But pensive Twilight steals along,

And bids me close my artless song,

And seek again the happy dome

Which I have learnt to call my home,

To pass the cheerful hours away

In joys as innocent, as gay,

"Midst fondest friends, as good as kind,

Of souls exalted, and refin'd,

Where Friendship, and Benevolence

Have ta'en their blissful residence,

And ever-lovely Sympathy,

Of sunny smile, and tearful eye :

Oh! may these Virtues still attend them,

And heavenly Blessings aye befriend them;

May all their fondest hopes be crown'd,

And every holy joy abound;

May tranquil Peace, and Piety

Still dwell with sacred Harmony;
All heavenly Graces linger here,

THE ROSE OF SHARON.

Song of Solomon, ch. ii v. 1.

THERE is a flower of heavenly birth

That once bloom'd sweetly here on earth,

Of perfect beauty, matchless worth

The lovely Rose of Sharon !

Tho' now it blooms above the skies

In Heaven's bright land of Paradise,

'Tis still beheld by Faith's pure eyesThe blooming Rose of Sharon!

No flower so fair on Earth is found,
Nor ever grew in hallow'd ground,
In blissful Eden's garden mound,

Sweeter than every flower that blows

That e'er in Grace's garden grows,

Is heaven's immortal blooming rose—

The red, red Rose of Sharon !

This flower of worth to Faith is given

To ease the heart when wrung, and riven,

And fill it with the joys of Heaven—

Joyous the Rose of Sharon !

No sharp, repelling thorn it bears

In winning grace its form it rears,

And sweetly smiles thro' dewy tears

Sweet is the Rose of Sharon !

"Tis stained deep in crimson dyes,

It breathes its incense thro' the skies,

And cheers the heart, and charms the eyes

Rare is the Rose of Sharon!

With odorous sweets its leaves o'erflow

A cordial balm for every woe

That mortals here endure below

O precious Rose of Sharon!

Tis fraught with sovereign, healing art

To sooth the bleeding, aching heart,

And breathe new life thro' every part

Reviving Rose of Sharon !

Mysterious flower! from whence we borrow

Our light in darkness, joy in sorrow,

And Hope to light the distant morrow—

Bright is the Rose of Sharon!

In wintry skies 'twill sweetly bloom,

Thro' season's change, in darkest gloom,

And live beyond the day of doom