FROM "THE PRELUDE."

WHEN first I made

WHE

Once more the circuit of our little lake,
If ever happiness hath lodged with man,
That day consummate happiness was mine,
Wide-spreading, steady, calm, contemplative.
The sun was set, or setting, when I left
Our cottage door, and evening soon brought on
A sober hour, not winning or serene,

For cold and raw the air was, and untuned;
But as a face we love is sweetest then
When sorrow damps it, or whatever look
It chance to wear, is sweetest if the heart
Have fulness in herself; even so with me
It fared that evening. Gently did my soul
Put off her veil, and self-transmuted, stood
Naked, as in the presence of her God.

While on I walked, a comfort seemed to touch

A heart that had not been disconsolate :

Strength came where weakness was not known to be, At least not felt; and restoration came

Like an intruder knocking at the door

Of unacknowledged weariness. I took

The balance, and with firm hand weighed myself. - Of that external scene which round me lay, Little, in this abstraction, did I see,

Remembered less; but I had inward hopes

And swellings of the spirit, was rapt and soothed,

Conversed with promises, had glimmering views
How life pervades the undecaying mind;
How the immortal soul with Godlike power
Informs, creates, and thaws the deepest sleep
That time can lay upon her; how on earth,
Man, if he do but live within the light
Of high endeavors, daily spreads abroad
His being armed with strength that cannot fail.
Nor was there want of milder thoughts, of love
Of innocence, and holiday repose;

And more than pastoral quiet, 'mid the stir
Of boldest projects, and a peaceful end
At last, or glorious, by endurance won.

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

CHANGE.

ATHER! there is no change to live with Thee,

FATHE

Save that in Christ I grow from day to day;

In each new word I hear, each thing I see,

I but rejoicing hasten on the way;

The morning comes with blushes overspread,
And I new-wakened find a morn within;

And in its modest dawn around me shed,

Thou hear'st the prayer and the ascending hymn;
Hour follows hour, the lengthening shades descend,
Yet they could never reach as far as me,
Did not Thy love its kind protection lend,
That I a child might sleep awhile on Thee,
Till to the light restored by gentle sleep
With new-found zeal I might Thy precepts keep.

JONES VERY.

ALL THINGS ARE YOURS.

Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee." GEN. xiii. 17.

"All things are yours . . . things present.' I COR. iii. 22, 23.

HILE toil and warfare urge us on our way,

WHILE

And heart is answering heart in signs of pain, Have we no words of strengthening joy to say No songs for those who suffer but to reign?

Behold, the paths of life are ours - we see
Our blest inheritance where'er we tread;
Sorrow and danger our security,

And disappointment lifting up our head.

Kings unto God, we may not doubt our power,
We may not languish when He says,
"Be strong
We must move on through every adverse hour,
And take possession as we pass along.

We need no haste where he has said "Be still"-
No peace where He has charged us to contend;
Only the fearless love to do His will,

And to show forth His honor to the end.

O ye that faint and die, arise and live!

Sing, ye that all things have a charge to bless!
If He is faithful who hath sworn to give,
Then be ye also faithful, and possess.

Take thy whole portion with thy Master's mind

Toil, hindrance, hardness, with His virtue take-
And think how short a time thy heart may find
To labor or to suffer for His sake.

Ours be a loyal love for service tried,

-

To show, by deeds and words and looks that cheer, How He can bless the scene in which He died, And fill His house with glory even here.

ANNA L. WARING.

CHEERFULNESS TAUGHT BY REASON.

I

THINK we are too ready with complaint

In this fair world of God's. Had we no hope
Indeed beyond the zenith and the scope
Of yon grey blank of sky, we might grow faint
To muse upon eternity's constraint

Round our aspirant souls; but since the scope
Must widen early, is it well to droop,

For a few days consumed in loss and taint?
O pusillanimous heart, be comforted,
And, like a cheerful traveller, take the road,
Singing beside the hedge. What if the bread
Be bitter in thine inn, and thou unshod
To meet the flints? at least it may be said,
"Because the way is short, I thank Thee, God."

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.

GOD'S PRESENCE THE SOURCE OF ALL

JOY.

"In Thy presence is fulness of joy ; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." PSALM xvi. 11.

FRIEND of souls, 't is well with me

Whene'er Thy love my spirit calms!
From sorrow's dungeon forth I flee,
And hide me in Thy sheltering arms.
The night of weeping flies away
Before the heart-reviving ray

Of love, that beams from out Thy breast;
Here is my heaven on earth begun ;
Who were not joyful had he won

In Thee, O God, his joy and rest!

Through deserts of the cross Thou leadest,
I follow leaning on Thy hand;

From out the clouds Thy child Thou feedest,
And giv'st him water from the sand.

I know Thy wondrous ways will end
In love and blessing, Thou true Friend,
Enough, if Thou art ever near!

I know, whom Thou wilt glorify,
And raise o'er sun and stars on high,

Thou lead'st through depths and darkness here.

To others Death seems dark and grim,

But not, Thou Life of life, to me;

I know Thou ne'er forsakest him

Whose heart and spirit rest in Thee.