Watching perchance some angel's flight
That bore on his wings her request each night;
For her's was the prayer of faith and of love,
That ever finds grace in that world above.
Though heaven may please awhile to delay
The favor that's sought from day to day,
Still it hearkens and hears, and will answer give,
To such as by faith its bounties receive.

And so did it prove with that maiden fair,
Whose .pure faith banished all gloom and despair.

So, at the same hour, the next even-tide,

There knelt by her one that called her his bride,
Who had hastened from war to fulfill his vow,
While victory's wreath was fresh on his brow.
And, hand joined in hand, by that mountain stream,
They sat to rehearse love's long-cherished dream;
And hovering round came angels of light
Soft whispering joy, then winging their
The bliss of that hour was dear to each hea:
That love had entwined, now never to part.

M

A SOLILOQUY.

My harp is on the willow hung;

To me the morning brings to light⚫

No ray of sun or moon I see,
But one unchanging night.

I cannot view those gem-like stars,

That sparkle in the ethereal skies;
Nor trace the clouds with golden fringe,
That o'er the sunset rise.

Nor gaze upon the blooming flowers,

That make the face of nature gay;
Nor watch the ocean's sparkling waves,
Where dancing sunbeams play.

To me the variegated earth,
Would seem one dark, unbroken plan,
If, in my heart, I had not hid
Bright visions that oft come again,

For I through nine fair summers passed,
With scarce a cloud to shade my way.
And loved the face of nature more,
With each returning day.

But ere a tenth had fully come,

My gladsome heart was wrapt in gloom Lo! I was banished from the light, Condemned to a living tomb,

Where even Hope's fair star grows din, With clouds that o'er my spirit rise, And hide the gleams of holy light, Imparted from the skies.

But oh! I will with patience bear

A grief which none can feel or know
But those for whom it is ordained,
By him who wills it so.

And faith, not light shall be my guide
To Canaan's fair, celestial shore,
Where faith is lost in perfect sight,
And darkness is no more.

ON MORNING.

Oh, sweet is the dawning hour,
When dews like holy incense rise,
And waft to God, on mystic wings,
Earth's morning sacrifice.

Ard fair Aurora tints

The azure sky with golden ligat,
And chases far the sable clouds,
That vail the world in night.

And angels bright, that nightly watch,
While earth reposing lies.
Spreading their pure celestial wings,
Mount swiftly to the skies.

Or rosy twilight fades

Before the gorgeous king of day, Who from the east rejoicing comes

In glorious array.

And gentle zephyrs kiss

Dew-drops from the blushing flowers, That waking shed their odors sweet, Through fields and summer bowers.

And on the ocean's wave

Sunbeams like golden shadows gleam, And laughing breezes catch the spray That leaps from mountain stream.

And to the huntsman's horn,

The echoing rocks and hills reply, And beasts of prey that nightly prowl, Like falcons swift go by.

And insect voices greet,

With songs of praise the waking day And feathered songsters warble sweet, To God their morning lay.

And man from sweet repose,
Joyful again to see the light,
Goes forth to toil with cheerful heart,
Till day gives place to night.

O sweet and hallowed time,
Let thy peaceful influence rest
On all the hours that shall succeed

To this that thou hast blessed

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE BLIND IN THE LEARNED

PROFESSIONS.

SERIES I.-SECTION 1.

PROGRESS IN THE SCIENCES.

HAVING given in the preceding pages a somewhat detailed account of a sufficient number of authors, and extracts from their writings, to establish the literary character of the blind, we next proceed to notice in a more summary manner, the success of this class in the scientific pursuits. As the hydrographical chart points out to the mariner a safe course over the trackless ocean, and national history affords to the legislator the experience of past ages, so the biographies of those who have risen against every tide of opposition from a lowly station in life to one of honor and distinction, serve in a powerful manner to stimulate others to grapple with similar difficulties. Whatever may be the impediments in our course, if we have the assurance that others, under like circumstances, have surmounted them, and arrived in triumph at the mark to which we aspire, the bugbear of impossibility is removed, and the timid heart, gathering courage, moves forward, cheered by the way.