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56    MRS. LITTLE.

The happiest praises of a sweeter song,
From a more gifted lyre than doth to me belong.

While these enjoy the mirth that suits their years,
  Round the home-fires their peaceful elders meet;
A gentler mirth their friendly converse cheers,
  And yet, though calm their pleasures, they are sweet.
Through the cold shadows of the autumn day
  Oft breaks the sunshine with as genial heat,
As o'er the soft and sapphire skies of May,
  Though nature then be young, and exquisitely gay.

On the white wings of peace their days have flown,
  Nor wholly were they thrall'd by earthly cares;
But from their hearts to heaven's paternal throne
  Arose the daily incense of their prayers.
  And now, as low the sun of being wears,
The God to whom their morning vows were paid,
  Each grateful offering in remembrance bears;——
And cheering beams of mercy are display'd,
To gild with heavenly hopes their evening's pensive shade.

But now, farewell to thee, thanksgiving day!
  Thou angel of the year! One bounteous hand
The horn of deep abundance doth display,
  Raining its rich profusion o'er the land;
  The other arm, outstretch'd with gesture grand,
Pointing its upraised finger to the sky,
  Doth the warm tribute of our thanks demand,
For Him, the Father God, who from on high
Sheds gleams of purest joy o'er man's dark destiny.


MARIA A. BROOKS,

  KNOWN in the literary world as Maria del Occidente, was a descendant of an ancient Welsh family of the name of Gowan, and was born in Medford, near Boston, 1795.  The remarkable genius, which has won for her such a lofty reputation, showed itself at a very early age.  The finest passages in Milton and Shakspeare were treasured in her memory before she was eight years old; and she soon obtained a thorough acquaintance with all the best English authors.  By the time she was twelve, she had acquired an exquisite skill in music and painting, and could converse easily in many of the modern languages.  Besides these accomplishments, she had an unusually familiar knowledge of the literature of olden times, the ancient fathers, and Oriental writers, the classic poets, and histories and fables of Greece and Rome.  She was betrothed at fourteen, and married, as soon as her education was finished, to Mr. Brooks, a merchant of Boston.  Her first publication appeared in 1820, called Judith, Esther, and other Poems, by a lover of the Fine Arts; which was highly praised in some of the English, as well as American journals.
  Her husband died in 1821; and soon after his death Mrs. Brooks went to live in Cuba.  This was her favourite place of residence; she visited Europe, and afterwards lived several years at West Point,(in the vicinity of the military academy, where one of her sons was educated;) but always returned with peculiar satisfaction to her southern home.  The warmth of the climate and luxuriance of its vegetation, suited well her poetical temperament; their influence may be seen in all her productions.  The poem upon which the fame of Mrs. Brooks principally rests, which led Southey to designate her as "the most impassioned and most imaginative of all poetesses," is Zóphiël; or, the Bride of Seven, finished in 1831. It is indeed a curious work of genius; containing passages full of vigour, warmth and brilliancy.  Many of her descriptions glow before your eyes like the rich painting of a master's hand; where, the longer you look, the more beauty you discover; finding, even in the darkest shadows, forms instinct with life and expression.  The story is one that cannot attract much interest, or elicit much sympathy; but the fine thoughts scattered throughout amply reward those who read it through; 

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