Could I watch the sun declining Till the skies with crimson burn, Till the moon-beams softly shining Might forgotten thoughts return! Could I take my seat beside thee, Where the bees' soft lull is heard, And the young maturing foliage By the breath of home is stirred! Wherefore, wherefore am I turning To conceal my bitter tears! Wherefore, O my heart, this yearning For the home of earlier years Dearest, ever faithful brother, Is that home unchanged to thee? While I wander with another, Does thy heart's love follow me? Dost thou miss me in the morning? Am I missed at close of day? Canst thou let me be forgotten While afar my footsteps stray? Let me know my brother loves me, That the hearts of home are warm-- Then the heavens may frown above me, And I will not heed the storm! 'TIS GOLD! 'TIS GOLD! BY JAMES L. ROCHE. What is it worldlings bow before, And thieves and murderers adore; Corrupts the young, and damns the old 'Tis gold! 'tis gold! 'Tis not for me! my heart detests Its haughty rule, its proud behests; It turns the warmest natures cold, Corrupting gold! corrupting gold! What is it dooms to live and die Unblest, the hearts it could not buy? Betrays the honest, tries the bold? 'Tis gold! 'tis gold! 'Tis not for me! &c. What is it sets one friend, one brother, In deadly strife against another? The kind, warm heart turns selfish, cold 'Tis gold! 'tis gold! 'Tis not for me! &c. What is it that doth Earth subdue, And _thinks_ to conquer Heaven too? That doth o'er ALL dominion hold? 'Tis gold! 'tis gold! 'Tis not for me! &c. What is it tempts th' unguarded soul, From God, and from its destined goal? Accursed thing! still be it told, 'Tis gold! 'tis gold! 'Tis not for me! &c. THE WRECK. BY MRS. E. LOCK, OF CALCUTTA, AUTHORESS OF A VOLUME OF POEMS ENTITLED "LEISURE HOURS," AN "EDUCATIONAL WORK IN THE BENGALI LANGUAGE," ETC. ETC. Mark yonder light bark 'mid the whitening surge, And, hark! how the loud storm is breaking Around her frail sides, while the howling winds call; Destruction's dread powers are waking! Ay, stand on the rock and behold the last shock, It has shivered her deck, and no more Her pennons will stream in the sun's glancing beam-- Her voyage forever is o'er! Down 'neath the wave she sinks! none can save; Let us bid her adieu, for, ah! never She'll meet with the light of her Cynosure bright, For the sea has closed o'er her forever!