And the great sky, the royal heaven | There came no murmur from the streams, Though nigh flowed Leither, Tweed, and Quair. above, Darkens with storms or melts in hues of love; While far remote, Just where the sunlight smites the woods with fire, Wakens the multitudinous sylvan choir; Their innocent love's desire Poured in a rill of song from each harmonious throat. My walls are crumbling, but immortal looks Smile on me here from faces of rare books: Shakespeare consoles Fills me with tender calm, Or through hushed heavens of soul Milton's deep thunder rolls! And more than all, o'er shattered The relics of a happier time and state, Shines on unquenched! O deathless In the clear midnight of those passionate eyes! Joy waneth! Fortune flies! What then? Thou still art here, soul of my soul, my Wife! ISA CRAIG KNOX. BALLAD OF THE BRIDES OF QUAIR. A STILLNESS crept about the house, The many-windowed House of Quair. The peacock on the terrace screamed; Browsed on the lawn the timid hare; The great trees grew i' the avenue, Calm by the sheltered House of Quair. The pool was still; around its brim The alders sickened all the air; The days hold on their wonted pace, While women keep the House of Quair, To see the trout leap in the streams, The maiden loves in pensive dreams To hang o'er silver Tweed and Quair. Within, in pall-black velvet clad, Sits stately in her oaken chair- Her daughter broiders by her side, "Ill fare the brides that come to Quai "For more than one hath lived in pine, And more than one hath died of care And more than one hath sorely sinned, Left lonely in the House of Quair. "Alas! and ere thy father died I had not in his heart a share, And now-may God forfend her illThy brother brings his bride to Quair.” She came; they kissed her in the hall, They kissed her on the winding stair, They led her to the chamber high, The fairest in the House of Quair. SPRING, with that nameless pathos in the At times a fragrant breeze comes floating air Which dwells with all things fair, Spring, with her golden suns and silver rain, Is with us once again. Out in the lonely woods the jasmine burns In the deep heart of every forest tree And there's a look about the leafless As if they dreamed of flowers. Yet still on every side we trace the hand Save where the maple reddens on the Flushed by the season's dawn; Or where, like those strange semblances we find That age to childhood bind, by, And brings, you know not why, Some wondrous pageant; and you scarce A blue-eyed Dryad, stepping forth, should WALTER F. MITCHELL. [U. s. A.] TACKING SHIP OFF SHORE. THE weather-leech of the topsail shivers, The bow-lines strain, and the lee-shrouds slacken, The braces are taut, the lithe boom quivers, And the waves with the coming squallcloud blacken. The elm puts on, as if in Nature's scorn, Open one point on the weather-bow, The brown of autumn corn. Is the lighthouse tall on Fire Island As yet the turf is dark, although you There's a shade of doubt on the captain's know brow, And the light on Fire Island Head draws | What matters the reef, or the rain, or the squall? I steady the helm for the open sea; The first mate clamors, "Belay there, all!" And the captain's breath once more comes free. And so off shore let the good ship fly; Little care I how the gusts may blow, fo'castle bunk, in a jacket dry, Eight bells have struck, and my watch is In my below. HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD. [U. S. A.] HEREAFTER. LOVE, when all these years are silent, vanished quite and laid to rest, When you and I are sleeping, folded breathless breast to breast, When no morrow is before us, and the long grass tosses o'er us, And our grave remains forgotten, or by alien footsteps pressed, Still that love of ours will linger, that great love enrich the earth, Sunshine in the heavenly azure, breezes blowing joyous mirth; Fragrance fanning off from flowers, Sparkle of the spicy wood-fires round the melody of summer showers, happy autumn hearth. That's our love. But you and I, dear, -shall we linger with it yet, Mingled in one dewdrop, tangled in one sunbeam's golden net, On the violet's purple bosom, I the sheen, but you the blossom, Stream on sunset winds and be the haze with which some hill is wet? WILLIAM WINTER. - JOAQUIN MILLER. 313 Only this our yearning answers, -where- | Come with a smile, auspicious friend, so'er that way defile, Not a film shall part us through the æons of that mighty while, In the fair eternal weather, even as phantoms still together, Floating, floating, one forever, in the light of God's great smile! SONG. IN the summer twilight, Were keeping out at sea, But the sea it fell a-moaning, And the white gulls rocked thereon, And the young moon dropped from heaven, And the lights hid, one by one. All silently their glances Slipped down the cruel sea, And, "Wait," cried the night and wind and storm, "Wait till I come to thee." To usher in the eternal day! Of these weak terrors make an end, And charm the paltry chains away That bind me to this timorous clay! And let me know my soul akin To sunrise and the winds of morn, And every grandeur that has been Since this all-glorious world was born, Nor longer droop in my own scorn. Come, when the way grows dark and chill, Which used in happier days to speak, Come with a smile that dims the sun! With pitying heart and gentle hand! And waft me, from a work that's done, To peace that waits on thy command, In God's mysterious better land! WILLIAM WINTER. [U. S. A.] AZRAEL. COME with a smile, when come thou must, This shuddering dust that now is me, Long in those awful eyes I quail, Nor any light, nor any sound, Only two still and steady rays, That drinks my being, drop by drop, |