CL. A CHARACTER-AND A QUESTION. A DUBIOUS, strange, uncomprehended life,- A daughter of the pit, and-strongly bound By coils of snake-like hair about him woundDies straining hard to raise the severing knife. For such a sunken soul what room in Heaven? Stars in His hand, and shall not He judge well! CLI. ONLY A WOMAN'S HAIR. "Only a woman's hair."-SWIFT. "A special despatch in the 'Tagblatt,' states that Wagner's body was laid in the coffin by the widow herself, who, last night, cut off the beautiful hair her husband so admired and placed it in a red cushion under the head of the departed."—" Standard," Feb. 17th, 1883. "ONLY a woman's hair!" We may not guess Of love's victorious everlastingness. Such love, O mute musician, doth provide ULII. THE RAINBOW. THE raindrops shimmered down the beamy sky: 19 'Behold," one sang, "how gloriously bright The golden garments of the King of light!”"Golden! O drop, a beam is in thine eye!" A second cries; "His robe's of crimson dye.' "Ye both are blind," another shouts: "my sight Is clear, and with the purple veil of night Our monarch is arrayed in mystery." Thus wrangling, shouting, hopeless to agree, When they arose from out the cold, dark deep, The sun sat throned in stainless majesty, While down a cloud they saw the rainbow sweep. CLIII. BY THE SEA. AH! wherefore do I haunt the shadowy tomb, Ashpale dumb wastes, impenetrably dead, He hath been summoned ! and I hold my post Here on the threshold, thirsty for one breath Released from yonder ! leave me ! I love my night, More than abounding pulses of your light! CLIV. IN MEMORY OF F. C. C. 6th May 1882. FAIR Soul, who in this faltering age did show Fair souls, and wept, like thee, with lifelong tears |