And even through faith of still averted feet,
Making full circle of our banishment,
Amazèd meet;

The bitter journey to the bourne so sweet
Seasoning the termless feast of our content
With tears of recognition never dry.

COVENTRY PATMORE.

"THE PITY OF IT.”

OUR love may fail, Lily,

If our love may fail,

What will mere life avail, Lily,
Mere life avail!

Seed that promised blossom,

Withered in the mould,

Pale petals overblowing,

Failing from the gold!

When the fervent fingers
Listlessly unclose,

May the life that lingers

Find repose, Lily,

Find repose!

Who may

dream of all the music

Only a lover hears,

Hearken to hearts triumphant

Bearing down the years?

Ah! may eternal anthems dwindle

To a low sound of tears?

Room in all the ages

For our love to grow-
Prayers of both demanded
A little while ago :

And now a few poor moments,

Between life and death,

May be proven all too ample

For love's breath!

Seed that promised blossom,
Withered in the mould,
Pale petals overblowing,
Failing from the gold!

I well believe the fault lay
More with me than you,

But I feel the shadow closing

Cold about us two.

An hour may yet be yielded us,

Or a very little more;

Then a few tears, and silence

For evermore, Lily,

For evermore !

HON, RODEN NOEL.

AUF WIEDERSEHEN!

HE little gate was reached at last,

Half hid in lilacs down the lane;

She pushed it wide, and, as she past,

A watchful look she backward cast,
And said "Auf Wiedersehen!"

With hand on latch, a vision white
Lingered reluctant, and again
Half doubting if she did aright,
Soft as the dews that fell that night,
She said-"Auf Wiedersehen!"

The lamp's dear gleam flits up the stair;

I linger in delicious pain;

Ah, in that chamber, whose rich air
To breathe in thought I scarcely dare,
Thinks she "Auf Wiedersehen!"

'Tis thirteen years; once more I press
The turf that silences the lane;

I hear the rustle of her dress,

I smell the lilacs, and-ah, yes,
I hear "Auf Wiedersehen!"

Sweet piece of bashful maiden art!

The English words had seemed too fain, But these they drew us heart to heart, Yet held us tenderly apart;

She said-"Auf Wiedersehen!"

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.