The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-11-14

which seemed to have been hastily thrown in
attracted my attention. They contained yer.
ses in the handwriting of Alice. | remem
bered TO have Neutrality-suspicious. to our marriage
that she occasionally wrote poetry, but she
had always playfuly refused to permit me &c
see her productions ut that time, and since
our union ! had never thought 10 request il.
The page, which first met my view, was
dated, and thus learned, that the verses i
contained, We're traced about three months
before Alice became my WIFE They were
executed in n clear, beautiful hand, and hur-
riedly perused them.
| There was another sheet whose record evinc-
ed, thar, either from weakness or emotion in
the writer the pen had trembled over it,
! Tears too had blotted out some of the words
! present the several stanZas as read them.
The first was entitled
MUSINGS OF AN AFFtAYcED BRIDE.
The roses of summer have hourished and IA
| ded,
| And the season l SO much delight in has
PAST,
The skies with the mists of October are shaded,
And the forests bright foliage is whitening
fast
Ere again into autumn the summer declines,
And the garlnnds it wreathes shall be scat
tcr'd and tore,
Oh! where will the hand be that traces these
lines
The spirit that pours its emotions forth here.
viii the future the presents sweet promises
And rs brilliant as hope the reality prove2
Or shall the sad heart in its solitude ween,
Disappointed of reaping its harvest of love'
Shall the chain of affection be rusted and dim?
hat tkyng nlrnt, Cor oil ha l,,N
Or frightened and strengthened stli centre in
Him,
Round whom the light links are trustingly
cast'
Hope only can answer, encouraged by trust,
For faith is the essence, the being of love,
Deprived oft once il must crumble to dust
And the bosom it leaves but wilderness
prove.
Awhile, and bleak winter shall visit tho plain,
Then spring into beauty awaken the earth,
The roses of summer shed fragrance again,
And autumn return to the place of my
birth
And all things will look at present they
seem,
But yet in that intervals fugitive fight,
"hat changes may sweep Ger my destiny's
stream,
What storms Of emotions, Of ruin and blight!
Away such sad thoughts whchth future
would cloud
Hope and faith the sentinels placed at it's
gate-
] would not the secret beyond il unshroud,
Butbelieve that affection shall brighten my
fate.
The second stanza had no title. The wri-
ter apparently thought only ofexpressng the
burning emotions which were consuming the
heart 1t ran thus: ......
One little year has numbered been,
Since | became n trusting wife,
And in that transient space I've seen,
A world ofbtterncss and strife!
Not outward strife--thc coullct lies
Within the chambers ofmy heart,
Whence tears have made the radient dies,
Ofearly hope, long since depart.
Yet those around me deem me best,
And think my lot with merces crown'd
They cannot read my aching breast,
The troubled depths of fleeing sound.
How little can externals tend
To form our fate with veal or wo!
Tho heart-the heart alone can lend
To passing scenes gloom or glow
And mine has disappointed proved
Now what is life but wcarness?
am not | love beloved,
And cannot, if would, love less
try to place my lot by those
Whose way is strcwcd with care aud grief,
IND think that mine are faucicd woes
But this affords INC no relief =
t is not that my husband voice
Has lost its kind and cheerful tone,
feel that nia still his choice,
Ofall, perchance, he en- hath known.
But there's change-I always felt, i
The ehndow ola change I'd see, I
md fancy's rainbow visions melt I
Already from my destiny. c
md yet | cannot tell him this!--
Is it his fault, have no power =
o constitute his earthly bliss?
And charm from loneliness each hour'
8 it his fault, when duty's call Y
No longer draws him from my side,
ly smile hath lost its former thrall n
The wife's less pleasing than the brde' n
5 it his fault, if he enjoy o.. ... y
Another converse more than mine? !,
hat home s exciteless pleasures cloy, x
And he desires abroad to shine?
9 true, he once ne or scenic content, n
Unless with me-uow when my heart @
las with each hope his image blent, n
Made it ofevery thought part l..t q. n
nd could lngcr by his side q
Forever-happy with my lot, u
e leaves me for walk or ride a
For hours to solitude and thought. p
or asks he how those lonely hours, -..f Fl
Were in his absence whiled away m
Though it taxes all my powers, q
To cheat the melancholy day.
know he marks my altered brow, EtH. .r". u
And thinks that without canse Inn sad W