Virginia Argus

From the Boston Sentinel

THE BED OF HOPE AND BLAST OF DESPAIR.

A. S. p. 3. No. 37.

Where nature's fair blossoms their verdure combin'd,
And twin'd with the rose, and the jessamine;
And such rich perfume on the zephyrs
There glowing with beauty, a Rose Bush reclin'd;
And rear'd its soft buds in the shades;
The dew-spangled leaves trembled light in the
And melodious crowd,
And sigh'd in the branches, while through the
Sweet vale,
Soft echo repeated the sound.

Two buds were just bursting their confines of green,
And blushing in beauty's bright ray;
Bedecking with splendor the gay smiling scene,
And glowing in pleasure's fair day.

But ah! quickly faded the mild morning's bloom,
Dark mists floated fast through the air;
The black tempest roll'd o'er the lowering gloom,
While loud howl'd the blast of despair.

The shivering flowers shrank trembling with fear,
Their leaves drench'd with big drops of rain
Droop'd tearfully over the buds of their care,
Enshrouding the pride of the plain.

Array'd in sweet smiles a female advanc'd,
And kindness beam'd soft from her eye;
On the cold trembling flowers in pity she glanc'd
Then gaz'd on the dark clouded sky.

Twas Hope—and she shielded the buds from the blast,
And cheer'd them with kindliest ray:
Then still on the Heav'ns her blue eyes she cast,
And saw the mist gliding away.

She saw the bright sun bursting forth through the cloud,
Again smiling nature look'd fair;
With beauty the rose buds again brightly glow'd,
And hush'd was the blast of despair.

MORA.