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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



Human Life. 



"In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth 

 up; in the evening it is cut down and wither- 

 ed."— Ps. xc., 6. 



I walked the fields of morning's prime, 

 The grass was ripe for mowing ; 



The skylark sang his matin chime, 

 And all was brightly glowing. 



"And thus," I cried, "the ardent boy, 



His pulse of rapture beating, 

 Deems life's inheritance is joy — 



The future proudly greeting." 



I wandered forth at noon: — Alas! 



On earth's maternal bosom 

 The scythe had^eft the withering grass, 



And stretched the fading blossom. 



And thus, I thought with many a sigh, 



The hopes we fondly cherish, 

 Like flowers which blossom but to die, 



Seem only born to perish. 



Once more, at eve, abroad I strayed, 

 Through lonely hay-fields musing, 



While every breeze that round me played, 

 Rich fragrance was diffusing. 



The perfumed air, the hush of eve, 



To purer hopes appealing, 

 O'er thoughts perchance too prone to grieve 



Scattered the balm of healing. 



For thus "the actions of the just," 

 When memory hath enshrined them, 



E'en from the dark and silent dust, 

 Their odor leave behind them. 



| Barton's Household Verses. 



Live in Love ; 'Tis Pleasant Living. 



Be not harsh and unforgiving, 

 Live in love; 'tis pleasant living. 

 If an angry man should meet thee, 

 And assail thee indiscreetly, 

 Turn not thou again and rend him, 

 Lest thou needlessly offend him; 

 Shew him love hath been thy teacher, 

 Kindness is a potent Preacher ; 

 Gentleness is e'er forgiving, — 

 Live in love; ; tis pleasant living. 



Why be angry with each other? 

 Man was made to love his brother: 

 Kindness is a human duty, 

 Meekness a celestial beauty. 

 Words of kindness spoke in season 

 Have a weight with men of reason; 

 Don't be others follies blaming, 

 And their little failings naming; 

 Charity's a cure for railing, 

 Suffers much — is all prevailing. 

 Courage, then, and be forgiving, 

 Live in love; 'tis pleasant living. 



[British Workman. 



Ye can Conquer, if ye will. 



Rugged toiler — son of labor — 



Stoutly battling every day 

 For existence — 0, my brother, 



Thou shalt triumph in the fray. 

 On life's changeful scene of action, 



Though defeat may oft appear, 

 Thou shalt win the victor's laurels, 



If thou wilt but persevere. 



Though thou art obscure and lowly, 



Ye may reach the wished for goal, 

 Grasp the prizes, wealth and station, 



If thou hast a dauntless soul ; 

 If thou hast a resolution 



That misfortune cannot shake; 

 One on which the angry surges 



An impression fail to make. 



Art thou sneered at and derided 



By the self-styled lofty born? 

 Heed you not the fool's contumely, 



Or the weak mind's harmless scorn. 

 Art thou friendless — friends will gather, 



As do courtiers, king around, 

 When thou hast achieved distinction, 



When thou hast position found. 



Strong in faith, let naught repel thee, 



Thou shalt in the end prevail; 

 In life's trials, and its battles, 



None but dastard cowards fail ; 

 Noble nature prove ascendant, 



In earth's mighty contest rang, 

 To renown, from dark oblivion, 



Robed in glory up they sprang. 



What if years of fierce endeavor 



Have been spent by thee in vain? 

 What if thou hast met disaster? 



Up and take the field again. 

 Wreck and ruin all about thee, 



Give not up, but struggle still; 

 Stubborn courage is resistless, 



Ye can conquer if ye will. 



[Miner's Rural American. 



"By-and-By." 



There's a little mischief-making 



Elfin, who is ever nigh, 

 Thwarting every undertaking, 



And his name is By-and-By. 



What we ought to do this minute, 

 "Will be better done," he'll cry, 



"If to-morrow we begin it;" 

 "Put it off!" says By-and-By. 



, Those who heed his treacherous wooing, 

 Will his faithless guidance rue; 

 What we always put off doing, 

 Clearly we shall never do. 



We shall reach what we endeavor, 



If on Now we more rely; 

 But unto the realms of Never, 



Leads the pilot By-and-By. 



