Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/641

 1850-60.] PAMELA S. VINING. 625 Who would grudge the plowman's toil? Yet 'tis health and Avealth to him, Strength of nerve, and strength of limb; Light and fervor in his glances, Life and beauty in his fancies, Learned and happy, brave and free. Who so proud and bless'd as he ? MEMORY BELLS. Up from the spirit-depths ringing, Softly your melody swells. Sweet as a seraphim's singing. Tender-toned memory bells ! The laughter of childhood, The song of the wildwood. The tinkle of streams through the echoing dell,— The song of a mother. The shout of a brother, Up from Ufe's mornmg melodiously swell. Up from the spirit-depths ringing, Richly your melody swells, Sweet reminiscences bringing, Joyous-toned memory bells ! Youth's beautiful bowers, Her dew-spangled flowers. The pictures which hope of futurity drew, — Love's rapturous vision Of regions Elysian In glowing perspective unfolding to view. Up from the spirit-depths ringing. Sadly your melody swells. Tears with its mournful tones bringing, Sorrowful memory bells ! The first heart-link broken, The first farewell spoken, The first flow'ret crushed in hfe's desolate track, — The agonized yearning O'er joys unreturning. All, all with your low, waiUng music come back. Up from the spirit-depths ringing, Dirge-like your melody swells ; But Hope wipes the tears that are springing. Mournful-toned memory bells ! Above your deep knelling Her soft voice is swelling, Sweeter than angel-tones, silvery clear ; Singing in heaven above All is unchanging love. Mourner, look upward, thy home is not here ! MINNIEBEL. Where the willow weepeth By a fountain lone — Where the ivy creepeth O'er a mossy stone — With pale flowers above her, In a quiet dell. Far from those that love her, Slumbers Minniebel. There thy bed I made thee By that fountain side. And in anguish laid thee Down to rest, my bride ! Tenderest and fairest. Who thy Avorth may tell, Flower of beauty rarest, Saintly Minniebel ! Weary years have borrowed From my eye its light. Time my cheek has furrowed. And these locks are white ; But my heart will ever ']Iid its mem'ries dwell, Fondly thine forever, Angel Minniebel ! 40