She was pure as crystal-just take a sly peep

In her eyes, but don't too rudely stare :--
You'll see in their depths-down, down, oh! so deep,
Yourself clearly photographed1 there!

There wasn't a flower that grew on her banks,
But would waft her a sweet-scented sigh;
They all offered love, but with murmuring thanks,
She demurely and gently passed by.

She glided on smoothly and quite self-possessed,
Unless, as was sometimes the case,

The willow would bend down and toy with her breast,
Or the gentle breeze dimple her face.

The meanderings of "Pure Crystal Stream" were soon past, And she now" Flowing River" became ;

But contact with filthy pollution at last,

Soiled her hitherto unsullied name.

She indeed looked majestic as onward she flowed,
And her breast heaved and swelled with the tide,

1 A slight liberty-mirrored or reflected would have perhaps been more correct.

For handsome and gallant ships now proudly rode

On her broad bosom-near a mile wide.

But, alas! all her pureness and clearness were gone,

She could never more transparent be:

Through marshes and swamps" Flowing River" rolled on, And rushed into the arms of " Deep Sea."

Soon she mingled with "Billows" and big "Mountain waves,"

And from one to another was tossed;

Till, like other poor "Rills" who had thus found their

graves,

She became irretrievably lost.

"Bubbling Spring" mourned her absence for long dreary

years,

And daily he weeps for her still:

For what are all rivers and streams but the tears

"Spring" sheds for the lost "Tiny Rill?"

THE CHAIN PUZZLE.

My lover, yes, my lover has come !

I-ya-i-ya-yu.

And has presented me with a chain puzzle,

With nine, oh! nine chain links;

The Chain Puzzle is given without any attempt at versification, and, not from any special merit the composition may possess, but as a fair specimen of the weak and diluted style of songs, we in the West call "sentimental." It is translated almost literally.

My lover lives in the city;

I live in a road-side village;

And I-yes I

Live in a road-side village;

Although not very far from you,

I am shut out southward of the city gate,

And 'tis difficult for us to meet.

I-tu-ya-tu-i-tu-yu.

Could we but change into a pair of birds

We'd soar up-up to heaven :

Fly, yes, fly even up to heaven,

And then as rapidly descend.

There is besides a ship, yes, a ship—

There we would meet.

I-tu-ya-tu-i-tu-yu.

The snow-flakes whirling round,

Fell three feet deep :—

Three feet three inches deep,

And whirling, whirling formed

A beauteous snowy being
Who in my bosom fell ;-
I clasped him to my breast.

I-tu-ya-tu-i-tu-yu.

The first watch struck.

I-ya-i-ya-yu.

The second watch,

I waited for you, yet you did not come,

No, you did not come.

The third watch,

'The drum told me 'twas midnight.

The fourth watch, the drum

The drum and cocks proclaimed the hour.

I-tu-ya-tu-i-tu-yu.

The fifth watch,

The crowing cocks announced the dawn,

Day, yes, day has broke :—

The flowered curtains

Ivory couch

Embroidered coverlet

Downy pillows :—

I think while on my pillow,

I think, oh! think,

My lover once gone will not come

No, he will not come !

He abandons me to my thoughts,—

He causes me to think,

And I become love sick.

I-tu-ya-tu-i-tu-yu.