He mark'd two sunbeams upward driven Till they blent in one in the bosom of heaven; And when closed o'er the eye lid of night, His own mind's eye saw it doubly bright, And as upward and upward it floated on He deemed it a seraph—and anon. Through its light on heaven's floor he made, The shadow bright of his dead love's shade, In her living beauty, and he wrapt her in light, Which dropped from the eye of the Infinite. And as she breathed her heavenward sigh, 'Twas halved by that light all radiently, As it lit her up to eternity. Then the future opened its ocult scroll. And his own inward man was refined to soul, And straightway it rose to the realms above, On the wings of thought till it joined his love, And though from that beauteous trance he woke Still linger'd the thought—and he called it—hope!

LOVE'S KERCHIEF

(For the Mirror.)

It was a custom in my time to look through a handkerchief at the new year's moon, and as many moons as ye saw (multiplied by the handkerchief,) so many years would ye be before ye were wed.

When sunset and moon-rise Chill and burn at once on the earth— When love-tears and love-sighs Tickle up boisterous mirth— When fate-stars are shooting, Sparks of love to the maid To fill her funeral eye with light, And owlets are hooting Her sire's ghost, which she's unlaid With vexation, down backward in night; Then the lover may spin from that light of her eye, (As through his sigh it glances silkily,) With the wheel of a dead witch's fancy, The thread of his after destiny— All hidden things to prove. Then make a warp and a woof of that thread of sight, And weave it with loom of a fairy sprite, As she works by the lamp of the glow-worm's light, While it lays drunk with the dew-drop of night, And ye'll have the kerchief of love: Then peep through it at the waning moon, And ye shall read your fate—anon.

A SKETCH OF SINGAPORE. 1

Near the village of Kampong Glam2 I observed a poor-looking bungalow, surrounded by high walls, exhibiting effects of age and climate. Over the large gateway which opened into the inclosure surrounding this dwelling were watch-towers. On inquiry, I found this was the residence of the Rajah of Johore, who includes Sincapore also in his dominions. The island was purchased of him by the British Government, who now allow him an annual pension. He is considered to have been formerly a leader of pirates; and when we saw a brig he was building, it naturally occurred to our minds whether he was about to resort to his old practices. We proposed visiting this personage; and on arriving at the gateway were met by a peon, who, after delivering our message to the Rajah, requested us to wait a few minutes, until his Highness was ready. We did not wait long, for the Rajah soon appeared, and took his seat, in lieu of a throne, upon the highest step of those which led to his dwelling. His appearance was remarkable: he appeared a man of about forty years of age—teeth perfect, but quite black, from the custom of chewing the betel constantly. His head was large; and his shaven cranium afforded an interesting phrenological treat. He was deformed; not more than five feet in height, of large body, and short, thick, and deformed legs, scarcely able to support the ponderous trunk. His neck was thick and short, and his head habitually stooped; his face bloated, with the lower lip projecting, and large eyes protruding, one of them having a cataractal appearance. He was dressed in a short pair of cotton drawers, a sarong of cotton cloth came across the shoulders in the form of a scarf, and with tarnished, embroidered slippers, and handkerchief around the head (having the upper part exposed) after the Malay fashion, completed the attire of this singular creature.

As much grace and dignity was displayed in our reception as such a figure could show, and chairs were placed by the attendants for our accommodation. He waddled a short distance, and, notwithstanding the exertion was so extraordinary as to cause large drops of perspiration to roll down his face, conferred a great honour upon us by personally accompanying us to see a tank he had just formed for fish, and with a flight of steps, for the convenience of bathing. After viewing this, he returned to his former station, when he re-seated himself, with a dignity of look and manner surpassing all description; and we took our departure, after a brief common-place conversation.

I remarked, that on his approach the natives squatted down, as a mark of respect: a custom similar to which prevails in several of the Polynesian islands.

Mr. G.B.'s MS. Jour., Nov. 15, 1830.

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The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 19, No. 530, January 21, 1832

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HOPE

(For the Mirror.)

LOVE'S KERCHIEF

(For the Mirror.)

A SKETCH OF SINGAPORE. 1

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