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FARE-THEE WELL.

AYE, be it so! The clouds around me bending,
Thy sunnier lot in life must never shade:
Hopes withered wishes on the heart descending,
Must never cause that smiling lip to fade;
Enough that we have met, though sad the parting-
Enough, if I have shrined within thy heart
One simple thought - ah, but one lingering feeling-
With which, without a sigh, thou wouldst not part.

Then fare-thee-well! whate'er the fate betiding-
Whate'er of grief, or joy, may chance to me-
Oh, may Love's rainbow ever o'er thee bending,
Hallow a life of bright tranquillity.

And, when of me all memory hath perished,

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If chance as chance it may-thou hear'st my name, Think 'tis of one whose thoughts of thee are cherishedWho-dead to love-had lived alone for fame.

EDMUND FLAGG.

AGE, 39 YEARS.

Hon. EDMUND FLAGG is the only son of the late Edmund Flagg, of Chester, N. H., and was born in the town of Wiscasset, on the twenty-fourth day of November, 1815. He graduated with distinction at Bowdoin College, in the class of 1835, and immediately went West with his mother and sister, passing the winter at Louisville, teaching the classics to a few boys, and contributing largely to Prentice's 'Louisville Journal.' The summer of 1836, he passed in wandering over the expansive prairies of Illinois and Missouri, writing 'Sketches of a Traveller,' for the 'Louisville Journal,' which were afterwards published in a work entitled 'The Far West.' During the succeeding fall and winter, Mr. Flagg read law with the Hon. Hamilton Gamble, now Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri, and commenced practice in the Courts. In 1838, he edited the 'St. Louis Daily Commercial Bulletin,' and during that fall, published 'The Far West,' in two volumes, from the press of the Harpers. In December, he became connected with George D. Prentice, Esq., in conducting 'The Louisville Literary News-Letter,' but on account of ill health, in the following spring, he accepted an invitation to practice law with the Hon. Seargent S. Prentiss, of Vicksburg, Miss. While here Mr. Flagg was severely wounded in a duel with the noted desperado and duelist, Dr. James Hagan, editor of the Vicksburg Sentinel,' and who was killed in a duel two years after. In 1842, he conducted the " 'Gazette,' published at Marietta, Ohio, and at the same time wrote two novels'Carrero; or, The Prime Minister," and 'Francis of Valois,' which were published in New-York. In 1844 and 5, he conducted the 'St. Louis Evening Gazette;' and for several years succeeding was 'Reporter of the Courts,' of St. Louis County. In the meantime, he pub

lished several prize novels, among which were 'The Howard Queen,' 'Blanche of Artois, and also several dramas, that were successfully produced in the theatres of St. Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati, and NewYork.

In the spring of 1848, Mr. Flagg went out as Secretary to the Hon. Edward A. Hannegan, American Minister to Berlin, which afforded him an opportunity to travel over England, Germany and France. On his return, he again located at St. Louis, and resumed the practice of law. In 1850, he received the appointment of Consul for the Port of Venice, under the administration of President Fillmore. He visited England and Wales, and travelled through central Europe, to Venice, and entered upon the duties of his consulate, corresponding in the meantime with several of the New-York Journals. In the fall of 1851, he visited Florence, Rome, Naples, and the other Italian cities, and in November, embarked at Marseilles, for New-Orleans, and on his arrival proceeded to St. Louis, and took charge of the Democratic organ at that place, and conducted it through the Presidential canvass of 1852. The following year, his last work was published in New-York, in two illustrated volumes, entitled 'Venice, The City of the Sea,' and comprises the history of that celebrated capital, from the invasion by Napoleon, in 1797, to its capitulation to Radetzky, after its renovation and the terrible seige of 1848 and 49. A third volume, to be entitled 'North Italy since 1849,' is, we understand, nearly ready for publication. In 1853 and '54, a series of elegant illustrated works, issued in numbers, were published by Meyer, in New-York, under the title of the United States Illustrated.' The larger portion of the Sketches in these works, referring to the West, were contributed by Mr. Flagg. He is now Chief Clerk of a Bureau in the Department of State, at Washington, which office he has filled for several years. As a prose writer, Mr. Flagg takes a high rank in the literature of our country, and is destined to achieve a fame that his native State may well be proud to honor. As a poet, he occupies a prominent position among our second class poets.

THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR.

Ir is the night's lone hour!

The trooping winds have ceased their wint'ry wail

And, quietly, like sleeping seraphim,

Lie pillow'd on the dim and distant cloud.

The many stars like the weird warders

Of an angel-host, look sadly down

From their far, heavenly homes, in mournful beauty,
On our world of sorrow; and the placid wave
Heaves to the presence of her stately queen,
And silvery clouds enfold their loosen'd robes,
And, languidly, as wearied visions, sweep
Around her throne; -watching the death-bed,
Of the dying year, as fondly as they watched
His hour of birth; - looking upon our world
With the same calm and guardian watchfulness,
With the self-same serene and holy love,
As though they ne'er had wept o'er scenes of blood,
And earth had never known of desolation.
Oh, to a soul, not wed to this dark world, -
A heart which yearneth for a holier sphere,
There is a beauty on Night's queenly brow,
Deck'd in her jewel'd tiara of stars,
Which, with a power unspeakable, appeals!
It tells of wasted years, and shatter'd dreams, -

Of violated vows, and vanish'd joys,

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And shrouded memories; and, as we kneel,

The pale, sweet images around us rise

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