Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Dear mother, do help me a bit, I'm puzzled, — no matter, — here goes,— But how the right measure to hit, — I have a good subject, — I know-s. There was once a widow in trouble, She was aged and old, and advanced; Not a word can I think of but bubble, And it won't do to say that she danced. A widow she was of great feeling, Of great feeling this widow was she; 'Twill be shocking to speak of her squealing, And how can I lug in a flea ! This widow to woe was a votary, Oh, mother ! you laugh at her woes, And say I had better quit poetry, Until I know how to write prose. EVENING HYMN. 9' I 'IS evening, and the skies JL With starry lights are spread ; How very fair the moonbeams rise, And silver radiance shed ! I will retire to rest, 'Neath Heaven's o'er-arching sky, And feel my nightly visions blest, For God is watching by. And if the wing of death Should sweep o'er my repose, Resign'd, I'll yield to Him my breath, And rise as Jesus rose. HOME-SICKNESS. rT"HE morning sun shines brightly, -L But it shineth not for me; The breeze is blowing lightly, But my spirit is not free. There's many a hand to meet me, But mine is sadly given ; I thank the friends who greet me, But my heart is chilled and riven. My former home was lowly, And this is rich and rare ; But to me 'tis melancholy, And that was bright and fair. I know here is much smiling, And graceful, easy mirth, And ways of kind beguiling, And words of gentle birth; And I try to check my sadness, And look as bright as they, And call a fitful gladness To wile the long, long day. If I could but see my mother, And press her cheek to mine, Or take my darling brother, — My arms about him twine. If e'en my loving dog were here, ...