My Grape-vine

BS MAÏtY E. BRADLEY. Üghing, I eaid, when warm west winds werc blowint-, " Thf racious eummcr has no gifts for me ; I shaHiaot pee her wild-woud blossoniB growing ( )e v$ie or tree ; wIff&n.ll not wander where her purple clover .! where daisies make the ineadows gay, JUotr be aware of sweet aire wafted over Her new-niown hay. C1 shall not hear, albeit my soul rojoices In every cadenee of the tender strain, The iningled niusic of her naany voïces - lts low refrain II Of droning bees and locusts sharply Bhrüling, And brooks that murmur to their tuneful fall ; Nor yet the rap ture of her bird-songs thrilling ï High over all. ■ ' I, tliat delight in shadowy woodland places,g l The Biony pavcmentw of the town must tread, And seo the blue of lieuven in inea-Bured gpnees Abovo my head. 11 Vhüe all the summer's bloom and lavish beauty Are spread afar for other eyes to see, Shut in by city-walls the piith oi' duty Is ntarked for me," I did uot know - fint hoart and unbelieving ! - The while I muminwd at a ncedful thing, What doar deliglit to hanie me for sueh grievincr 3My viae woukl bring. Betwixt the stones it had to grow and flourisk- T9ie Btubborn Btoues that barely let it paws, ïior left cnough of garden-inold to nonrish 1 A blade oí' gr&ee, Yet how it grew ! 30 tall, and fair, and greenly, And all its liberal lcaves and clusters spread In such profusión, one forgot how meanly lts roots were fed. Each wjmdering wind that made the young leave ski ver Stirred tender odora, delicately sweet ; And when the July ai#waa all a-quiver With fervent heat, Such coolneRR lingered in the vine's embraces, Sueh lovely shadows wavered to and fro, It bronght to nxind all greenest foroet-places Whcrc wild-flowcrs blow. So day by day, until the lamentation Of sart November stripped the branches bare, It gave me sweet and ubtile compenaation For secret cure. BfhokV1 it mukoly said, " my green profusión, Bcttold my purple eluntcrs where they hang, And recollect the prison-house seclusion JTrom whence we sprang ! " Life niay becruel, heart and hand restricted, Till effort baffled makes the spirit quail ; But noble aiins, though oiten contradicted, At last prevaü." I took to heart suggestion and aasiirancc, And vowed to learn the lesson of the vine - lts growih, ita aspiration. ita endurance. Should all be mine ï And though reeoïve fall short of its completen esa, Aml though to-day the wintry winds complain, I know the losing of that summer's awcetneHS Waa wholly gaïn !