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Return, Sweet Day

I

Return, O Day, from out the vanished years
Where now no fires on ruined altars burn;
I give you all Love's tenderness and tears:
Return, sweet Day, return!

II

The same sweet stars are in the heavens of blue,
The same sad lessons Life hath still to learn.
I am aweary for the love of you:
Kind Day, return — return!

III

So brief the time — so rain-dark with Love's tears —

Secret Love. Motherwort

MOTHERWORT .

Yes! tell him — tell him I am well,
Say that this cheek doth deeper glow,
Than was its wont — but do not tell,
'Tis the heart's fever makes it so!

And tell him how my lip has curled,
And named his name with idle smile;
But do not tell him for the world,
That tears were in mine eyes the while!

Illustration of Plate. Crwon Imperial and Turk's Cap Lilies — Lily of the Valley

Crown Imperial and Turk's Cap Lilies. — Lily of the Valley.

Will you say no, dear,
When soft and low, dear,
Love pleads for love, which you only can give?
Will you then fly me?
Can you deny me?
One little " yes " would allow me to live.

Care hovers o'er me,
Clouds, wild and stormy,
Darken before me — but one smile of thine,
Through sorrow's haze, love,
Softly can raise, love,
Hope's sunny rainbow — bright and benign!

Love's Renewal

Love's sun, like that of day, may set, and set,
It hath as bright a rising in the morn.
True love has no grey hairs; his golden locks
Can never whiten with the snows of time.
Sorrow lies drear on many a youthful heart,
Like snow upon the evergreens; but love
Can gather sweetest honey by the way,
E'en from the carcass of some prostrate grief. —
We have been spoiled with blessings. Though the world
Holds nothing dearer than the hope that's fled,
God ever opens up new founts of bliss —
Spiritual Bethsaidas where the soul

Cruelty. Nettle

NETTLE .

More cruel far than murder's self is he,
Who, having kindled once love's Eden-bloom,
With warm Persuasion's spell, in some young heart,
E'er lets Indifference blight it or Neglect; —
For Love — true Love can flower but once in life,
In woman's life — the Aloe of her heart!

Sailed

Her eyes are fixed on the village street,
And his on the sky-girt sea —
But oh, her heart leaps after his ship
And his at home would be!

But he must fight with the strangling gale
Or run with the singing breeze,
While she sits, hiding a hungered love
And dreading the empty seas.