( 20 )

THE TEAR.

LoLAH ! said I, with eyes that beam,

And features of unearthly grace,
So like an angel pure you seem

That sure in heaven you'll find a place ;—
My Lolah sighed and hung her head,

Her brow seemed clouded at the time,
And sorrow there its twilight spread,

For mem'ry taxed her with a crime.
And soon I saw a timid tear

Her eyelash grace ere yet it fell,
Than morning dew it seemed more clear,

As pure it left its radiant cell.
Then slow adown her cheek so fair

This bright, this liquid gem did flow,
Nor yet could Oman's pearl compare

With this small crystal's lucid glow ;
Her Guardian-Spirit caught this tear,

On wings of rainbow-color bright,
And leaving this our lower sphere

Towards the heavens she bent her flight;
And passing thro' the etherial clime,

To the Recording-Angel took,
She dropp'd the tear upon the crime,

And quite effaced it from his book.*

* The last Stanza is partly borrowed from Sterne.