Select Poetry.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4017, 12 November 1881, Page 1

Select Poetry.

IN THE VALLEY. WBITTEH IN IliNlßfl. To die—lo be forgotten—and to lie In the cold grave, wbero all will paes me by, Crtrelp*B and heedless of who liea below— Ab, it is hard ! Ido not wish to go— To leave the busy world, the aniiotig. rnce In which I hoped bo soon to take my place. Oh, I have never tried to write my name, With iron pen, upon the scroll of Fume; But I have longed, with earnest longing too, The painful path of duty to pursue— To do some good, some lonely heart to cbeer, To leave some record of my being here, In kindly deeds and acts of merer shown To tboie whoie lot was daifcer than my own. And now to die! My resting place will be Under the shadowy arms of yonder tree, Where Autumn's golden leaves and Winter snows ' . . .'• ■ " Will fall unheeded, and the steps of those. Whom I have loved will pass unheeded by ; And when they come to gaze on where I lie L shall not know it. Oh, how'hard if seems To realise the vague uncertain dreams We bare of the Hereafter! I, alone, Muit venture forth to meet that drea.d. uni known; -«. ' v ' ; And-no loved voice, no kindly clasping hand. Can come to re-assure me when I stand And tremble on the verge of that dark sea Which flows betwixt Eternity and me. ''

Now I look back on moments that have flown, Charmed hours it which my happj soul hath ' known A joy at.exquisite, a bliss as sweet ■■ - As fills the hearts of angels when they meet In distant bow'rs of Paradise. I know ' ' That I have set my heart, too much below — That I have loved the beautiful and grand Of earth and sky, unmindful of the Hand That made them so. My bigbe t thoughts were given, ' Too much to earth and hot enough to Heaven; Seeking in Life rewards wbich are above, ;• My deepest longings were for human love.. ' • Oh, but to liveiheie wasted yeart again ." * .' To undo all that I have done in vain !. ~ : - '