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230   EMMA C. EMBURY

But the bonds that earth entwineth
Are all too weak to stay, 
When the far off Heaven shineth, 
The spirit's upward way. 

Thou hast left us, and for ever;
Thy smile of quiet mirth, 
Thy low sweet voice, shall never
Soothe our aching hearts on earth;
The joys thy presence cherished
Like mourning dreams have fled, 
And many a fair hope perished
Upon thy narrow bed. 
For the love that we have borne thee
Thy loss we needs must weep, 
But even while we mourn thee, 
We envy thee thy sleep.

Love Me Still. 

When 'mid the festive scene we meet, 
To joyous bosoms dear, 
Though other voices fall more seet
Upon thy listening ear, 
Yet scorn not though my ruder tone; 
Oh! think my heart is all thine own, 
And love me still. 

When o'er young Beauty's cheek of rose
Thine eye delighted strays, 
Half proud to watch the blush that glows
Beneath thine ardent gaze, 
Oh! think that but for sorrow's blight
My faded cheek had yet been bright, 
And love me still. 


EMMA C. EMBURY.   231

Poor, But Happy.

We'll have a cot
Upon the banks of some meandering stream, 
Whose ripple, like the murmur of a dream, 
Shall be our music: roses there shall twine
Around the casement, with the jessamine, 
Whose starry blossoms shine out from beneath
Their veiling leaves, like hope, and whose faint breath
Is sweet as memory's perfume.  All the flowers
That nature in her richest bounty showers
Shall deck our home: fresh violets, that, like light, 
And love, and hope, dwell everywhere; the bright
And fragrant honeysuckle, too; our feet
Shall press the daisy's bloom.  Oh! 't will be sweet
to sit within the porch at eventide, 
And drink the breath of heaven at thy dear side.
The sky will wear a smile unseen before, 
The sun for me more genial light will pour, 
Earth will give out its treasures rich and rare, 
New health will come in every balmy air. 

Then thou wilt ope to me great Nature's book, 
And nightly on the star-gemmed heavens we'll look';
Thou, with the pride of knowledge, wilt unfold
The mighty chart where science is enrolled, 
And gaily smile when I recount to thee
My wild and wayward flights of fantasy;
For the frail beings of my dreamy heaven
Shrink from the light by scholiast wisdom given. 
Wilt thou not joy to see the vivid glow
Of my expanded mind, when I shall owe
Its treasures all to thee?

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-29 10:11:14