OH SAW YE THE LASS?

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I would not, sweet, profane that silvery sound,— The depths of love could such rude hearts divine?

Let the loud laughter peal, the toast go round, My thoughts, my thoughts are thine,-forever thine!

Forever thine, whate'er this heart betide;
Forever mine, where'er our lot be cast;
Fate, that may rob us of all wealth beside,
Shall leave us love,-till life itself be past!
ALARIC ALEXANDER WATTS.

OH SAW YE THE LASS?

Oh saw ye the lass wi' the bonnie blue een?
Her smile is the sweetest that ever was seen;
Her cheek like the rose is, but fresher, I ween;
She's the loveliest lassie that trips on the green.

The home of my love is below in the valley, Where wild flowers welcome the wandering bee; But the sweetest of flowers in that spot that is

seen

Is the dear one I love wi' the bonnie blue een.

When night overshadows her cot in the glen, She'll steal out to meet her loved Donald again: And when the moon shines on yon valley so green, I'll welcome the lass wi' the bonnie blue een.

As the dove that has wandered away from its nest, Returns to the mate his fond heart loves the best, I'll fly from the world's false and vanishing scene, To my dear one, the lass wi' the bonnie blue een. ANONYMOUS.

COMING THROUGH THE RYE.

Gin a body meet a body

Comin' through the rye,

Gin a body kiss a body,
Need a body cry?

Every lassie has her laddie-
Ne'er a ane hae I;

Yet a' the lads they smile at me
When comin' through the rye.
Amang the train there is a swain
I dearly lo'e mysel';

But whaur his hame, or what his name,
I dinna care to tell.

Gin a body meet a body
Comin' frae the town,
Gin a body greet a body,
Need a body frown?

Every lassie has her laddie

Ne'er a ane hae I;

Yet a' the lads they smile at me

When comin' through the rye.

OH! SAY NOT

Amang the train there is a swain
I dearly lo'e mysel';

But whaur his hame, or what his name,
I dinna care to tell.

ANONYMOUS.

OH! SAY NOT WOMAN'S HEART IS
BOUGHT.

Oh! say not woman's heart is bought
With vain and empty treasure;
Oh! say not woman's heart is caught
By every idle pleasure.

When first her gentle bosom knows
Love's flame, it wanders never;
Deep in her heart the passion glows,—
She loves, and loves forever.

Oh! say not woman's false as fair,
That like the bee she ranges;

Still seeking flowers more sweet and rare,
As fickle fancy changes.

Ah, no! the love that first can warm

Will leave her bosom never;

No second passion e'er can charm,—

She loves, and loves forever.

THOMAS LOVE PEACOCK.

91

HAPPIEST DAYS.

They tell us, love, that you and I
Our happiest days are seeing,
While yet is shut from either's eye
The change that waits our being.
Ah! life, they say, is a weary way,
With less of joy than sorrow.
For where the sunlight falls to-day
There'll be a shade to-morrow.

If ours be love that will not bear
The test of change and sorrow,
And only deeper channels wear
In passing to each morrow;
Then better were it that to-day
We fervently were praying
That what we have might pass away
While we the words were saying.

The heart has depths of bitterness, As well as depths of pleasure; And those who love, love not, unless They both of these can measure. There is a time, and it will come,

When this they must discover, And woe if either then be dumb

To power that moved the lover.

LOVE AND ABSENCE.

There are some spots where each may fall,

And each will need sustaining;

And suffering is the lot of all,

And is of God's ordaining;
Then wherefore do our hearts unite

In bonds that none can sever,
If not to bless each changing light,
And strengthen each endeavor?

Then, while these happy days we bless,
Let us no doubt be sowing;

God's mercy never will be less,

Though He should change the showing.

Such be our faith, as on we tread,
Each trusting and obeying,

As two who by His hand are led,
And hear what He is saying.

ANONYMOUS.

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LOVE AND ABSENCE.

Let it not grieve thee, dear, to hear me say
'Tis false that absence maketh the fond heart
More fond; that when alone, and far apart
From thee, I love thee more from day to day.
Not so; for then my heart would ever pray
For longer separation, that I might

In absence from thee gain the utmost height
Of love unrealized; nor would I stay