SARAH LOUISA P. SMITH. (Born 18:1-Died 1842). MISS HICKMAN, afterward Mrs. SMITH, WAS born in Detroit on the thirtieth of June, 1811, at which time her grandfather, Major-General Hull-whose patriotism and misfortunes are at length beginning to be justly appreciated by the people—was governor of Michigan. While a child she accompanied her mother to the home of her family, in Newton, Massachusetts, where she was carefully educated. She acquired knowledge with extraordinary facility, and when but thirteen years of age her compositions were compared to those of Kirke White and others whose carly maturity is the subject of some of the most interesting chapters in literary history. In her eighteenth year she was married to Mr. Samuel Jenks Smith, then editor of a periodical in Providence, where he soon af ter published a collection of her poems, in a volume of two hundred and fifty duodecimo pages, many of the pieces in which were written as it was passing through the press. In 1829 Mr. and Mrs. Smith removed to Cincinnati, where they resided nearly two years, and here she continued to write, with a sort of improvisatorial ease, but with increasing elegance and a constantly deepening tone of reflection, until her health was too much decayed, and then she returned to New York, where, on the twelfth of February, 1832, she died, in the twenty-first year of her age. Her husband was for several years connected with the press in this city, and died while on a Voyage to Europe in 1842. The poems of Mrs. Smith are interesting chiefly as the productions of a very youthful author. She wrote with grace and sprightliness, and sometimes with feeling; but there is little in her writings that would survive its connexion with her history. THE HUMA.* FLY on! nor touch thy wing, bright bird, Fly on-nor seek a place of rest In the home of "care-worn things;" 'T would dim the light of thy shining crest Thy place where stars shine free; I would thy home, bright one, were mine, I would never wander, bird, like thee, With wing and spirit once light and free They should wear no more the chain With which they are bound and fettered here, For ever struggling for skies more clear. There are many things like thee, bright bird, Hopes as thy plumage gay; Our air is with them for ever stirred, And happiness, like thee, fair one, * A bird peculiar to the East. It is supposed to fly con stantly in the air, and never touch the ground. Is ever hovering o'er, But rests in a land of brighter sun, WHITE ROSES. THEY were gathered for a bridal: They were gathered for a bridal, Than the heart that lay beneath; They were gathered for a bridal, Where a thousand torches glistened, When the holy words were spoken, And the false and faithless listened And answered to the vow Which another heart had taken: Yet he was present then The once loved, the forsaken! They were gathered for a bridal, And now, now they are dying, And young Love at the altar Of broken faith is sighing. Their summer life was stainless, And not like hers who wore them: They are faded, and the farewell Of beauty lingers o'er them! STANZAS. I WOULD not have thee deem my heart Which earthly passion ne'er alloys. To Him who makes my pathway bright. I would not chain to mystic creeds I would not have that spirit rove I would not that my heart were cold Of things within the world to come- For I have left the dearly loved, The home, the hopes of other years, And early in its pathway proved Life's rainbow hues were formed of tears. I shall not meet them here again, Those loved, and lost, and cherished ones, Bright links in young Affection's chain, In Memory's sky unsetting suns. But perfect in the world above, Through suffering, wo, and trial here, Shall glow the undiminished love Which clouds and distance failed to sere: But I have lingered all too long, THE FALL OF WARSAW. THROUGH Warsaw there is weeping, No more his martial tread, Float through the aisle, Where moonbeams smile; The mourning of the brave O'er the chieftain who is gathered Unto his honored grave! Who now will face the foeman? Who break the tyrant's chain? Float through the aisle, Where moonbeams smile ; Sisters, let our dirge be said No notes of music swell; Float through the aisle, Where moonbeams smile; From the tomb of other years, It whispers not of glory, Nor fame's unfading youth, Where moonbeams smile, SOPHIA HELEN OLIVER. (Born 1811). THIS author was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1811, and in 1837 was married to Dr. J. H. Oliver. The next year she removed to Louisville, whence after a short time she returned to Lexington, and in 1842 she went "I MARK THE HOURS THAT SHINE." Ix fair Italia's lovely land, Deep in a garden bower, A dial marks with shadowy hand And on its fair, unsullied face Is carved this flowing line, (Some wandering bard has paused to trace :) Where many a sweet redeeming grace Go, from the speaking dial learn A lesson all divine- From faults that wound your fancy turn, Nor "mark the hours that shine?" Why sigh for joys still unpossessed, Normark the hours that shine"? All bid desponding care depart, And mark the hours that shine." And ye who bend o'er Friendship's tomb In deep and voiceless wo, Who sadly feel no second bloom Your bighted hearts can knowWhy will ye mourn o'er severed ties