Then think an' 'twere na just whiles worth Wi' germs o' friendship's e'er-green birth That ne'er may cloy, Than coldly thin our present dearth O' mortal joy! TO A SNOW-DROP. WEE, pallid flower, wi' drooping head, While twilight's balmy dews are shed Upon thy leaves, Almost I deem, as here I tread, Thou silent grieves! Sweet emblem thou o' pensive woe, They fall upon thy crest o' snow, But wake no sheen; An' play untented round, as though They ne'er had been. Dear to the sight, thou bonny gem! Thou put'st the gaudy rose to shame, Whiles like the charm o' modest worth Thou show'st thy spotless mantle forth, An' wi' a soft unsmiling mirth Thou fill'st thy place, And shed'st o'er thy wee spot o' earth A heavenly grace! JEPHTHAH'S RASH VOW. FROM Minnith's distant battle-plains the conquering Jephthah came, His home he saw-and dread unknown 'till then subdued his frame; With heavy heart he journeyed on- -What moves the warrior now ? Exults he o'er his victory?-or saddens at his Vow? Who comes with light and jocund step, fond fold, and welcome sweet, And dance, and timbrel, gay and glad, the Gileadite tò greet? Oh God! who heard'st that vow-tis SHE! his own, his only child, Who smiles upon him fondly now:-oh would she ne'er had smiled! Would she had known his early fate-in exile doomed to rove, Thrust from a father's happy home, and from a father's love; Then had he never felt the pang that wrings his bosom's core, Nor come in peace from Ammon's sons, his daughter to deplore. But on she came and joy, -all love and life, and innocence Nor thought how soon that dream of bliss a father should destroy; |