The inspiring snow storm whistled round, And Nancy blushes at the sound, For now pale Sol’s returning ray, Proclaims how near the nuptial day, Her bosom beats: she knows not why. She starts to think the hour so nigh, When she her plighted vows must pay, And learn that fearful word, Obey, The word is not so hard my dear As our proud sex would make us fear. When love and friendship tie the band, Easy the chain, light the command. Now see her hurrying round the room, Come Betsy pray put up the broom The hearth is clear enough I’m sure Lewis will come in half an hour, And then that sewing wont be done There look the sleighs begin to run I’ll send for Susan right away, Last year she promised me a day And Sally too engaged a day, Norman shall bring them right away, Now fancy wing thy airy flight, To where Charles views with wild delight, The falling snow more swift appear, And in a bride suit deck the year, Not half so sweet I hear him say Is Spring when drest by bloom in May Not half so sweet are evening showers That raise the drooping sun-burnt flowers As this drear storm; they cant impart Such rapture to a lover’s heart. Now you’ll see him hurrying down His sleigh bells heard in every town Windows are filled, heads at each square Each wondering much what beau goes there, Heaven bless you! and may you never know The sting of sorrow, or the throb of woe May no dark cloud your shining days o’ercast But still each sun shine brighter than the last. [A fragment.] When tired with dansing I retir’d to rest My drowsy eyes with wellcome sleep were blest Me thought my soul had took _her_ last farewell And now in Paradice had come to dwell While wondering what kind angel brought me here The sound of sweetest music reach’d my ear Such at the Heavenly airs of Paradice Play’d to departed souls, who freed from vice Have safe arriv’d upon that blissful shore Where happiness awaits them ever more Ye heavenly powers who hear my prayer Grant me the art to join this heavenly choir Tis what I never could obtain below— The music ceas’d and seem’d to answer No Sighing I make’d the visions disappear But pleas’d I found the heaven’ly music here [Illustration: PL. XXXIV.—JANE R. LEWIS From pencil sketch ]