A Lurid Juterual.

O LIGHT is pleasant to the eye,

And health comes rustling on the gale,

Clouds are careering through the sky,

Whose shadows mock them down the dale,

Nature as fresh and fragrant seems

As I have met her in my dreams.

For I have been a prisoner long,
In gloom and loneliness of mind;
Deaf to the melody of song,

To every form of beauty blind :
Nor morning dew, nor evening balm,
Might cool my cheek-my bosom calm.

But now the blood, the blood returns
With rapturous pulses through my veins;
My heart, new-born within me, burns;

My limbs break loose, they cast their chains;
Rekindled at the sun, my sight
Tracks to a point the eagle's flight.

I long to climb those old grey rocks,
Glide with yon river to the deep;

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A LUCID INTERVAL.

Range the green fields with herds and flocks,
Free as the roebuck run and leap;
Then mount the lark's victorious wing,
And from the depth of ether sing.

O Earth! in maiden innocence,
Too early fled thy golden time;
O Earth! Earth! Earth! for man's offence,
Doom'd to dishonour in thy prime!

Of how much glory then bereft!
Yet what a world of bliss was left!

The thorn-harsh emblem of a curse-
Puts forth a paradise of flowers:
Labour, man's punishment, is nurse

To halcyon joys at sunset hours;
Plague, famine, earthquake, want, disease,
Give birth to holiest charities.

And Death himself, with all the woes

That hasten yet prolong the stroke— Death brings with every pang repose; With every sigh he solves a yoke : Yea, his cold sweats and moaning strife Wring out the bitterness of life!

Life! Life! with all its burdens dear!
Friendship is sweet-love sweeter still;
Who would forego a smile, a tear,

One generous hope, one chastening ill!

A LUCID INTERVAL.

Home! kindred! country! these are ties
Might keep an angel from the skies.

But these have angels never known,
Unvex'd felicity their lot :

Their sea of glass before the throne,

Storm, lightning, shipwreck, visit not: Our tides beneath the changing moon, Are soon appeas'd—are troubled soon.

Well, I will bear what all have borne,
Live my few years, and fill my place ;
O'er old and young affections mourn,

Rent one by one from my embrace,
Till suffering ends, and I have done
With all delights beneath the sun.

Whence came I? Memory cannot say ;
Where am I? Knowledge will not show;
Bound whither? Ah, away, away,

Far as eternity can go;

Thy love to win, thy wrath to flee,

O God! Thyself my helper be!

207

J. MONTGOMERY.

Such is Life.

Building castles in the air,

Days and nights of anxious care,

Leading onward—who knows where?

Such is Life!

Hope's gay visions soon destroy'd,

Earth's best pleasures soon enjoy'd.

Leaving but the "aching void,"

Such is Life!

Mighty works, and projects splendid.

Well begun, but never ended,

All in one dark chaos blended,

Such is Life!

Friendship's vows, in fondness spoken,
Soon in haste and anger broken,
Careless of each cherish'd token,

Such is Life!

To cling around one faithful heart,
Whose love can purest joy impart—
To see it then in death depart,

Such is Life!

Since, then, earthly hopes are vain,
And pleasures fled come not again,
Should we not rather strive to gain

The better Life?

THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM.

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There will the weary soul find rest,
There will it be for ever blest,

No more to say, in tones distrest,—

But, greeting all it loved before,
Each bitter disappointment o'er,
To meet sing praises-and adore,—

This will be Life indeed!

WILLIAM GURNER.

The Entry into Jerusalem.

THE air is fill'd with shouts and trumpets sounding;
A host are at thy gates, Jerusalem!

Now is their van the Mount of Olives rounding.
Observe them-Judah's lion-banners gleam,
Twined with the palm and olive's peaceful stem.
Now swell the nearer sounds of voice and string,
As down the hill-side pours the living stream;
And to the cloudless heaven hosannas ring-
"The Son of David comes-the conqueror, the
king!"

The cuirass'd Roman heard; and grasp'd his shield,
And rush'd in fiery haste to gate and tower :
The pontiff from his battlement beheld

The host, and knew the falling of his power;