But the music of life, and the song I like best,
Which shields us from sorrow, supports us in pain,

Is the conscious sweet cadence when the soul is at rest
And virtue and reason our passions restrain.

Then let us in harmony cherish the song,
Which beguiles our rough way, or enlightens the heart.

May the Handel of Heaven our music prolong,
In the realms where true friendship never can part.

Alexis. Belle Fontaine, Missouri, Feb. 4, 1811.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

To a beautiful Pittsburgh Lass who has blue eyes.
Could but the poet reach the painter's art,

And shade his colours in the impassioned linc;
The charms of beauty to his verse impart,

And with the matchless form portray the soul divine.
Thou would'st live in deathless song;
Each Muse would oft the endearing theme prolong.

\Vhen late at eve we press our gloomy way,

And weary Nature wears her sable dress,
Ilow cheering is the far off taper's ray,

While magic Fancy makes the distance less.
And when black clouds the Heavens deform,
When lightning leads the pealing storm.

If but a parting cloud is seen,

While thunders pause and lightnings rest,
Where Luna sheds a partial gleam,

Oh, how it cheers the lonesome traveller's breast!
The charming blue is seen which leads to heaven,
And peace serene for douts and fears is given.

When in the summer's balmy morn,

Aurora's mantle meets the eye,
We look delighted on her passing form,

Where Nature's richest tints in splendour vie.

But when the Imperial God. resumes his car,
And starts his coursers for the morning star,

His dazzling beams.obscure the sigut,

And nature's bosom hides from viewet.
Tis then we turn from beams too bright

And gaze upon celestial blue.
E'en in the horrid walks, of war,

Where Valour's heart: is nerved with steel,
Whence Pity flies from Havoc's car,

And soldiers' bosoms cease to feel.

When struggling manhood pants for breath,
And thousands press the ground in death:

Let but Columbia's banner rise,

In waving blue around the field;
How bounds the heart for Valour's prize,

See! how we conquer, how they yield.

Sweet blue eyed maid, assay: thy art,

And let thy conquest be a heart.
With virtue, truth and valour bless'd,
Then let it to thy own be press’d.

ALEXIS.
Pittsburgh, July 20, 1810.

* Alluding to the blinding effect of the sun's rays when they act directly on the pupil.

TOR THE PORT FOLIO.

SONG.

The measure (I believe) unique.
If ever you smile on a lover,
And let him your passion discover,

As soon as you sigh

His transports will die;
And Hymen offended, will teach you to cry
That Lave when assured is a rover:

Young Willy was handsome and clever,
And long did he fondly endeavour

To make me impart

Some balm to his smart,
But as soon as I own'd he had stölen

my heart,
He stole from my presence forever!
If ever you laugh at a lover,
And smile on the trifles that hover

And lounge in your train

Your beauties in vain
May shine to attract him and fix him again,
The triumph of beauty is over.

When Harry entreated my pity
I laugh'd at his dolorous ditty,

And bade him apply

For hope by-and-by;
But false hearted Harry, I cannot tell wliy,

Forgot to renew his entreaty!
The love-smitten maid who would never
The twin buds of tender love sever,

But fain would retain

The heart of her swain,
With chasten'd compassion must manage the chain,
And his heart is devoted forever!

OSCAR,

VARIETY.

Lord Landsdown, not unjustly, has been branded by the justice, as well as severity of criticism for the tameness and insipidity of his verses. But the following lays, the effusions of his happier hours, are above the reach of censure.

WAFT me, some soft and cooling breeze

To Windsor's shady kind retreat, tvhere sylvan scenes, wide spreading crees

Repel the raging dog star's heat.

Where tufted grass and mossy beds

A fford a rural calm repose;
There voodbines hang their dewy heada
id fragrant Seets around disrjosa

น

Old oozy Thames, that flows fast by

Along the smiling valley plays;
His glassy surface cheers the eye

And through the flowery meadows strays,
His fertile banks with herbage green,

His vales with smiling Plenty swell,
Where'er his purer stream is seen

The gods of Health and Pleasure dwell.

Let me, thy clear, thy yielding wave

With naked arm once more divide,
In thee my glowing bosom lave

And stem thy gently rolling tide.

Lay me, with damask roses crown'd,

Beneath some ozier's dusky shade
Where water lilies paint the ground

And bubbling springs refresh the glade.

Let chaste Clarinda too be there

With azure mantle lightly drest,
Ye nymphs, bind up her silken hair,

Ve zephyrs, fan her panting breast,

O haste away, fair maid, and bring

The Muse, the kindly friend to love,
To thee alone the Muse shall sing

And warble through the vocal grove.

MODES OF SALUTATION..FOR THE PORT FOLIO. From the form of salutations among different nations we may learn some. thing of their character, at least of their manners. In the southern provinces of China the common people ask “Ya Tan,” that is, How have you eaten your rice; for in that is their greatest felicity. If two Dutchmen meet in the morning they wish each other a good appetite. • Smaakelyk leten." In Cairo the inhabitants ask How do you sweat? for the not sweating is the symptom of an approaching fever. The Italian and Spaniard ask How does it stand? “Come sta.” The Frenchman, How do you carry yourself? “ Comment vous portez vous?” The German, How do you find yourself? “Wie bejinder sic sich." The English, “How do you do?" The Dutchman says, How do you do. “ Hau vaart wive." There is one nation (we forget which) which ask “How do you live,' and these are certainly the most visc of all.