Through the field-paths let your feet
Lingering go in pleasant thought!
Out through dells the violet's haunting!
Out where golden rivers run!

Where the wallflower's gaily flaunting
In the livery of the sun!

Trip it through the shadows, hiding
Down in hollow winding lanes !

Where through leaves the sunshine gliding

Deep with gold the woodland stains!

Where, in all her pomp of weeds,

Nature, asking but the thanks

Of our pleasure, richly pranks
Painted heaths and wayside banks,
Smooth-mown lawns and green deep meads!
Leave the noisy bustling town

For still glade and breezy down!
Haste away

To meet the May,

This is Earth's great holiday!

THE TORCH-RACE.

FLASH on the torch, bright as it shone
Ere Athens, foremost in the race,
Athens, so swift who bore it on,

Exhausted, gave to Sparta place ;
Fierce flamed it in that iron clasp,

In Thebes' free hold how next it shone ! Then Greece resign'd it from her grasp; On-flash the torch of freedom on!

Then she the savage she-wolf found,
Who by the Tiber made her lair,
Caught the bright glory with a bound,

And, shouting, whirl'd it on through air; Through trembling nations on she pass'd, Till on the North the splendour shone, That tore it from her grasp at last;

On-flash the torch of freedom on!

Then, feebly borne, it flickering kept
Its wavering course till Milan came
To glorious youth, and forward leapt,
And toss'd along the living flame;
Nor, of Italia's daughters, sole

Was she on whose fair form it shone;
Fair Florence swept it towards the goal.
On-flash the torch of freedom on!

Then fiery Ghent the splendour flash'd
Red onward through the night around;
On with its glare Helvetia dash'd

From fierce Morgarten, bound on bound;
From Spain's fell grasp, free Holland burst;
On Leyden's deluged walls it shone;
It glared where Haarlem dared war's worst.
On-flash the torch of freedom on!

Then England, with a mighty cry,

A cry that through the earth still rings, Caught the bright splendour, whirl'd it high, And flamed it in the eyes of kings; Trembling, earth's tyrants heard her shout; On Naseby's ranks the fierce glare shone; It flared along the Boyne's red rout; On-flash the torch of freedom on!

Thrice, fiery France, through shriek and yell,
Right on the streaming glory bore;
Thrice from her gory grasp it fell,

Her grip that strains for it once more.
How Belgium seized it, fame can tell;
How from Sardinia's hold it's shone,

The night of Italy knows well.

On-flash the torch of freedom on!

And thou, O Anak of the West,

Thou who hast full-grown sprung to birth,

Young giant, how shalt thou be blest

To stream its glory round the earth!

D

Thou great one, sprung from this great land,
Long from our grasp its splendour's shone;
Thou hast its glory from our hand.
On-flash the torch of freedom on!

THE WIFE'S APPEAL.

O DON'T go in to-night, John!
Now, husband, don't go in!
To spend our only shilling, John,
Would be a cruel sin.

There's not a loaf at home, John;

There's not a coal, you know;
Though with hunger I am faint, John,

And cold comes down the snow.

Then don't go in to-night!

Ah, John, you must remember,
And John, I can't forget,
When never foot of yours, John,

Was in the alehouse set.

Ah, those were happy times, John,
No quarrels then we knew,
And none were happier in our lane,
Than I, dear John, and you.

Then don't go in to-night!

You will not go! John, John, I mind,
When we were courting, few

Had arm as strong or step as firm

Or cheek as red as you:

But drink has stolen your strength, John,
And paled your cheek to white,

Has tottering made your young firm tread,
And bow'd your manly height.

You'll not go in to-night!

You'll not go in? Think on the day

That made me, John, your wife,

What pleasant talk that day we had
Of all our future life!

Of how your steady earnings, John,
No wasting should consume,
But weekly some new comfort bring
To deck our happy room.

Then don't go in to-night!

To see us, John, as then we dress'd,
So tidy, clean, and neat,
Brought out all eyes to follow us
As we went down the street.
Ah, little thought our neighbours then,
And we as little thought,

That ever, John, to rags like these

By drink we should be brought.

You won't go in to-night!

And will you go? If not for me,
Yet for your baby stay!

You know, John, not a taste of food
Has pass'd my lips to-day;
And tell your father, little one,

"Tis mine your life hangs on;

You will not spend the shilling, John? You'll give it him? Come, John, Come home with us to-night!

DRAW DOWN YOUR VEIL.

DRAW down your veil;
Those laughing eyes
Must only tell

To mine the tale

Their bright replies

Can glance so well!

Have I to learn,

Pout not your lip!

How some you meet

36

LISETTE IN AUSTRALIA.

Will backward turn,

To watch you trip
Along the street ?

Nay, you and I

Could doubtless tell

How once those eyes,

As one went by,

To his, too well

Laugh'd sweet replies.

LISETTE IN AUSTRALIA.

THEY say that, while here, Liz,
Our winter we know,
The skies of your far land
With bright summer glow;
That June's blushing roses
For you, love, appear,
While bloomless December
And frosts chill us here;
So still may kind fate, love,

My heart's fond will do

To me give the winter,
The summer to you.

Yes, if both our paths, Liz,
May not feel the sun,
If gloom be for one, Liz,
And light but for one;

If but one through sunshine
And roses must go,

One, fortune's bleak blasts still

Be doom'd, Liz, to know:

Oh! still may kind fate, love,

My heart's fond will do,

To me give the grief, Liz,

The gladness to you!