"Just to think!" exclaimed she, as she clasped those same pearls, that had once been cast aside in scorn, upon her darling--and pure and lovely they shone among her soft, brown curls, and on her snow-white arms and neck, and around her lithe and slender waist--"to think that I could have mistaken Ferdinand, the reigning Duke of Bernstorf, for Ferdinand, the Prince. Really, though, my lady, to look at them, one does not see much difference in their appearance--they are both so handsome and grand-looking. Oh, yes! _you_ see a vast odds in their looks--that's natural! These old eyes, I suppose, are growing dim--but they are bright enough to see that thou art the dearest, loveliest, most beautiful bride that ever the sun shone upon." "_Sic transit gloria mundi._" THE CITY OF MEXICO. WRITTEN WHILE THE WAR WAS PENDING. BY M. E. THROPP. Pride of the South, thy glittering spires Point to the arching sky, While tower and palace proudly rear Their stately forms on high; Thy spacious squares spread far and wide Along the valley green, And bright above thy hundred fanes An hundred crosses gleam. Bland, spring-like breezes, brilliant skies, Birds of gay song and plume, Cool sparkling founts, wide shaded walks, Trees, of eternal bloom, Bright glowing flowers, as fresh and pure As infant's rosy mouth, Rare, tempting fruits--all--all are thine, Sweet City of the South. Around thee lime and citron bowers In peaceful beauty rest, While orange groves stretch far away To blue Tezcuco's breast; Beyond thee giant bulwarks stand, Cordillera's mountain line, And lift along thine azure sky Their silver crests sublime. Ah! thou hast beauty, Southern Queen, And thou hadst wealth and power; But wealth and beauty proved to thee "A darkly glorious dower." Iberia on her rocky heights Beheld thee from afar, And rolled o'er all thy subject clime The lurid tide of war. On thee the mighty torrent burst, And with resistless sway Bore from thy desperate, struggling sons Their gods, their kings away. Then followed weary, weary years, Such as the conquered know, When brave hearts bleed and faint ones break Beneath their weight of wo. Iberia's brood with iron sway Kept down thy fallen ones, And bonds and stripes were freely doled To thy degraded sons; Then spear and lance were left to rust Along thy bannered walls, Thine eagle drooped and strangers dwelt In "Montezuma's halls." Oppression's long dark night of pain At length wore slowly on, And, radiant 'mid receding gloom, Hope heralded the dawn. Day broke, and Freedom's glorious sun Uprose o'er thine and thee, While thy clear bells with silvery chime Proclaimed a country FREE.