VICTORIA'S TEARS. The world hath its delights, But home to calmer bliss invites, The mountain flood is strong, While gently rolls the stream along The peaceful valley's side. Life's charities, like light, Spread smilingly afar; But stars, approached, become more bright, The pilgrim's step in vain Seeks Eden's sacred ground; But in home's holy joys again An Eden may be found. A glance of heaven to see Is but an earlier heaven. -7. Bowring. VICTORIA'S TEARS. O MAIDEN! heir of kings! The majesty of death has swept All other from his face; And thou, upon thy mother's breast, No longer lean adown, But take the glory for the rest, And rule the land that loves thee best. She wept to wear a crown. 17 They decked her courtly halls, Her name has stirred the mountain's sleep, And mourners God had stricken deep Who wept to wear a crown. She saw no purple shine, For tears had dimmed her eyes; And while the heralds played their part "God save the Queen!" from hill to mart, She wept to wear a crown. God save the weeping Queen! Yea, wept to wear its crown. God bless thee, weeping queen, With blessing more divine, And fill with better love than earth's That tender heart of thine; That when the thrones of earth shall be To wear that heavenly crown. -Mrs. Browning. HUNTING SONG. WAKEN, lords and ladies gay! With hawk and horse and hunting-spear; Hawks are whistling, horns are knelling, Merrily, merrily, mingle they, "Waken, lords and ladies gay." Waken, lords and ladies gav! Waken, lords and ladies gay, BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN. We can show the marks he made Louder, louder chant the lay, Time, stern huntsman, who can balk? Sir W. Scott. BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN. OH! deem not they are blest alone The light of smiles shall fill again The lids that overflow with tears; And weary hours of woe and pain Are promises of happier years. There is a day of sunny rest For every dark and troubled night; And thou who, o'er thy friend's low bier, Nor let the good man's trust depart, |