176 



AGNES Of HIGH SUNDERLAKD. 



And many a wild and stormy night 

 Long did he watch to catch the sight 

 Of her dim shadow, as it passed 

 The trelliced pane, until at last 

 Died out each ray of light. 



Or on his humhle bed he lay 

 Sighing the weary night away, — 

 Or waking from tormenting dreams. 

 When morning shed its cheering 

 beams, 

 Making all nature gay ; — 



But to his over-burdened heart. 

 No cheering ray could it impart, 

 And o'er his toil for daily bread. 

 Many the tears he oft-times shed, 

 Such as unbidden start 



To eyes that scorn the drops that 



show, 

 A heart nnhardened lies below 

 The strong firm front, reared as a 



fence 

 To hide the bosom's innocence, 



Where virtue's blossom's grow. 



'Tis sad to think man's pride should be 

 Based ever on hypocrisy. 

 That tears are symbols of the weak. 

 Which ne'er should mar the manly 

 cheek, 



To tell of misery. 



They sufifer luost who scnrn to show 

 That they have felt the cruel blow 



Of careless word, or cold neglect. 

 Yet sternly hold the head erect. 

 Nor let the tear drops flow ; 



Butconld the eye unveil that breast. 

 That seems as tho' no care opprest. 

 And view past hopes drowned deep 



in tears, 

 And present hopes hemmed in with 

 - fears, 



Few wonld be counted blest. 



Thus he forced down with iron will. 

 The hopes that would his bosom fill. 

 And boldly strove, yet strove, alas ! 

 In vain to bid the longings pass 



Which thronged within him still. 



Oft here the smiling day was born, 

 Like some young pilgrim all forlorn. 

 Over the hills his way would tend. 

 Seeking in solitude a friend, 



With whom his griefs to mocrru 



13 nt when he heard the woeful tale 

 Of Agnes' loss, his lips grew pale, 

 A nd with a cry of deep despair 

 That sank in every bosom there 

 He fled adown the vale. 



No more upon those mountains green 

 That love-lorn shepherd youth was 



seen, 

 His hut fell crumbling in decay, 

 His flock untended roamed away, 

 He vanished as a dream. 



Soon lonely and sad grew th;it once joyous hall. 

 And gloomily waved the old poplars so tall, 

 And the flow'rs that bloomed neath the fir's dismal shade. 

 Half closed their bright eyes, lest the beauty they made 

 AVlicii blooming so cheerily, — 



