PLANCHETTE - SPRING.— " GOOD - BY!" 341
room, to see that everything that was possible
had been done for her comfort.
Mrs. Livingstone's kind offices, and Mrs. Livingstone's luxurious bedchamber, completed Gerald's gentle ministrations; and I awoke the next morning, inclined to believe that the events of the night had been only a dream. Alas! they would have been a tragic dream, if it had not been for Gerald's gift-that MESSENGER OF LOVE.
PLANCHETTE.
BY FRANCES HENRIETTA SHEFFIELD .
WHAT did you, what are you,
My little Planchette?
None of the wiseacres
Enlighten us yet.
Are you spirit or fairy,
Jack-o'lantern or quick?
I hardly dare whisper
Some say the Old Nick.
The thoughts we but breathe
In our innermost heart,
You answer so pat,
That you quite make us start.
And again, when we question you
In solemn tone,
On business important,
You only write fun.
I have an idea
Of how you were made;
A lovely coquette
Saw her beauty must fade,
So petitioned of Jove
A new form to get;
And that was the way
They fashioned Planchette.
SPRING.
BY A. F. ADAMS.
Now smiling Spring returns again
To deck the land with flowers;
And songsters wake a rich refrain
Among the woodland bowers.
The murmuring streams, with sparkling glee,
Dance lightly o'er the plain;
Rejoicing now, unfettered, free
From Winter's icy chain.
And mossy moor and mountain crest
At every morn are seen,
By vernal showers newly drest,
In Summer robes of green.
While evening zephyrs gently breathe
At twilight's pensive hour;
And fairy hands fresh garlands weave,
To crown each sylvan bower.
But fairer still the scene will break
On our enraptured vision,
When in that blissful world we wake,
Which holds the fields Elysian.
Upon those bright and shining plains,
By angel fingers strung,
The tuneful harps wake sweeter strains
Than mortals ever sung.
"GOOD- BY!"
BY HELEN AUGUSTA BROWN.
KNOWEST thou aught of the world you are seeking?
Deemest no ill of the fortune you try?
Flushed with the hope of success, you are speaking,
Clear and distinctly, the solemn " good-by!"
Yonth has her aims you are panting to follow,
Mantled with charms that you cannot defy;
Prove they as free from the false and the hollow,
Fadeless as now, when you bid me " good-by!"
Go! as the future spreads smiling before thee,
Brilliant and flush with her promises; why
Shadow one thought of discouragement o'er thee,
Gather one doubt as you bid me " good-by!"
Go! there are ties to which earth will unite thee,
Friendships and friends that you cannot deny;
Joys will arise in their midst to delight thee
Why should you fear as you whisper, "good-by!"
Hope for the best, there is pleasure in knowing
Sunshine and shade both have birth in the sky;
Dreary thy lot if forever bestowing
Ill-omened thoughts on the future " good-by!"
Go! though the hearth will be lonely without thee,
Why should our parting be sorrowful, why?
Love spreads a halo of blessing about thee;
Peace be thy motto forever-" Good-by !"
