He remained in the hospital eight or ten weeks, slowly recovering his strength. He was two hundred miles from home; poor, feeble, and in this sad condition, he resolved to attempt a journey home on foot. A young man, who was his intimate friend and fellow-townsman, agreed to be his guide and protector, and they started on their melancholy journey. If the sketch, thus far, has awakened any interest, the writer will cheerfully communicate some touching incidents connected with the “soldier’s return home.” What is _your_ opinion, Mr. Merry? A SOLDIER’S DAUGHTER. [Music:] Evening. WORDS AND MUSIC COMPOSED FOR MERRY’S MUSEUM; THE LATTER BY GEO. J. WEBB. How sweet when the daylight In summer is flown, And the soft veil of evening Is thrown o’er the scene, ’Mid dewdrops and fragrance To wander alone, As free as the fairies That dance on the green. How changed is each scene! Though familiar it be, Now strange and fantastic It comes to the eye,―― E’en the sigh of the zephyr, That rustles the tree, Seems the whisper of spirits That stoop from the sky. The stars, that shrunk back All abashed from the gaze, When the sun in his glory Shone down from above, Now timid and tender Melt the soul with their rays, And woo it to Heaven On pinions of love. Sweet Evening――how fair Are thy charms to the heart, And how blest thus to wander With thee all alone! Yet dearer――far dearer, Blest Evening, thou art, When I praise thee to Mary. And call her my own! MERRY’S MUSEUM. Vol. VII. APRIL, 1844. No. 4. [Illustration (cow in pasture)] APRIL [Illustration: A]pril has stolen in upon us, and deserves a welcome at our hands. In our New England climate it is not so gentle as in some other lands. It brings us no flowers, but still, the blue-bird and the robin visit us, and tell us of a thousand pleasant things that May and June will bring with them. This month has been thus described by a lively and pleasant writer.