What is this that rises o'er me

As the bustle disappears?

Why should the old scenes before me
Smite as with a sense of tears?

'Tis the bridge that, stretching over
From the vulgar to sublime,

Makes a cabbage kin to clover,

Links the monarch with the mime;

Which transfigures this wet planking
Till like polished oak it gleams,

And makes coarsest tones take rank in
Angels' whispers heard in dreams!

So that, weighed down by the feeling
Pressing on my breast like stone,
I am fain to, sobbing, kneeling,
Weep my heart out here alone.

Lay my head against the leather,
Press my lips upon the floor
Where we walked and talked together,
Where we walk and talk no more.

Here, where my heart gauged the boundings
Of a heart I deemed as true,

Every common mean surrounding 's
Glorified by thoughts of you!

And I lose the outward grimness,

See no darkness-hear no rain,
'Midst the fog, and noise, and dimness;
You are here with me again.

VOL. XXV.-NO. CXLV.

I

BETROTHAL.

CANNOT tell you of my joy that morn,

When we together walked between the corn,
And sunniest beams

Were chasing, with soft silver-sandalled feet,
The gliding shadows on the golden wheat;
Fair day of dreams!—

Pure dreams prophetical, that all came true,
And gave me love in life and life in you.

That memorable morn began the charm :

The gossips had our story at the farm

Ere they were told;

The pigeons seemed to know we should be wed,
And cooed a sweet approval on the shed ;
And Isaac, old

And white with peaceful years, took me aside
To ask if I had won you as my bride.

I read a fairy book that afternoon,

And through the window came the breath of June,
To kiss your face,

And honeysuckle nesting in your hair;

Your father was asleep in his big chair
By the door place :

Dear time of summer dusk and blossom scent,

Of garden walks in glad bewilderment.

I cannot tell you of my joy that night,
But I remember that the stars were bright,
And lilacs swung

To cooling wind with gentle rise and fall,
In moonlit clusters by the orchard wall,
Where roses hung;

And I remember with new lease of life

I had a precious gift, and called it-wife!

GUY ROSLYN.