ON AN OLD WEDDING RING BY GEORGE WASHINGTON DOANE. The device-two hearts united. The motto "Dear love of mine, my heart is thine.” I LIKE that ring, that ancient ring, As firm, as free from base alloy, I like it for it wafts me back, Far, far along the stream of time, To other men, and other days The men and days of deeds sublime. But most I like it as it tells The tale of well requited love; He won his fair and blooming bride; ON AN OLD WEDDING RING. 111 How, till the appointed day arrived, They blamed the lazy-footed hours; How then the white-robed maiden train Strewed their glad way with freshest flowers; And how, before the holy man, They stood in all their youthful pride, And spoke those words, and vowed those vows All this it tells;-the plighted troth, The hand in hand, the heart in heart For this I like this ancient ring. I like its old and quaint device; Two blended hearts-though time may wear them, No mortal change, no mortal chance, "Till death," shall e'er in sunder tear them. Year after year, 'neath sun and storm, Their hopes in heaven, and trust in God, In changeless, heartfelt, holy love, These two, the world's rough pathways trod. Age might impair their youthful fires, Their strength might fail, 'mid life's bleak weather, Still, hand in hand, they travelled on,— Kind souls! they slumber now together. 112 ON AN OLD WEDDING RING. I like its simple poesy too; "Mine own dear love, this heart is thine!" Thine, when the dark storm howls along, As when the cloudless sunbeams shine. "This heart is thine, mine own dear love!" Thine, and thine only, and forever; Thine, till the springs of life shall fail— Remnant of days departed long, Emblem of plighted troth unbroken, Pledge of devoted faithfulness, Of heartfelt, holy love, the tokenWhat varied feelings round it cling! For these, I like that ancient ring. THE full-orbed moon has reached no higher, And seems, as gliding up the air, N 114 THE MOON UPON THE SPIRE. Her tribute all around is seen; She bends, and worships like a queen! Pale traveller, on thy lonely way, The temple's builders—where are they? Who came the first, to offer there The song of praise, the heart of prayer! It wanes and changes like the moon. He rears the perishable wall; But, ere it crumbles, he must fall! |