summer, Hal!--my peerless Kate!
She is the dearest--"Angel?"--no!
Thank God!--but you shall see her--wait.

So all is told! I count on thee
To see the Priest, Hal! Pass the wine!
Here's to my darling wife to be!
And here's to--when thou find'st her--thine!

Serenade

Hide, happy damask, from the stars,
What sleep enfolds behind your veil,
But open to the fairy cars
On which the dreams of midnight sail;
And let the zephyrs rise and fall
About her in the curtained gloom,
And then return to tell me all
The silken secrets of the room.

Ah, dearest! may the elves that sway
Thy fancies come from emerald plots,
Where they have dozed and dreamed all day
In hearts of blue forget-me-nots.
And one perhaps shall whisper thus:
Awake! and light the darkness, Sweet!
While thou art reveling with us,
He watches in the lonely street.

Youth and Manhood

Another year! a short one, if it flow
Like that just past,
And I shall stand--if years can make me so--
A man at last.

Yet, while the hours permit me, I would pause
And contemplate
The lot whereto unalterable laws
Have bound my fate.

Yet, from the starry regions of my youth,
The empyreal height
Where dreams are