WASHINGTON IRVING. THE FALLS OF THE PASSAIC. In a wild, tranquil vale, fringed with forests of green, No grandeur of prospect astonish'd the sight, Here the wild flow'ret blossom'd, the elm proudly waved, But the spirit that ruled o'er the thick tangled wood, All flush'd from the tumult of battle he came, With a glance of disgust, he the landscape survey'd, He rived the green hills, the wild woods he laid low; Countless moons have since roll'd in the long lapse of time— The axe of the white man has lighten'd the shade, But the stranger still gazes, with wondering eye, Where the torrent leaps headlong embosom'd in foam. S. GRAHAM. A HOME EVERYWHERE. HEAVE, mighty ocean, heave, Away, away we steer, Upon the ocean's breast; And dim the distant heights appear, Like clouds along the west. There is a loneliness Upon the mighty deep; And hurried thoughts upon us press, As onwardly we sweep. Our home-O, heavens-that word! A name without a thing! We are e'en as a lonely bird, Whose home is on the wing. My wife and little one And they are all, beneath the sun, With them, upon the sea, Heave, mighty ocean, heave, And blow, thou boisterous wind: Where'er we go, we cannot leave Our home and friends behind. Then come, my lovely bride, And come, my child of woe; Since we have nought on earth beside, What matters where we go? We heed not earthly powers, We heed not wind nor weather; For, come what will, this joy is oursWe share it still together. And if the storms are wild, And we perish in the sea, We'll clasp each other and our child : One grave shall hold the three. And neither shall remain To meet, and bear alone, The cares, the injuries, the pain, And there's a sweeter joy, Danger nor death can e'er destroy Then wherefore should we grieve? Or what have we to fear? Though home, and friends, and life, we leave, Our God is ever near. If He who made all things, Then come, my gentle bride, And come, my child of love; What if we've nought on earth beside? Sweep, mighty ocean, sweep; Ye winds, blow foul or fair; Our God is with us on the deep, |