290
MY
CASTLE IN THE AIR.
ON THE WATER.
"I have had it made smaller, and engraved with the date and initials all right. It is just a good fit now, isn't it, Tilly ?" said he, holding the hand that wore the ring as though it belonged to him. Miss Wooley, with her rolled-up hair bobbing about her face in consumptive wisps, looked out upon this little scene with a practiced eye, and with an expression of pity mingled with gratitude on her mature countenance . "Oh, yes ! well ; and so this is the way he is consoling himself, " said she, as, forgetting to nod even a good-morning to her, they presently moved down the village street together. "Oh, well! they will make a very pretty pair, and I am glad I put it in his head. It came over me like an inspiration to mention the name of Matilda Bryan at the dinner-table, yesterday, way whenever his eye fell on me—and I could and direct off his attention that way. I persoon see he understood what that meant." ceived he looked interested the self-same moThe laughing black eyes under the lilac-treement I spoke it ; and I felt a pang of gratitude fairly danced with delight, and at that very that I could help him to any consolation for his instant-"talk of angels and one hears the disappointment about me. " rustling of their wings" -behold young Mr. Then she put on her mitts and her glasses, Greenough came up to the window with quite and sat down to the reading of Fox's " Book of the air of having a right to stand there. Then , the Martyrs' again, while the lovers went on after bowing politely to Miss Wooley, he took their way with rings on their fingers, and an from his pocket a sparkling ring, and put it on unformed impression that all the crows in the Tilly's willing first finger. world had suddenly turned into turtle-doves. "Why, Tilly Bryan, you child! Your voice come ' pon me so unexpected-like, that it fairly sent the cold chills over me, " cried Miss Wooley, who was doing up her hair in papers, with her back toward the window. "Well, Miss Wooley, that must be so much better than hot chills this sultry day," returned Tilly. "But I have those, too, when I get a little started at anything. First a cold chill, then a hot one flashing over me with a kind of crawling sensation. It is the nerves, I expect. And that is one reason why I would have nothing to say to that brother of Dr. Greenough. I always contented, a nervous person isn't suitable to marry no ways ; and I've often said I didn't meant to do it, not while I have the use of my reason. So I just looked purposely the other
MY
CASTLE
IN
THE
AIR .
BY F. V. HITCHCOCK .
ON a sunset cloud, of rosy glow, Once stood a castle grand ; Its gates were white as a drift of snow, They opened and shut at my command, And I left the world and its cares below, And stood in fairy-land. Ah ! the day was golden there, and long, For no sunset-hour drew nigh; And the beautiful notes of the feathered throng Were ringing above in the azure sky, As I entered the fairy-land of song, And joined in the melody.
ON
THE
My heart was light as the fountain's spray, That fell among the flowers ; For I cast all gloom from my heart away When I bade farewell to this world of ours; So I joined in the merry roundelay, And gayly spent the hours. But my beautiful dream too quickly sped" Oh! what a fall was there!" For I found myself back in my humble shed As if I had aye and forever been there! The music was hushed, and vanished and fled, My castle in the air.
WATER .
BY FRANCES HENRIETTA SHEFFIELD . I GAZE upon the waste of waters, A drearier waste my life must be; Sunlight may brighten o'er the ocean, But what good days shall shine for me? The friends I loved are calmly sleeping, In graves the Spring-time keepeth green ; And some are dead and cold to friendship, I count them as they ne'er had been. Hopes and ambitions blooming proudly, Like dream of Summer passed ye by ;
I only know that once ye flourished, But faint, now, e'en your memory. And naught is left me ; yes, there's something, While there is grief I can assuage; Or nobly stem temptation's torrent, Or hold the grand truths of the age. No life is base when these are given ; No life can fail when these are done ; Pleasure and honor are but fleeting, But faith and worth outlast the sun.
