Of these the deep spiritual graces And quicken the sap of the human Till the drear places blossom and shine She has crystalline caskets and coffers, God's angels are gladdened to give, And millionaired monarchs who live. And something about her most subtly Thus being so minded and bettered, The peace to the ache in my thought, All paths which the lady may travel, While the blue heavens brood softly above her, And the grass groweth greenly below. RICHARD REALF. MAUD AND MADGE. 201 Maud and Madge. HEY sat and combed their beautiful hair, THEY Their long bright tresses, one by one, As they laughed and talked in their chamber there, After the revel was done. Idly they talked of waltz and quadrille, Comb out their braids and curls. Robes of satin and Brussels lace, And Maud and Madge in robes of white, Sit and comb their beautiful hair, Those wonderful waves of brown and gold, Then out of the gathering winter chill, Maud and Madge in robes of white, The prettiest night-gowns under the sun, Float along in a splendid dream, Flashing of jewels and flutter of laces, And one face shining out like a star, Telling through lips of bearded bloom Two and two they dreamily walk, O Maud and Madge, dream on together, Robed for the bridal and robed for the tomb, Braided brown hair and golden tress, There'll be only one of you left for the bloom Of the bearded lips to press. Only one for the bridal pearls, The robe of satin and Brussels lace Only one to blush through her curls TIME'S CHANGES. O beautiful Madge, in your bridal white! But for her who sleeps in your arms to-night 203 But robed and crowned with your saintly bliss, O beautiful Maud, you'll never miss The kisses another hath won! NORA PERRY. I Time's Changes. SAW her once-so freshly fair, That like a blossom just unfolding, She opened to life's cloudless air, And Nature joyed to view its moulding: Her cheek's fine hue divinely glowing; Should dim such sweet, delicious splendor? For in her mien, and in her face, And in her young step's fairy lightness, Nought could the raptured gazer trace But Beauty's glow and Pleasure's brightness. I saw her twice-an altered charm, But still of magic richest, rarest, Than girlhood's talisman less warm, Upon her breast she held a child, The very image of its mother, Her thoughtless, sinless look had banished, And from her cheeks the roseate glow Of girlhood's balmy morn had vanished; Within her eyes, upon her brow, Lay something softer, fonder, deeper, I saw her thrice-Fate's dark decree In widow's garments had arrayed her; Yet beautiful she seemed to be As even my reveries portrayed her; The glow, the glance, had passed away, The sunshine and the sparkling glitter Still, though I noted pale decay, The retrospect was scarcely bitter; That every louder mirth is folly— Till earth looks like a landscape dreaming. A last time--and unmoved she lay, A glorious mould of fading clay, From whence the spark had fled forever! I gazed-my heart was like to burstAnd, as I thought of years departed— The years wherein I saw her first, When she, a girl, was lightsome-hearted |