Brightness marked thy pathway here; Stars, and skies, far, blue, and clear, Gorgeous clouds and silvery haze Floating in the streaming rays; Love, and hope, and joyous mirth, Such as in young hearts have birth; Soon will be a lasting close! Come not breathings of repose? Fare thee well! Fades the thronging dream of life Through the mist of mortal strife; Rends the veil that shrouds the real From the vast and lone ideal; Spectres wild, and quaint, and strange, Flitting gleam in hurried change O'er the Future's magic glass; They are passing--Thou wilt pass! Fare thee well! Paler grows thy lustrous eye, As the light of sunset sky, Death-damps chill are on thy brow, White and cold as moon-lit snow. As a bird with wounded wing, Now thy heart is fluttering; Soon 't will rest, to beat no more-- Pang and thrill alike be o'er! Fare thee well! In the shadowy dome of dreams Mournful light of Memory streams O'er the voiceless forms and still That the busy Past did fill. Far from wreck of wo and weeping, They in stormless peace are sleeping; There thy sisters long have gone, Thither _thou_ wilt soon be flown-- Fare thee well! Music that ends not in tears, Love that knows no boding fears, Tones that falter not in sighs, Hearts in which no sorrow lies, Flowers, unfading, sweet, and fair, Sister! all await thee there! We shall miss thee; but away! Wearied one, no longer stay! Fare thee well! 'T was gone! That radiant train melted away Like last love-whispers of the broken-hearted; And with the purple gleam of closing day The gentle SPIRIT OF THE MONTH departed! FOREST WALKS IN THE WEST. BY THE 'HERMIT OF THE PRAIRIES.'