A SUNBEAM.

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BY ALBERT M. NOYES.

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A sunbeam flashed from its azure throne,

O’er the bright and the beautiful earth to roam;

And it left a plume from its glist’ning wings

Where’er it traced its wanderings.

It tipped the bough of an old oak tree

With its joyous ray, and in their glee

A myriad host that were slumb’ring there

Came glancing forth in the morning air.

Then off like a flash it sped away,

And next it touched with a diamond ray

A lofty spire, as it rose upon high,

Till it looked like a star in an azure sky.

Again it flew, and this joyous beam

Flashed o’er the breast of a rippling stream;

And a bridge of trembling light it gave

To the sparkling crests of the dimpled wave.

I mused awhile—and lo! I heard

The joyous song of a bright-winged bird;

It had caught the flash of that morning ray

As it sped to its bower of love away.

And bathed in a flood of golden light

It looked like a rainbow spirit bright,

By an angel hand sent down to unfurl

The banner of peace to a sinful world.

And a thousand voices rose on high,

As its gliding form flew swiftly by;

Each bright and beautiful thing of earth

Awoke to hail its heavenly birth.

Sweet beam, said I, oh! how I’d love,

Like thee, the bright green earth to rove;

To shine o’er the hearts of pale despair

And kindle a glow of rapture there.

Just then, a darkling cloud flew by,

And shadowed the face of the azure sky;

I looked for this beautiful child of the dawn

But its glory had faded, its brightness had gone!

And I thought how much like Life did seem

The fate of this bright yet transient beam;

In glory it rose with the morn’s first breath,

At eve it was shadowed in darkness and death.