And one, in beauty of majestic form, Who stands erect, with scorn like lightning’s gleam Darting from eyes as black as ebon-storm, When midnight revels with its vivid beam— Who will not brook a sister’s sacred vow, The solemn faith, the strange baptismal rite— Who will not bend in holy praise, or bow, When in deep prayer the list’ning throng unite. Oh! in this hour, while angels’ harps are swelling, The rich rejoicing of the upper skies, While the sweet anthem of the earth is telling That one crush’d wild flower ’neath the altar lies. Would that a ray, from that pure shrine descending, Might pierce the darkness of thy forest kind— Lighting a pathway that to thee is lending Thy surest hope the spirit-home to find. A. F. H. * * * * * THE REEFER OF ’76. BY THE “AUTHOR OF CRUIZING IN THE LAST WAR.” BON HOMME RICHARD. The time sped merrily away in _la belle France_, and months passed, leaving us still in port. In fact, when our craft came to be surveyed, it was found that her hull was so rotten, as to make it dangerous for us to put to sea in her, until she had been thoroughly overhauled. This occasioned some delay. Having but little to do, and finding society thrown freely open to them, the officers spent most of their time in the interchange of courtesies with their affable entertainers. There was beside a good number of French naval officers in the place, and many a wild meeting took place betwixt our mess and them. At length, however, I tired of this, and hearing that Paul Jones was in Paris, I set off for the capital. That singular individual was, at this time, engaged in fitting out the Bon Homme Richard and her accompanying squadron, preparatory to a cruise off the English coasts. He was all enthusiasm as to the success of the expedition, but found great difficulty in procuring a fitting crew. He received me warmly, recognizing me at once, and flatteringly calling to mind several of the affairs in which I had been engaged, and my conduct in which he thought proper to commend. I was gratified by his notice, and spoke in reply something, I know not what, respecting his own career. His eye kindled as he answered—