Republican Herald

STANZAS.
By the author of "Richelieu"

I've sat and seen one bright wave chase
Its fellow on the strand,
Then fall away nor leave a trace
Upon the printless sand--
Though scarce the pebbles felt the shock;
Though waves have worn the solid rock!

I've sat and heard the autumn wind
Amid the branches play,
So softly mild, so blandly kind,
It scarcely stirred the spray:
Yet soon it bore spring's verdant birth,
To wither on its native earth.

I've sat and watched the evening sun
Sink from the golden sky,
His long bright ray of glory run,
And close his golden eye;
And slow he passed, scarce changed the light.
And yet he left the world in night.

And like yon sea in human life,
Events, like billows, roll,
Moment on moment, strife on strife,
That change us to the soul.
And joys, like autumn leaves fall fast—
Hope sets—and being's light is past.

I've stood on earth's most daring height
And seen day's ruler rise,
In his magnificence of light,
To triumph through the skies,
And all the darkness of the world,
Far from his shining presence hurled.

All, too, that fades upon the earth,
Too weak to linger here,
Re-blossoms with a second birth,
To deck the coming year;
Shall hope, then, man's eternal dower
Be frailer than a falling flower!

Ah, no: like autumn leaves that die,
That bloom again in spring
Fresh joys shall rise from those gone by
And purer incense bring,
And when, like suns hope sets in night,
Shall she not beam from worlds more bright?