LIFE,

A BRIEF HISTORY IN THREE PARTS, WITH A SEQUEL.

BY WILLIAM CUTTER.

PART I. LOVE.

A GLANCE a thought—a blow-
It stings him to the core !
A question-will it lay him low?
Or will time heal it o'er ?

He kindles at the name,

He sits and thinks apart―

Time blows, and blows it to a flame-
It burns within his heart.

He loves it, though it burns,
And nurses it with care,
Feeding the blissful pain, by turns,

With hope, and with despair.

PART II. WOOING.

Sonnets and serenades

Sighs, glances, tears, and vowsGifts, tokens, souvenirs, parades,

And courtesies, and bows.

The stars in the sky!

He wonders how even hope should dare To let him aim so high.

Still hope allures and flatters,

And doubt just makes him boldAnd so, with passion all in tatters, The trembling tale is told.

Confessions, vows, and blushes-
Soft looks, averted eyes—

Each heart into the other rushes

Each yields, each wins-a prize!

A gathering of fond friends-
Brief, solemn words and prayer-
A trembling to the fingers' ends,
As, hand in hand, they swear!

Sweet cake, sweet wine, sweet kisses-
And so the deed is done;

Now, for life's woes and blisses,

The wedded two are one!

And down the shining stream,

They launch their buoyant skiff— Blest-if they may but trust hope's dreamBut ah !-truth echoes—IF!

SEQUEL. "IF."

If health be firm-if friends be true

If self be well controlled

If tastes be pure-if wants be few,

And not too often told,

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If reason always rule the heart,
And passions own its sway—
If love, for aye, to life impart
The zest it gives to-day,-

If Providence, with parent care,
Mete out the varying lot,

While meek contentment bows to share

The palace, or the cot,

And oh if Faith sublime and clear,
The spirit upward guide-

Then blest indeed, and blest fore'er,

The Bridegroom and the Bride!

THE SLAVE IN THE DISMAL SWAMP.

BY HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.

In dark fens of the Dismal Swamp
The hunted Negro lay ;

He saw the fire of the midnight camp,
And heard at times a horse's tramp,
And a bloodhound's distant bay.

Where will-o'-the-wisps and glowworms shine, In bulrush and in brake;

Where waving mosses shroud the pine,

And the cedar grows, and the poisonous vine Is spotted like the snake ;