Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-12-08
For the True Democrat
BY ARKANSO.

BY ARKANSO. Why smilest thou not! Behold the night
 Bends OCT us with her jewel'd bow; Behold pale Cyn.hia's silver light
 Falls o'er Lake Lura's bosom now. And every wave that ripping swells
 Along the shore some story tells. Some quaint old legend of the past
 Some annal of forgotten days, Some tragic scene mid battles blast,
 Enacted heath this sombre haze Some hour of love, some deed of hate Some numbers breathcd impassionate. Oh, have loved the beautiful Until my soul would seem too full To murnur what felt; or hear The sounds that fell upon mine ear. So hiFd with sadden'd pensveness wish'd to be nor more nor less Than what am. For have felt holy rapture as I knelt. And, slifing all of mortal sense, own'd natures Gods omnipotence II, then, to me. whose simple mind Is but asnaught compared to thine, All that is bright or nobly grand
 
 Can thrill my bosom with fire Above what sordd minds desire, Why do'st thou not behold in these Some pleasure for thy reveriess And have loved thee for the smile That play'd around thy lips awhile And have smoothed thy lofty brow, Fen while twas stamped with secret woe; And have ist'd thy solemn tone When have unused with thee alone Among these wilds then why. ah why These icy words-this stihed sigh? These broken words these ftfu sighs
 Is what feel, and what thou know'st To be the wreck of sympathies;
 Of dreams of future blisses lost.
 Thou know'st that have felt the worst; These lines upon my brow will tell
 A tale of pain, when e'er 'twere most Essential that no rang should dwell Upon my features. l would seek To hide this hectic on my cheek; These hairs that change their glossy shade; These eyes whose burning orbs must fade; These hopes that die ere they are born; These lips that curl in bitter scorn-- Aye. must hide all these, and seem A gay sojourner on liles stream Dost thou remember how in years
 Long passed. too was young and gay? How once l knew no tide of tears
 No serred thorns along my way; Then 1, like thee, could gaze upon Those systems that are mar-hal'd on Those singing spheres whose amber light, Adorns the ebon brow of night. Yes, then l sought no other friend
 Than nature; nature sue is! To view her slender fingers blend
 New beauties were enough of bliss. Yet oft amid those scenes would fit
 A form athwart my busy brain; And memory would cherish it Through hours of hope--throngh days of pain We live to love-we love to live! Strange fantasies of earth born minds! To dream that love of pleasure binds The heart in bands that memories give. would could in pleasure hide
 This sickning spell of loneliness, Or wear the icy mask of priJle
 To shut out inward wrctchedness, For tears may bind the stubborn soul While time it's varied tributes roll; Ambition cease its eagle gaze, And joy bedmcd in sorrows haze, Hope, Hate and Fear may lul the breast, But wounded pride and love necr rest, l said loved; unworthy she Has proved of my idoIitry. Unworthy would but half convey My meaning--she was stolen away By treachery. And in an hour She sped beyond my utmost power To save. Still on her dimpled hand Shone brght-the ring-the golden band That told of pghted hearts--of vows Of mutual confidence. Care blows Its deepest lines when thought endeav'rs To read the scroll that memory rears, And reason vainly tries to guide The soul now sway'd by scorn and pride. I've told my tale: ask me no more To love the scenes loved of yore. Ask me no more to idly smile Or pause to music's strains awhile My dream of hope is gone; the spell That bound in youth is OCT. Farwell! Lake VWage. Ark.. Nov. 24th, 1857.