So let my past stand, just as it stands,

And let me now, as I may, grow old;

I am what I am, and my life for me Is the best, or it had not been, I

hold.

ANSWERED.

I THOUGHT to find some healing clime

[shore, For her I loved; she found that That city, whose inhabitants

Are sick and sorrowful no more.

I asked for human love for her;

The Loving knew how best to still The infinite yearning of a heart, Which but infinity could fill.

Such sweet communion had been

ours

I prayed that it might never end; My prayer is more than answered;

now

I have an angel for my friend.

I wished for perfect peace, to soothe The troubled anguish of her breast; [called, And, numbered with the loved and She entered on untroubled rest.

Life was so fair a thing to her,
I wept and pleaded for its stay;
My wish was granted me, for lo!
She hath eternal life to-day.

OUR HOMESTEAD.

OUR old brown homestead reared its walls

From the way-side dust aloof, Where the apple-boughs could almost cast

Their fruit upon its roof; And the cherry-tree so near it grew That when awake I've lain

In the lonesome nights, I've heard the limbs

As they creaked against the pane: And those orchard trees, oh those orchard trees!

I've seen my little brothers rocked In their tops by the summer breeze.

The sweet-briar, under the windowsill,

Which the early birds made glad, And the damask rose, by the gardenfence,

Were all the flowers we had. I've looked at many a flower since then,

Exotics rich and rare,

That to other eyes were lovelier
But not to me so fair;

For those roses bright, oh, those
roses bright!
[locks,

I have twined them in my sister's That are hid in the dust from sight.

We had a well, a deep old well,

Where the spring was never dry, And the cool drops down from the mossy stones

Were falling constantly; And there never was water half so sweet

As the draught which filled my cup, Drawn up to the curb by the rude

old sweep

That my father's hand set up. And that deep old well, oh that deep old well!

I remember now the plashing sound Of the bucket as it fell.

Our homestead had an ample hearth, Where at night we loved to meet; There my mother's voice was always kind,

And her smile was always sweet; And there I've sat on my father's knee,

And watched his thoughtful brow, With my childish hand in his raven hair.

That hair is silver now!

But that broad hearth's light, oh, that broad hearth's light! And my father's look, and my mother's smile,

They are in my heart to-night!