PEACE. BY GEORGE HERBERT. SWEET Peace, where dost thou dwell? I humbly crave, Let me once know. I sought thee in a secret cave, And asked if Peace were there: A hollow sound did seem to answer, "No! I did, and going, did a rainbow note, "This is the lace of Peace's coat; I will search out the matter." But, while I looked, the clouds immediately Then went I to a garden, and did spy The Crown-Imperial: "Sure," said I, But, when I digged, I saw a worm devour At length I met a reverend, good old man : I did demand, he thus began : "There was a prince of old In Salem dwelt, who lived with good increase "He sweetly lived; yet sweetness did not save His life from foes: But, after death, out of his grave There sprang twelve stalks of wheat, Which many, wondering at, got some of those, "It prospered strangely, and did soon disperse Through all the earth: For they that taste it do rehearse, That virtue lies therein,— A secret virtue, bringing peace and mirth, "Take of this grain, which in my garden grows, And grows for you : Make bread of it; and that repose And peace, which everywhere With so much earnestness you do pursue, WE ARE SEVEN. BY WORDSWORTH. A SIMPLE child, That lightly draws its breath, And feels its life in every limb, What should it know of death ? I met a little cottage girl, She was eight years old, she said; Her hair was thick, with many a curl, That clustered round her head. She had a rustic woodland air, "Sisters and brothers, little maid, How many may you be?" "How many? Seven in all," she said, And wondrous looked at me. "And where are they? I pray you tell." And two are gone to sea. "Two of us in the churchyard lie, Dwell near them with my mother.” "You say that two at Conway dwell, And two are gone to sea; Yet you are seven! I pray you tell, Sweet maid, how this may be ?" Then did the little maid reply, "You run about, my little maid, "Their graves are green, they may be seen," The little maid replied; "Twelve steps or more from mother's door, And they are side by side! "My stockings there I often knit, My kerchief there I hem ; And there upon the ground I sit, "And often, after sunset, sir, "The first that died was sister Jane, Till God released her of her pain, "So in the churchyard she was laid, My brother John and I. "And when the ground was white with snow, And I could run and slide, My brother John was forced to go, "How many are you then," said I, "But they are dead-these two are dead, 'T was throwing words away for still THE STREET OF BY-AND-BYE. BY MRS. ABDY. Он, shun the spot, my youthful friends, I urge you to beware! Beguiling is the pleasant way, and softly breathes the air ; Yet none have ever passed to scenes ennobling, great, and high, Who once began to linger in the street of By-and-bye. How varied are the images arising to my sight, Of those who wished to shun the wrong, who loved and prized the right! Yet from the silken bonds of sloth they vainly strove to fly, Which held them gently prisoned in the street of By-andbye. A youth aspired to climb the height of Learning's lofty hill; What dimmed his bright intelligence-what quelled his earnest will? Why did the object of his quest still mock his wistful eye? Too long, alas! he tarried in the street of By-and-bye. "My projects thrive," the merchant said; "when doubled is my store, How freely shall my ready gold be showered among the poor!" Vast grew his wealth, yet strove he not the mourner's tear to dry; He never journeyed onward from the street of By-andbye! 66 Forgive thy erring brother, he has wept and suffered long!" I said to one, who answered- "He hath done me grievous wrong; Yet will I seek my brother, and forgive him ere I die :" Alas! Death shortly found him in the street of By-and bye! The wearied worldling muses upon lost and wasted days, Why does he linger fondly in the street of By-and-bye? |