VIII. "If you break your plaything yourself, dear, Don't you cry for it all the same? I don't think it is such a comfort, One has only oneself to blame. IX. "People say things cannot be helped, dear, But then that is the reason why; For if things could be helped or altered, X. "They say, too, that tears are quite useless To undo, amend, or restore,— When I think how useless, my Effie, Then my tears only fall the more. XI. "All to-day I struggled against it; But that does not make sorrow cease; And now, dear, it is such a comfort To be able to cry in peace. 66 XII. Though wise people would call that folly, And remonstrate with grave surprise; We won't mind what they say, my Effie ;We never professed to be wise. XIII. "But my comforter knows a lesson 66 XIV. Well, who is my comforter-tell me? Effie smiles, but she will not speak; Or look up through the long curled lashes That are shading her rosy cheek. XV. "Is she thinking of talking fishes, The blue bird, or magical tree? Perhaps I am thinking, my darling, Of something that never can be. XVI. "You long-don't you, dear?-for the Genii, Who were slaves of lamps and of rings; And I-I am sometimes afraid, dear, I want as impossible things. XVII. "But hark! there is Nurse calling Effie! It is bedtime, so run away; And I must go back, or the others XVIII. "So good-night to my darling Effie; Keep happy, sweetheart, and grow wise:— There's one kiss for her golden tresses, And two for her sleepy eyes." UNSEEN. HERE are more things in Heaven and Can dream of, or than nature under stands; We learn not through our poor philosophy The present hour repeats upon its strings Forebodings come: we know not how, or whence, And who can tell what secret links of thought Bind heart to heart? Unspoken things are heard, |