The Alexandria Gazette

POETRY.

FROM THE N. Y. EVENING POST, MARCH 25.

On Friday evening last, Mrs. Barnes took her benefit, and, although the weather was wet, cold and unpleasant, she had a numerous and highly fashionable audience, to witness her farewell appearance, which they did with many sympathetic tears from all parts of the boxes. Her female child took part in the performance and greatly heightened the effect. At the conclusion she recited the following lines, written by the author of the drama called "The Spy," which were received with unanimous applause. Upon good authority I state that the receipts for the Benefits of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, amounted to 3000 dollars.

FAREWELL ADDRESS.

Farewell! I come in bitterness of heart,
To breathe that word of sadness, and to part.
Say no! not yet! a few brief moments now
Are dear to me--and time will yet allow
One look--the last--on those I long have loved
On you, within whose homes I've breath'd and mov'd;
On you, whose greetings, to my coming given,
Were like a sunbeam from a summer heaven,
To me, and mine, through many happy years,
And I would thank you in this hour of tears,
For all the kindnesses of days gone by,
But the warm gushing tear--the heart-born sigh,
Are now my only language—let them speak,
My thanks -my gratitude-though all too weak
The feelings of this heart to image true,
Which joyed but in your smiles, and breaks to bid adieu.
Alas! not now with Juliet can I tell
To those I love, that "parting is sweet sorrow,"
Would mine like hers, were like a night's farewell.
To eyes whose light would beam on me to-morrow!
And yet, to breathe again my native air,
Is a sweet hope-a mother waits me there-
A mother-fondly lov'd, and left too long,
And friends who cherish'd me when life was young,
I saw their beckoning smile -and deemed its power
Would soothe the anguish of this parting hour;
But feel, when now that torturing hour is come,
As if your clime had been my only home.
Farewell! to that clime where the hand's warm embracing
Gives the stranger the welcome of Friendship and Love!
In vain from its scenes of delight I am chasing
My thoughts they return to their ark like the dove!
Farewell to the land, where the Sun smiles in beauty,
In the blue skies he loves, all unchecked by the cloud,
Where the free soul of man knows no fetter but duty,
And Liberty breathes her orisons aloud!
From hearts that have throbb'd high and quick at my bidding,
From smiles that to life gave its goldenest ray,
From eyes whose bright tears a sad glory are shedding
Around my departure-I wander away!
Far away!-but wherever this bosom is beating
Through life--in its dreams shall my memory dwell
With joy on the first happy hour of our meeting,
With grief on the last, when I bade you--
FAREWELL!