THE ANGEL’S GIFT.

“Maiden of the sunny soul!
     Heaven build life’s skies above thee,
          Pure and bright
          As her own light,
     Faithful as the hearts that love thee!

As the stars do shine upon
     Earth’s pure spirits while they’re sleeping,
          Filled with love [Page 193]
          From heaven above,
     Angels have thee in their keeping!”

Thus a Minstrel-Poet sung,
     O’er a maiden’s peaceful slumbers,
          She slept on
          As sleeps the dawn,
     Soothed by Morning’s golden numbers.

But through all his harp strings swept
     Airs, that mortal fingers never
          Yet did fling
          From dulcet string!—
     Still the sounds came bounding ever.

Till a radiant Angel stood
     With a glowing harp before him,
          Hers the lyre
          Whose Orphean fire
     Trilled in burning numbers o’er him.

“Have thy wish,” the angel said,
     “Heaven approves thy pure emotion;
          In thy care
          I place the fair,
     Guard her with thy heart’s devotion.”

Smiling like the blue-eyed dawn,
     Waked the radiant-minded Maiden,
          Blissful gleams
          Had sunned her dreams,
     Her blue eyes were beauty-laden. [Page 194]

Leaped for joy her yearning heart,
     At the vision bending o’er her,
          Well she knew
          Her dreams were true,
     Her Love’s brave Knight knelt before her. [Page 195]