MIDNIGHT MASS FOR THE DYING YEAR. Encamped beside Life's rushing stream, In Fancy's misty light, Upon its midnight battle-ground is seen, And, with a sorrowful, deep sound, No other voice, nor sound is there, And, when the solemn and deep church-bell The midnight phantoms feel the spell, Down the broad Vale of Tears afar The spectral camp is fled; Faith shineth as a morning star, Our ghastly fears are dead. 17 MIDNIGHT MASS FOR THE DYING YEAR. YES, VES, the Year is growing old, Yand his eye is pale and bleared! Death, with frosty hand and cold, The leaves are falling, falling, Caw! caw! the rooks are calling, It is a sound of woe, A sound of woe! B Through woods and mountain passes And the hooded clouds, like friars, There he stands in the foul weather, A king, a king! Then comes the summer-like day, His joy! his last! O, the old man gray, Gentle and low. To the crimson woods he saith, To the voice gentle and low Of the soft air, like a daughter's breath, MIDNIGHT MASS FOR THE DYING YEAR. 19 Then comes, with an awful roar, Howl! howl! and from the forest For there shall come a mightier blast, Christe, eleyson! TH THE RAINY DAY. HE day is cold, and dark, and dreary; My life is cold, and dark, and dreary; My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past, Be still, sad heart! and cease repining; Some days must be dark and dreary. IT IS NOT ALWAYS MAY. NO HAY PÁJAROS EN LOS NIDOS DE ANTAÑO. Spanish Proverb. THE HE sun is bright, the air is clear, And from the stately elms I hear The blue-bird prophesying Spring. So blue yon winding river flows, It seems an outlet from the sky, Where waiting till the west wind blows, The freighted clouds at anchor lie. THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. All things are new; All things rejoice in youth and love, Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme, Enjoy the Spring of Love and Youth, THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. UNI NDER a spreading chestnut-tree The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms His hair is crisp, and black, and long, His face is like the tan; His brow is wet with honest sweat, He earns whate'er he can, And looks the whole world in the face, 21 |