LIFE AND DEATH.

HAT is Life, Father?"

"A Battle, my child,

Where the strongest lance may fail,

Where the wariest eyes may be beguiled,
And the stoutest heart may quail.
Where the foes are gathered on every hand
And rest not day or night,

And the feeble little ones must stand

In the thickest of the fight."

"What is Death, Father?"

"The rest, my child,

When the strife and the toil are o'er;

The angel of God, who, calm and mild,

Says we need fight no more;

Who driving away the demon band,

Bids the din of the battle cease;

Takes banner and spear from our failing hand,

And proclaims an eternal Peace."

"Let me die, Father! I tremble and fear

To yield in that terrible strife!"

"The crown must be won for Heaven, dear,

In the battle-field of life;

My child, though thy foes are strong and tried, He loveth the weak and small;

The Angels of Heaven are on thy side,

And God is over all!"

NOW.

ISE! for the day is passing,
And you lie dreaming on;

The others have buckled their armour,

And forth to the fight are gone:

A place in the ranks awaits you,
Each man has some part to play;
The Past and the Future are nothing,
In the face of the stern To-day.

Rise from your dreams of the Future-
Of gaining some hard-fought field;

Of storming some airy fortress,

Or bidding some giant yield; Your Future has deeds of glory,

Of honour (God grant it may !) But your arm will never be stronger, Or the need so great as To-day.

Rise! if the Past detains you,

Her sunshine and storms forget;
No chains so unworthy to hold you
As those of a vain regret :

Sad or bright, she is lifeless ever,
Cast her phantom arms away,
Nor look back, save to learn the lesson
Of a nobler strife To-day.

Rise! for the day is passing :
The sound that you scarcely hear
Is the enemy marching to battle-
Arise! for the foe is here!

Stay not to sharpen your weapons,
Or the hour will strike at last,
When, from dreams of a coming battle,
You may wake to find it past!

CLEANSING FIRES.

ET thy gold be cast in the furnace,
Thy red gold, precious and bright,
Do not fear the hungry fire,

With its caverns of burning light:

And thy gold shall return more precious,

Free from every spot and stain;

For gold must be tried by fire,

As a heart must be tried by pain!

In the cruel fire of Sorrow

Cast thy heart, do not faint or wail;

Let thy hand be firm and steady,
Do not let thy spirit quail:

But wait, when the trial is over,
And take thy heart again;

For as gold is tried by fire,

So a heart must be tried by pain!