Nor time, nor grief, can e'er efface

The brighter hopes that now are thine— The fadeless love, all pitying grace,

That makes thy darkest hours divine!

Not all alone; for thou canst hold
Communion sweet with saint and sage,
And gather gems of price untold

From many a pure unsullied page—
Youth's dreams, the golden lights of age,
The poet's love are still thine own;
For while such themes thy thoughts engage,
Oh! how canst thou be all alone!

Not all alone; the lark's rich note,
As mounting up to heaven she sings;
The thousand silvery sounds that float
Above, below, on morning's wings;
The softer murmurs twilight brings-
The cricket's chirp, cicala's glee;
All earth-that lyre of myriad strings-
Is jubilant with life for thee!

Not all alone! the whispering trees,
The rippling brook, the starry sky,
Have each peculiar harmonies-

To soothe, subdue, and sanctify;
The low, sweet breath of evening's sigh
For thee hath oft a friendly tone,
To lift thy grateful thoughts on high,
To say, thou art not all alone!

Not all alone; a watchful eye

That notes the wandering sparrow's fall;

A saving hand is ever nigh,

A gracious Power attends thy call, When sadness holds thy heart in thrall, Is oft his tenderest mercy shown; Seek then the balm vouchsafed to all,

And thou canst never be alone!

Alaric A. Watts.

OLD AGE.

OLD AGE.

AULD AGE.

A Treaty.

S that Auld Age that's tirling at the pin?

IS

I trow it is then haste to let him in;
Ye're kindly welcome, friend; na, dinna fear,
To show yourself, ye'll cause nae trouble here.
I ken there are who tremble at your name,
As tho' ye bro't wi' ye reproach or shame;
And wha, o' thousand lies wad bear the sin
Rather than own ye for their kith and kin;
But far frae shirking ye as a disgrace

Thankful I am to have lived to see your face;
Nor sall I e'er disown ye, nor tak pride
To think how long I might your visit bide;
Doing my best to mak ye weel respecked,
I'll no for your sake fear to be neglecked;

But now ye're come, and through all kinds of weather;
We're doomed from this time forth, to jog thegither;

I'd fain mak compact wi' ye, firm and strong,
In terms of fair giff-gaff to hold out long;
Gin thou❜lt be civil, I sall liberal be,
Witness the lang lang list o' what I'll gie-
First then, I here make owre for gude and
All youthful fancies whether bright or gay;

ay,