STANZAS FOR MUSIC.

———

BY MRS. HARRIET S. HANDY.

———

Oh! the bright and sunny days that long, long since were ours,

Will they ne’er return again, with their wealth of summer flowers;

The sweet approving smile—the low, soft gentle tone,

With its murmured words of love, are they forever flown?

And from thy heart are banished all memories of me.

As a cloud upon the summer sky, a shadow o’er the sea?

Oh! deeply have I trusted, while I listened to thy vow,

And dreamed not that deceit could rest upon so fair a brow;

But well unto my heart the bitter lesson has been taught

That oft love’s words, when sweetest, with deceitfulness are fraught—

And though the slighted heart may hide its bitterness of wo,

There is yet a fount of sorrow, the world may never know.

Then ask me not thy love and faithlessness so coldly to forget,

Or that our early destinies have once so sadly met.

Can the sea blot out the burning stars reflected on its breast,

Or the caged bird forget the haunts where first it built its nest?

The wildest storm that rocks the one, gives place to stars again,

And though the captive bird sings on, ’tis a lovèd green-wood strain!

The ocean-shell forgets not its low, sweet plaintive moan,

Nor the human harp the tones that once were all its own;

But quivering on its strings, there ever will be found

An echo-tone of memory—an unforgotten sound—

And though the chords be broken—its glad music at an end,

With its murmured melody, a strain of other years will blend!