Part 5

A pleased light shone in the maiden's eyes; Ah, love, young love, it is very sweet! Reuben had gone, but she sat quite still, And the knitting lay untouched at her feet.

Just then the dame came bustling in, And went to the oven without ado. "Why, Phoebe, child, what have you done? The bread is baked as black as my shoe!"

And Phoebe started, and blushed for shame, Took up her knitting and dropped it down; And when her aunt said, "What ails you, child?" She hastily answered, "Reuben Brown."

Ah, love! young love! it is very sweet, In field, or hamlet, or crowded mart; But it burns with the brightest, purest flame In the hidden depths of a young maid's heart.

THE LOST HEART.

One golden summer day, Along the forest-way, Young Colin passed with blithesome steps alert.

His locks with careless grace Rimmed round his handsome face And drifted outward on the airy surge.

So blithe of heart was he, He hummed a melody, And all the birds were hushed to hear him sing.

Across his shoulders flung His bow and baldric hung: So, in true huntsman's guise, he threads the wood.

The sun mounts up the sky, The air moves sluggishly, And reeks with summer heat in every pore.

His limbs begin to tire, Slumbers his youthful fire; He sinks upon a violet-bed to rest.

The soft winds go and come With low and drowsy hum, And ope for him the ivory gate of dreams.

Beneath the forest-shade There trips a woodland maid, And marks with startled eye the sleeping youth.

At first she thought to fly, Then, timid, drawing nigh, She gazed in wonder on his fair young face.

When swiftly stooping down Upon his locks so brown She lightly pressed her lips, and blushing fled.

When Colin woke from sleep, From slumbers calm and deep, He felt--he knew not how--his heart had flown.

And so, with anxious care, He wandered here and there, But could not find his lost heart anywhere.

Then he, with air distraught, And brow of anxious thought, Went out into the world beyond the wood.

Of each that passed him by, He queried anxiously, "I prithee, hast thou seen a heart astray?"

Some stared and hurried on, While others said in scorn. "Your heart has gone in search of your lost wits"

The day is wearing fast, Young Colin comes at last To where a cottage stood embowered in trees.

He looks within, and there He sees a maiden fair, Who sings low songs the while she plies her wheel.

"I prithee, maiden bright,"-- She turns as quick as light, And straight a warm flush crimsons all her face.

She, much abashed, looks down, For on his locks so brown She seems to see the marks her lips have made.

Whereby she stands confest; What need to tell the rest? He said, "I think, fair maid, you have my heart.

"Nay, do not give it back, I shall not feel the lack, If thou wilt give to me thine own therefor."

JOHN MAYNARD.

'Twas on Lake Erie's broad expanse One bright midsummer day, The gallant steamer Ocean Queen Swept proudly on her way. Bright faces clustered on the deck, Or, leaning o'er the side, Watched carelessly the feathery foam That flecked the rippling tide.