POETRY.

Somewhere at altar kneeling, Bride, with her maidens round ; While the great organ, pealing,

Fills all the Abbey with sound:

Somebody's hand hers holding, Pledging a life for a life : Somebody's arm enfolding, Calling her " Wife, dear wife!"

Somewhere, in hall or garden, Mother and child, the Heir ! Nothing to fret or harden, Nothing to cause one care !

Love all her life caressing !

Riches, a boundless store ! Crown upon crown of blessing !

What can she ask for more ?

0 Lady ! on high uplifted, Lacking no earth-known thing, Noble, and nobly-gifted, Yet has thy lot one sting : This, that thy poor, pale sister Starves in some alley unseen ; And thou canst not assist her : Such is the gulf between !

NOBODY.*

LEFT there, nobody's daughter, Child of disgrace and shame,— Nobody over taught her A mother's sweet saving name :

Nobody ever caring Whether she stood or fell,

And men (are they men ?) en- snaring [Hell ! With the arts and the gold of Stitching with ceaseless labour, To earn her pitiful bread ; Begging a crust of a neighbour,

And getting a curse instead !

All through the long, hot summer, All through the cold, dark time, With fingers that numb and number [rime. Grow white as the frost's white Nobody ever conceiving The throb of that warm young Nobody ever believing [life, The strain of that terrible strife !

Nobody kind words pouring In that orphan heart's sad ear ; But all of us all ignoring What lies at our doors, so near !

0 sister ! down in the alley,

Pale, with the downcast eye, Dark and drear is the valley,

But the stars shine forth on high.

Nobody here may love thee, Or care if thou stand or fall ; Bat the great, good God above thee,

SOMEBODY.

SOMEWHERE down in the meadows, Where the river and rivulet meet, Watching the April shadows Over the hillside fleet !

Somebody bending near her, Noble in face and form; And the Cross of the gallant wearer Was won in the battle's storm.

He watches and cares for all. A. G. B.