A distant boatman plied the oar, All sparkling with its golden spray, His voice came softened to the shore, Then melted with the dying day! And when the last bright lines on high Departed as the twilight came, A large star showed its lone, sweet eye All margined with a cloud of flame! The winds were hushed. Their latest breath In soft, low murmurs died afar-- The rippling of the wave beneath Showed dancing there that one bright star! So fair a scene, so sweet an hour, Were felt and passed. In stilly calm They shed around me beauty's power, Yet gave no peace, and brought no balm. I was alone! I saw no eyes With mine gaze on the twilight sea-- No heart returned my lonely sighs-- No lips breathed sympathy with me. I was alone! I looked above. That star seemed happy thus to lave Its fairy light and glance of love Deep in the bosom of the wave. I gazed no more! The blinding tear Rose from my heart, and dimmed my sight. Had one dear voice then whispered near, That scene how changed!--That heart how light! My soul was swelling like the sea! Had thine eyes gleamed there with mine own, That soul a mirror true to thee On ev'ry wave thyself had shown! MRS. PELBY SMITH'S SELECT PARTY. BY MRS. A. M. F. ANNAN. "Mrs. Goldsborough's party is to-night, is it not?" said Mr. Pelby Smith to his wife; "are we going my dear?" "_Apropos_ of parties," returned she, waiving the question; "I don't see how we are to get on any longer without giving one ourselves." "Why so, my dear? We cannot afford to give a party, and that will be an apology all-sufficient to a woman of Cousin Sabina's sense." "Cousin Sabina!" exclaimed Mrs. Smith; "as if I, or any one else, ever thought of going to the trouble of a party for a plain old maid, like cousin Sabina Incledon!" "My dear, I wish you would not speak in that way of Cousin Sabina; she is an excellent woman, of superior mind, and manners to command respect in any society." "That may be _your_ opinion, Mr. Smith," answered the lady tartly; "mine is that a quiet old maid, from somewhere far off in the country, and with an income of two or three hundred dollars a year, would not make much of a figure in _our_ society. At all events, I shan't make a trial of it." "I thought you alluded to her visit as making it incumbent on us to give a party," said Mr. Smith meekly; "there is no other reason, I believe." "You will allow me to have some judgment in such matters, Mr. Smith. I think it is absolutely necessary that we should, that is, if we wish to go to parties for the future. We have been going to them all our lives without giving any, and people will grow tired of inviting us." "Then, my dear, why not make up our minds to stay at home. I would rather." "But _I_ would not, Mr. Smith. I shall go to parties as long as possible. My duty to my children requires it." Mr. Smith opened his eyes as wide as his timidity would let him.