Bright dreams were mine in life’s young day,

Too bright, too fair to last,

Fresh flow’rets sprung beside my way,

And fragrance round it cast;

And hopes as radiant as the dyes

That angel-artists spread,

Upon the western sunset skies,

To my young heart were wed.

Bright days, sweet days, forever gone!

Ye can return no more,

I’m doomed to tread the sands alone

That skirt life’s desert shore!

Afar, upon the ocean wide,

My bark of hope went down,

I saw the angel leave my side,

And all things on me frown.

But there are paintings hanging yet

In memory’s ghostly halls,

And bright young faces looking down

Upon me from the walls.

The gentle smile that thrilled my soul,

In life’s young break-of-day,

The small white hands once clasped in mine,

Are pictured there for aye.

There is a form, I see it now,

More radiant far than all,

The full, dark eye, the snowy brow

That held my heart in thrall.

But, O, that voice, so low and sweet!

I ne’er shall hear it more;

The fond, warm heart hath ceased to beat—

My dream of bliss is o’er.

And still another picture there—

A being young and bright;

The captive sunbeams in her hair,

A form of love and light;

The deep blue tints that stain the sky,

When summer bids it gleam,

Are mirrored in her laughing eye,

Like violets in the stream.

I deemed those forms forever fled

From time’s bleak desert shore,

And that the light upon me shed,

Could visit me no more.

But late I saw a vision bright,

And fair as those of old,

That taught to me this lesson trite—

The heart can ne’er grow cold!

O, charming, charming young Christine

Long years may pass away,

But cannot seize the love I ween,

Of young life’s joyous day!

O, would some gem like thee were mine

Upon my breast to wear,

Through Sorrow’s dreary hour to shine,

And light the night of Care;

My glance upon mankind should fall

Contented, happy, free,

And I should richer feel than all,

My only treasure thee!

But, O, my lot is wild and drear,

And sad the night-winds moan;

Upon life’s tree the leaves are sere,

And I am all alone.