GONE BEFORE.

By Marietta Holley

Smooth the hair;

Silken waves of sunny brown

Lay upon the white brow down,

Crowned with the blossoms rare;

Lilies on a golden stream,

Ne'er to float in summer air

Wreathed with meadow daisies fair.

Lay away the broken crown

And your broken dream,

With one shining tress of hair,

Nevermore to need your care.