Not to the shades shall the youth descend who for country hath perished; Hebe awaits him in heaven, welcomes him there with her smile: There, at the banquet divine, the patriot spirit is cherished; Gods love the young who ascend pure from the funeral pile. Not to Elysian fields, by the still, oblivious river; Not to the isles of the blest, over the blue rolling sea; But on Olympian heights shall dwell the devoted forever; There shall assemble the good, there the wise, valiant, and free. Ch, then, how great for our country to die, in the fron rank to perish Firm with our breast to the foe, Victory's shout in ou ear! Iong they our statues shall crown, in songs our memo cherish; We shall look forth from our heaven, pleased the swe music to hear. Hannah F. Gould. THE SNOW-FLAKE. TOW, if I fall, will it be my lot "NOW, To be cast in some low and lonely spo To melt, and to sink unseen or forgot? And then will my course be ended?" "Twas thus a feathery Snow-Flake said, As down through the measureless space it strayed Or, as half by dalliance, half afraid, It seemed in mid air suspended. “Oh, no,” said the Earth," thou shalt not lie, "And then thou shalt have thy choice to be To melt, and be cast in a glittering bead, With the pearls that the night scatters over the mead, In the cup where the bee and the fire-fly feed, Regaining thy dazzling brightness;— "To wake, and be raised from thy transient sleep, When Viola's mild blue eye shall weep, In a tremulous tear, or a diamond leap In a drop from the unlocked fountain; Or, leaving the valley, the meadow, and heath, Το 66 go and be wove in the silvery wreath Encircling the brow of the mountain. Or, wouldst thou return to a home in the skies, To shine in the Iris I'll let thee arise, And appear in the many and glorious dyes A pencil of sunbeams is blending. But true, fair thing, as my name is Earth, "Then I will drop," said the trusting Flake; Nor the mist that shall pass with the morning; For, things of thyself, they expire with thee; But those that are lent from on high, like me, They rise, and will live, from thy dust set free, To the regions above returning. "And if true to thy word, and just thou art, Like the spirit that dwells in the holiest heart, Unsullied by thee, thou wilt let me depart, And return to my native heaven; For I would be placed in the beautiful bow, WH Unfurled her standard to the air, She tore the azure robe of Night, And set the stars of glory there. She mingled with its gorgeous dyes II. Majestic monarch of the cloud, When strive the warriors of the storm, III. Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly, And as his springing steps advance, Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall,- IV. Flag of the seas! on ocean-wave V. Flag of the free heart's hope and home! Thy stars have lit the welkin dome, And all thy hues were born in heaven. Forever float that standard sheet! Where breathes the foe but falls before us, With Freedom's soil beneath our feet, And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us' |