SHADOWS ON THE HILL.

B

EYOND the valley that expands

In unobtrusive beauty bright,

A hill in lonely grandeur stands,

And bounds the limit of the sight,
Like some old fort, whose walls maintain
A guard upon the peaceful plain.

And, when my grateful eye surveys

The charms that in the vale I find, That height arrests my wand'ring gaze,

my

And moulds the thoughts within
And oft its varied form I trace,
Like lines upon some well-known face.

Thus looking forth one summer day,

When fiercely shone the sun on high,
And scarce a cloud was seen to stray
Across the desert of the sky,

The hill appeared all brown and bare,
Reflecting bright the noon-day glare.

But when at eve again I went
To visit that familiar scene,

With eager eye and mind intent,

mind;

I watched, where late no shade had been,

The creeping footsteps, soft and still,

Of evening shadows on the hill.

And often in my heart I see

Such changes as these slopes reveal: And thus, when noon shines brilliantly, Its light serves only to conceal The thoughts that from the glare of day My secret spirit hides away.

But when the sun sinks in the west, And level throws his parting beam, These thoughts arise within my breast, And, like some past-recalling dream, My heart with pleasing sadness fill, Like evening shadows on the hill.

E

D

DREAM S.

REAMS, childhood's dreams!

Happy, and pure, and bright,

As the sun's first glittering beams

When they burst upon the sight! And the freshness of morn may depart In the glare of the growing day;

But the joy that it gave to the childish heart Nothing can take away.

Dreams, youthful dreams!

Beautiful, fair, and sweet,

As the dew of the morning seems

When it sparkles under our feet!
And the morning dew may be dispersed
By the sun's increasing glow;

But the tender touch that it gave at first
Will linger long below.

Dreams, manhood's dreams!

Hopeful, and deep, and strong, As the chief of a thousand streams, When it rolls in its might along!

But the river as onward it flows,

Comes at last to the wide-spread sea;

And the dreams of man and time must close In the dawn of eternity.

Dreams, age's dreams!

Peaceful, and calm, and clear, As the star of the evening gleams, When the shades of the night are near! But the light of the evening star

Cheers most as it sinks in the west; And the dreams of age are sweeter far When they speak to the soul of rest.

R

REST.

EST for the labourer, rest!

When the daylight slowly dies,

When the shadows creep, and welcome sleep

Comes to the weary eyes.

Rest for the watcher, rest!

When the longed-for dawning breaks, When the gloom of night is put to flight, As the day's great splendour wakes.

Rest for the mariner, rest!

Beyond the angry tide,

The anchor's cast in the port at last,

His native shore beside.

Rest for the soldier, rest!

When the storms of battle cease,

When the din of war is heard no more,

And the people dwell in peace.

Rest for the traveller, rest!

The day's long journey done,

When, after the tramp, they pitch the camp

Beneath the setting sun.

Rest for the mourner, rest!

When the first wild grief subsides,

As from the heart dark doubts depart,
And the peace of God abides.