Then pealed the thunder of offended Heaven! The trembling earth from its deep centre riven, Sent forth one wild and agonizing cry,

Its bursting waters, rushing to the sky :The lightnings met them in their midway path, And bore them back to earth, stern ministers of wrath.

Then rose one loud, last shriek !-the torrent

poured,

And death's dark angel o'er the ruin soared,— Echoed each struggling prayer, each madʼning cry, And mocked his victims in their agony !

Hope with her mimicry of smiles had fled, And Ruin hovered wide above the countless dead.

There lay the mother round whose lifeless breast, Clung the loved babe her dying arms had pressed; And there, half shrouded in her golden hair, Floated the wreck of all that once was fair;

While he, whose arm in vain was stretched to save, Slept many a fathom deep beneath the howling wave.

*

LOVE'S BLIND.

BY CHARLES H. PORTER.

"Love's Blind," they say,-an olden ruleBut he who made it was a fool;

And they who trust him are not wise,
Love rather hath a thousand eyes.

"Love's blind," they say who think they find
Truth here, but prove themselves are blind :
If so, how could his arrows fly
With such unerring certainty ?

I thought so, till from Stella's eye
The villain let an arrow fly ;-
It came so straight I could not flee-
And proved full well that love can see.

Then all beware :-that love's a rogue
He'll either come to you incog. ;
"I'm blind,”

Or else he'll say to you

And thus an easy entrance find.

TO THE AUTHOR'S WIFE,

ABSENT ON A VISIT.

BY SEBA SMITH.

COME home my dear Elizabeth ;
I'm sure could you but know
The sadness of my lonely hours,
You would not leave so.

If love could not restrain you,
Sure the kindness of your heart
Would not allow that mine so long
Should feel this aching smart.

Like the dove that found no resting
On the weary waters wide,
I wander, but I find no rest
Apart from thee, my bride.

TO

THE AUTHOR'S WIFE.

77

Yes bride I still must call thee,

Though sixteen years have fled, Fraught with the ills and joys of life, Since the day that saw us wed.

Yes bride I still must call thee,
For still I feel thou art

The morning light unto mine eyes,
And the life-blood to my heart.

Kind friends may be around me,
With gentle words and tone,
And all the light, gay world may smile,
But still I am alone.

The bright bird that you left me,

Chirps often through the day, And his music but reminds me That you are far away.

For your sake I will feed him

With fresh seeds and with flowers,

And his morning and his evening song
Shall count my weary hours.

And oft our little Edward

Comes clinging to my knee,

And says with loud and hearty laugh, 'Dear Father, play with me.'

And when I kiss his little cheek,
His bright blue eyes look glad;
And I talk with him and play with him,
But still my heart is sad.

My sun of life, Elizabeth,

Hath passed its fervent noon;
I feel the sear and yellow leaf'
Will be upon me soon:-

But though misfortunes press me,
And the world be false and cold,
Let thy love and presence bless me
And I'll mind not growing old.

And I'll mind not fortune's frowning,
Nor the heartlessness of men,

When I see thee home returning,

Our abode to cheer again.