The moans of dying in their agony ;
As if a thousand martyrs to the stake
Made fast, were slowly, horribly consumed.

Or has the Earth disclosed at last a Hell,
And in the midst of all the torrent's rush
Belched forth its fierce and fiery fumes.
Upon the hapless beings gathered there?
To flee the torture of this hell, those free

To move their limbs leaped from the writhing mass
To end their torments in the deep dark flood.

Abated now the fury of the flood;

But who shall dare approach that awful pile

Still burning, smould'ring dense? And now no

sound

Doth issue from its depths; no groans-no crics-
No signs of life; an awful stillness reigns.
Though hope is lost yet every man hath now
Become a hero. Day by day they struggle on
To free the loved remains from hellish place,
Though naught but ashes, or charred limbs will

meet

Their dazed, dimmed eyes, and sickened hearts.

And this is all

That's left of manhood's strong and stately prime;
Of womanhood's sweet beauty! Hoary age,
And tender infancy are mingled in

One mass, and none can say-'She's mine!' for all

That goes to make a woman love one man,

Or man to love one woman far above

All other, are now extinguished, and full
Obliterated all life's beauty.

Oh, saddened men, why seek ye your beloved
Among the charred remains that strangely fill
This floating charnel-house? Shut fast your eyes,
Nor let the hideous vision haunt your sight
Throughout the weary, solitary years

That ye may call your own. Let Memory
Alone, before the mental retina

Bring faces sweet and fair; whose eyes looked

love

To yours; whose smiles were as a household sun
Which spreads its warm, refulgent rays around.
Whose souls were as a book all fairly writ
With tender thoughts, and deeds, and all

Those sweet solicitudes that Love begets

In woman's heart, and leaves to blossom there. Thus contemplate; and in the earnest strife That falls to men who live their lives through

out

Now bury this Dead Past in deep oblivion.

TO J. F. T.

BIRTHDAY ODE

ONCE more the earth with swift unerring flight
Hath sped her course around her glorious lord,
Who sits enthroned above the Heavens, and sheds
On many worlds his warm effulgent beams:
To each their proper season duly gives,
Bestowing riches, beauty, life on all.

Again the earth is clothed in russet dress,
And Autumn brings its many-shaded hues
Of golden brown; more beautiful than spring
In all its youthful freshness; now the heart
Is stirred with aspirations pure and good

By all this wealth of loveliness around.

'Twas thus, dear friend, at such a beauteous time

Thou first didst ope thine eyes, and saw Heaven's

light;

When Earth breathed poems sweet, and softly

sang

Her mystic songs in every rustling leaf.

Life means.

Yes, then thou cam'st, all innocent of what
Thou hadst to learn that even joy
Brings pain. That hid beneath the cup of bliss
There lies some bitter element we hate;

And fain would we untasted leave those dregs;
But still no choice is left :-the full, deep draught,
Or none.

Wrapped in sweet unconsciousness of all Existence means; its duties, crosses, joys, Its vast responsibilities, thou breathed. The breath of life in gentle sleep.

How much unwearied love and care

Have fondly been bestowed on thee since then!

So much its magnitude were all in vain.

To realise, until thy time doth come

To lavish pure paternal love on bright
Young hearts. It is a compensating law
Our Mother Nature doth enforce that what
We cost we pay again in full in turn