While friends around you twine? to reside permanently in Cincinnati, in one of the medical colleges of which city her husband is a professor. Her poems are spirited and fanciful, but are sometimes imperfect in rhythm and have other signs of carelessness. Go! yield your lost one to the skies, Dark with the clouds of care. That dims its light divine, And write upon its gleaming face"I mark the hours that shine." THE CLOUD-SHIP. Lo! over Ether's glorious realm A cloud ship sails with favoring brecze; A bright form stands beside the helm, And guides it o'er the ethereal seas. Far streams on air its banner white, Its swanlike pinions kiss the gale, And now a beam of heaven's light With glory gems the snowy sail...... Perchance, bright bark, your snowy breast And silver-tissued pinions wide, Bear onward to some isle of rest Pure spirits in life's furnace tried. Oh! could we stay each swelling sail Of spotless radiance o'er thee hung, And lift the bright, mysterious veil O'er forms of seraph beauty flungHow would our spirits long to mount And float along the ethereal way, To drink of life's unfailing fount, And bathe in heaven's resplendent day! But lo! the gold-tiara'd West Unfolds her sapphire gates of light; While Day's proud monarch bows his crest, And bids the sighing world Good-night. And now the cloud ship flies along, Her wings with gorgeous colors dressed, And Fancy hears triumphant song Swell from her light-encircled breastAs to the wide unfolded gate, The brilliant portal of the skies, She bears her bright, immortal freight, The glorious soul that never dies! THE SHADOWS. THEY are gliding, they are gliding, O'er the meadows green and gay; Like a fairy troop they're riding Through the breezy woods away; On the mountain-tops they linger When the sun is sinking low, And they point with giant finger To the sleeping vale below. They are flitting, they are flitting, O'er the waving corn and rye, And now they're calmly sitting 'Neath the oak-tree's branches high And where the tired reaper Hath sought the sheltering tree, They dance above the sleeper In light fantastic glee. They are creeping, they are creeping, With its stars and stripes of light; And where the glorious prairies Spread out like garden bowers, They fly along like fairies, Or sleep beneath the flowers. They are leaping, they are leaping, Where a cloud beneath the moon O'er the lake's soft breast is sleeping, Lulled by a pleasant tune; And where the fire is glancing At twilight through the hall, They are lying, they are lying, Lo, they follow-lo, they follow, Will the shadow leave his side- Ye remind me, ye remind me, That friends to earth did bind me, The young, the loved, the cherished, In life's bright noontide perished I greet them with my tears; The friends of earlier years. MINISTERING SPIRITS. THEY are winging, they are winging, Through the thin blue air their way; Unseen harps are softly ringing Round about us, night and day. Lo! the dim blue mist is sweeping Who in being's summer diedWarm, and true, and gentle-hearted— Folds his pinions by my side. Last called from us, loved and dearest- Round thy forehead pure and mild, Fades upon my sight for aye. All the deep and solemn night. Yes, they're winging-yes, they're winging Through the thin blue air their way: Spirit-harps are softly ringing Round about us night and day. MARY E. LEE. (Born 1813-Died 1849.) MISS MARY E. LEE, a daughter of Mr. William Lee, and niece of the late Judge Thomas Lee, of Charleston, South Carolina, has been for many years a frequent contributor to the literary miscellanies, in both prose and verse. Among her best compositions are several poems, in the ballad style, found ed on southern traditions, in which she has shown dramatic skill, and considerable ability in description. One of the best of these is the Indian's Revenge, a Legend of Toccoa, in Four Parts, printed in the Southern Literary Messenger for 1846. Miss Lee is alsc the author of some spirited translations. THE POETS. THE poets-the poets- In mighty strength they tower above A noble race-they mingle not Among the motley throng, But move, with slow and measured steps, Te music-notes along. The poets-the poets What conquests they can boast! Without one drop of life-blood spilt, They rule a world's wide host; Their stainless banner floats unharmed From age to lengthened age; And history records their deeds Upon her proudest page. The poets-the poets- Death, like a thin mist, comes, yet leaves But as yon starry gems that gleam In evening's crystal sky, So have they won, in memory's depths, The poets-the poets- Their bright and spotless lore? And love for them has grown to be The poets-the poets- No tribute is too high to give Those crowned ones among men. The poets! the true poets! Thanks be to God for them! AN EASTERN LOVE-SONG. AWAKE, my silver lute; String all thy plaintive wires, And as the fountain gushes free, So let thy memory chant for me The theme that never tires. Awake, my liquid voice; Like yonder timorous bird, Why dost thou sing in trembling fear, As if by some obtrusive ear Thy secret should be heard? Awake, my heart-yet no! Whose changeless echo singeth o'er My voice! my lute! my heart! The feeble notes of lower earth, THE LAST PLACE OF SLEEP. LAY me not in green wood lone, With rich perfumes swelling. |