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The meal-sacks on the whiten'd floor,
The dark round of the dripping wheel,
The very air about the door

Made misty with the floating meal.

But when at last I dared to speak,

The lanes, you know, were white with May! Your ripe lips moved not, but your cheek Flush'd like the coming of the day;

And so it was-half-sly, half-shy,

You would, and would not, little one! Although I pleaded tenderly,

And you and I were all alone.

TENNYSON.

Oriana.

OH! breaking heart, that will not break,
Oriana;

Oh! pale, pale face so sweet and meek,

Oriana.

Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak,

And then the tears run down my cheek,

Oriana:

What wantest thou? whom dost thou seek,

Oriana?

I cry aloud: none hear my cries,

Oriana.

Thou comest atween me and the skies,
Oriana.

I feel the tears of blood arise

Up from my heart unto my eyes,
Oriana.

Within thy heart my arrow lies,

Oriana.

TENNYSON.

Song.

A SPIRIT haunts the year's last hours,
Dwelling amid these yellowing bowers;
To himself he talks;

For at eventide, listening earnestly,

At his work you may hear him sob and sigh
In the walks;

Earthward he boweth the heavy stalks

Of the mouldering flowers:

Heavily hangs the broad sunflower

Over its grave i' the earth so chilly;
Heavily hangs the hollyhock,
Heavily hangs the tiger lily.

The air is damp, and hush'd, and close,

As a sick man's room when he taketh repose

An hour before death:

My very heart faints and my whole soul grieves At the moist rich smell of the rotting leaves, And the breath

Of the fading edges of box beneath,
And the year's last rose.

Heavily hangs the broad sunflower
Over its grave i' the earth so chilly;
Heavily hangs the hollyhock,

Heavily hangs the tiger-lily.

TENNYSON.

Isabel.

EYES not down-dropt nor over-bright, but fed
With the clear-pointed flame of chastity,
Clear, without heat, undying, tended by
Pure vestal thoughts in the translucent fane
Of her still spirit; locks not wide dispread,
Madonna-wise on either side her head;
Sweet lips whereon perpetually did reign
The summer calm of golden charity,

Were fixed shadows of thy fixed mood,

Revered Isabel, the crown and head,
The stately flower of female fortitude,
Of perfect wifehood and pure lowlihead.

TENNYSON.

Lilian.

AIRY, fairy Lilian,

Flitting, fairy Lilian,

When I ask her if she love me,
Claps her tiny hands above me,
Laughing all she can :

She'll not tell me if she love me,
Cruel little Lilian..

When my passion seeks
Pleasance in love-sighs,

She looking thro' and thro' me

Thoroughly to undo me,

Smiling, never speaks;

So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple,
From beneath her gather'd wimple

Glancing with black-beaded eyes,
Till the lightning laughters dimple
The baby-roses in her cheeks;
Then away she flies.

PREFACE.

WE have great pleasure in presenting to the patrons of our establishment a catalogue of its contents, in a form so attractive as the present volume. Herein they will find a vast multitude of beautiful things alternating with beautiful thoughts; or, as it is expressed in the title-page, "Things of beauty set with gems of verse." We deal in the beautiful. It is our task to clothe common implements with beauty, and to invest all the trifles worn upon the person, or carried in the street, or used at home, with elegance of form. It is our object to blend perfect utility with perfect beauty; and, therefore, it seems peculiarly appropriate that we should summon to our assistance on this occasion the charms of verse, by which to break up, and agreeably diversify, the monotony of our catalogue. We hope by this pleasant expedient to secure a more general and careful perusal of the work, which is now submitted to the inspection of our friends and the public.

CARROLL & HUTCHINSON.

547 Broadway, New York.

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