Life, like a mighty river, bears us on
  A rapid tide, we ne’er can rest upon,
  Adown the narrow stream, at first, we glide
  Thro’ fruits and flowers that fringe the grassy side. 
  The playful murmurings of its windings seem
  Soft, as the far-off music of a dream,
  Over our heads the trees their blossoms shed,
  Flowers on the brink their mingled odours shed. 
  Beauty around, above us, Hope within;
  Eager we grasp each dazzling charm to win. 
  But hurried on and on, we ne’er can stay
  Our little bark to anchor or delay. 
  For now, how full, how deep, how vast the river
  On which we glide, that stays its journey never! 
  As rolling years bring with them joy and woe,
  Dark, and more various, seems our voyage to grow. 
  Buoyant we ride on waves of hope and joy,
  Down, down, we sink, when earthly cares annoy! 
  Futile and vain, alike each hope or fear
  On, on, we glide, there is no resting here. 
  For far behind is left each joy and woe,
  The mighty river ne’er will cease to flow! 
  And, rough and smooth, it hastens to its home,
  Glides by each futile hope and pleasure gone. 
  Until within our ears the ocean roars,
  And the bleak billows break upon the shores;
  Beneath our keel the bounding waves arise,
  And the land lessens from our aching eyes. 
  The floods of “Time’s wide ocean” round us swell,
  Earth take of us thy long and last farewell! 
  For witness of our future voyage there’s none
  But He, the Infinite, Eternal One!

Kirton Lindsey.  ANNIE R.

* * * * *

ON VEILS.

(To the Editor of the Mirror.)

In No. 385, of the MIRROR, one of your Correspondents gives an account of the “Origin of wearing the veil,” in which he attributes it to Penelope, the beautiful wife of Ulysses.  Now, for my own part, I feel inclined to query this statement of C.K.W. first by his own account of the origin, and second by Scripture.

Your Correspondent, speaking of the decision which the wife of Ulysses was to give, says, “the beautiful Penelope finding herself in this dilemma, blushed, and without making the least reply, drew her veil over her face,” &c.  By this I think it is clearly understood that veils were common in Greece when this occurrence took place; or why say “her veil,” which readily implies, that it was customary to wear them, and also that it was near her at the time; although, perhaps, she might have been the first to use it upon such an occasion, namely, to hide her blushes from the observation of her father when she decided upon accompanying her husband in preference to staying with her parent. 2nd.  In Scripture we find the veil used in Moses’ time, and even by Moses himself,[3] 1491 years before Christ; but the earliest mention