Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-09-22
From the Ladies' Repository.
MOONLIGHT MUSINGS,
BY rsilLY II. PACE.

The pale-browed night hath twined her sill
very veil among the stars, and dropped Its
dreamy folding down to earth. A holy hush
gives Nature quietness, as if an angel sa,
upon the viewless air with lips in silence sealed.
and mutely bade the world, be still. Earth
slept in midnight's cold, mysterious embrace,
almost as if il neer might awake as if the
qniet sleep Of death had settled on its breast
so calm, so mute, so pulseless, passionless.-
The winds and waves forgot 10 war, and each,
the other lulling, sink to rest. Impressive ST.
lence guards the solemn hour. Nought wakes,
save the All-seeing Eye that sc~-- .i.o iH'r'os.
hear,s ~r ,aSu-Inc sun-source Of all light
the great, primeval fount, whence every orb
that rolls caught its first kindling ray--ihe eye
of God.
!, alone, of all the world, am of the world :;
for others sleep-and dream perchance, of
heaven-and revel in the glories of that sim
less sphere which gave their spirits birth and
if of earth, they see it but in dreams-'tis not
reality. see it as i, is, at this sweet hour,
seeming more beautiful, as il 'twere fresh
from the Creators hand. | drink its bright
ness and its grandeur in from the full flowing
cup which midnight make,h to run DER.
The round face Of the maiden moon looks
down upon me with pleasant smile, and oh
its gentle glance speaks voiceless volumes to
my soul. For me, Time turns his mighty
chariot back and seeks the checkered paths thai
mark the past the swil-winged hours cease
their continuous course and bear me back over
the weary way my feet have irod ill many
dafa sad yesTs arc as they had no. been, and
once more am standing meath the fairy arch
that hope and gladness weave DER girlhood's
smiles and tears. Beside me is the gentle
form which in the rosy days Of youth, seemed
part of my own being; the key that locked
from others gaze the deepest depis of her pure
heart was given unto me we were ech 9th
er's soul was blent with soul, as waters min
gle on their seaward way. She was all beau
tful, wearing crown Of purity that might
be6t saint in heaven. Natures own hand
had strung each chord other pure heart, which,
TO her lightest touch, gave forth food of un-
taught melody. She saw and felt the beauti-
ful and glorious in every work of God, from
the wide-spreading heavens sprayed with stars,
to the least bead Of shining sand that sparkes
by the ocean side. loved her that she was SO
lovely. loved her that she gave 10 me her
whole hearts trusting truth for the wild wor-
ship Of my own. Thus we were one in spirit.
She was TO me the sunlight of my life and |
TO her, | know not, care not what, save that
she loved me, and in that love lived.
But to her spirits shrine there came another
worshiper. He was dark-eyed, manly youth;
with soul all poetry and passion noble and
generous, fond and true--well worthy of the
love he sought to win; he realized in her his
cherished ideal, she found hers in him. They
had been fashioned for each other; twas but
the blending Of two kindred hearts that God
had welded at their birth upon whose bridals
angels smiled, ere their spirits had put on the
gaTb Of earthlihood--ihe garment Of mortali-
ty. What wonder, then, that each into the
others keeping gave the sacred pledge - a
heart.
Twas calm even in summer time; half
gloom, half glory. All the sweet flowers were
weary, for the long, brigh, day.had looked into
them with its burning eye and well nigh drank
their heart-dews up. But now, the ptying
night wept DER them, and the pure-eyed stars
kept loving vigil while they slept and where,
beside the singing waters and beneath the DER
hanging trees, they bowed their heads in sum-
Der ; soft and untroubled as an infants slum-
Der my wandering feet went forth. My
heart was joyful with another's joy,--and from
its inmost shrine went up the offering Of fer /
vent prayer, that that great God, whose good
ness made, whose guidance keeps all beings |
and all worlds; might bless, with an uncreas-
ing plen;itude Of bliss, the life of her loved
for, when the first bright sun-smile OF the com