REMINISCENCES. WHERE are ye with whom in life I started, Ye are dead, estranged from me, or parted, Where art thou, in youth my friend and brother, Where is she, whose looks were love and gladness? Love and gladness I no longer see! She is gone; and since that hour of sadness, Nature seems her sepulchre to me. Where am I? life's current faintly flowing Brings the welcome warning of release; Struck with death, ah! whither am I going? THE AGES OF MAN. YOUTH, fond youth! to thee in life's gay morning, New and wonderful are heaven and earth; Health the hills, content the fields adorning, Nature rings with melody and mirth, Love invisible, beneath, above, Conquers all things; all things yield to love. Time, swift time, from years their motion stealing, Truth, her pure and humble forms revealing, Age, old age, in sickness, pain, and sorrow, Creeps with lengthening shadow o'er the scene; Life was yesterday, 'tis death to-morrow, And to-day the agony between: Then how longs the weary soul for thee, Bright and beautiful eternity! ASPIRATIONS OF YOUTH. HIGHER, higher will we climb Up the mount of glory, That our names may live through time In our country's story ; Happy, when her welfare calls, He who conquers, he who falls. Deeper, deeper let us toil In the mines of knowledge ; Nature's wealth and learning's spoil, Win from school and college; |