Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-09-24
POETRY.
To One in Heaven.

George D. Prentice-hinself one of the mos
gifted of the American bards-thinks that no liy.
ing poets can surpass the gracefulness and beauty
of the following lines from the pen of
6 AMELIA WELBY
Pale star, that with thy soft sad light
Came out upon my bridal eve, So
L have song to sing tonight, Sad
Before thou tak'st thy mournful leave
Since nc then 50 softly time hath stirrd,
That months have almost seemed like hours
And am like a little bird
That's slept too long among the flowers,
And waking, sits with waveess wing,
SOFT singing mid the shades of even
But oh, with sadder heart [ sing
L sing OF one who dwells in heaven s
The winds are soft, the clouds are few.
And tenderest thoughts my heart beguile,
AS floating up through mist and dew,
The pale young moon comes out and smiles;
And to the green resounding shore
In silvery troops the ripples crowd.
Till all the ocean dimpled DER
Lifts up its voice and laughs aloud;
And star on star, all soft and calm, a
Floats up yon arch serenely blue; ~
And lost to earth and stepped in balm,
My spirit floats in ether too.
Loved onel though lost to human sight,
/ feel thy spirit lingering near
AS softly as / feel the light
That trembles through the atmosphere:
As in some temples holy shades.
Though mute the hymn and hush the prayer,
A solemn awe the soul neryades
Which tells that worship has been there
A breath of incense left alone
Where many censer swung around,
Will thrill the wanderer, like tone,
Who treads on consecrated ground
I know thy soul, from words of bliss
That stOOps awhile to dwell with me-
Hath caught the prayer breathed in this,
That | at last might dwell with thee.
1 hear murmur from the SEAS
That thrills me like thy spirit sighs;
l hear voice on every breeze
That makes to mine its low replies
voice all low and sweet like thine;
1t gives an answer to my prayer
And brings my soul from heaven sign
That shall know and meet thee there
I'll know thee there by that sweet face,
Round which tender halo plays,
Still touched with that expressly grace -
That made thee lovely all thy days
BY that sweet smile that Ter it shed
A beauty like the light of even,
Whose soft expression never fed,
Even when its soul had flown to heaven,
L II know thee by the starry crown
That gltters in thy raven hair;
OH by these blessed signs alone
I'll know thee there--Pl II know thee there.
For ah! thine eye, within whose sphere
The sweets of youth and beauty met,
That swan in love and softness here,
Must swim in love and softness yet.
For ah its dark and liquid beams,
Though sadden d by a thousand sighs
Were holier than the light that streams
uogZn irom the gates Of Paradise
Were bright and radiant like the morn,
Yet seft and dewy as the eve;
Too sad for eyes where smiles are born,
Too young for ears that learn to grieve.
l wonder if this cool, sweet breeze
Hath touch d thy lips and fann'd d thy brow,
For all my spirit hears and sees
Recall thee to my memory now;
For every hour we breathe apart,
VIII but increase, if that can be-,
The love that fills this little heart,
Already filed so full of thee.
7 ct many a tear these eyes must weep,
And many sin must be forgiven,
Ere these pale lids shall sink to sleep
Ere thou and shall meet in heaven.