Can soothe the breast of sadness; And through the gloom of life once more, Bid shine the sun of gladness.
"WHILE YOU LOOK, I FLY."
The Motto on a Sun-dial at Haddenham, Berks. Simple motto, and how short!
At thy meaning I will try :- Fleeting Time says- Do not sport, Trifler! while you look, I fly! Catch the hour, and haste! begone! Loiter not as ye pass by; Nor delay till morrow's dawn Duties-while you look, I fly! 'Pleasure leave,-to business haste; Mark the prize with steady eye: Let not trifles moments waste- Hear me ! while you look, I fly! Know, a world there is above, Every tear is there wip'd dry; Pure from sin, and full of love- Seek it-while you look, I fly! Jesus, king of that world, reigns, Sinners far from God brings nigh; With his blood blots out their stains- Seek Him-while you look, I fly!'
THE IDOL'S HOUSE.
I see a graven work of stone, An image strange and grim ! The idol's house is dark and lone, The woods around are dim.
And on the pavement there is blood— The blood of living things; Yet, to the temple in the wood, A child its offering brings. Mother and child are kneeling there, With spices and with flowers, To stone, that cannot hear their prayer, Though it should last for hours. Be thankful, little child, that thou Art better taught than these;
That night and morn you're taught to bow To God, who hears and sees.
Oh, sorrow for the little one,
In countries far away;
goes, beneath the burning sun,
To graven stone to pray.
ANECDOTE VERSIFIED.
A tawny slave, whom grace had chang'd,
Was ask'd, with scornful voice,
In what religion did consist,
And why he did rejoice?'
'Massa,' he cried, with simple tone, 'In my poor way I'll tell-
'Tis only CEASING TO DO WRONG, And LEARNING TO DO WELL.
'And when poor black man feels his heart Fill'd with the love of God,
He can rejoice, give thanks and sing, Though smarting with the rod.'
"Little children, love” each " other," Is the blessed Saviour's rule, Every little one is brother
To his playfellows at school. We're all children of one Father, The great God who reigns above; Shall we quarrel?—No, much rather Would we be like Him, all Love. He has plac'd us here together, That we may be good and kind; He is ever watching whether
We are one in heart and mind. Which is stronger than the other? He must be the weak one's friend; Who's more playthings than his brother? He'll delight to give and lend. Selfish children's sad behaviour Shows they love themselves alone,
But the children of a Saviour
Say not any thing's their own.
"I wish," said Louisa, "mamma was as great, And fully as rich as the queen;
And papa on the throne with her, sitting in state, And that I was seated between:
How happy, unspeakably so, should I be— Not one in the kingdom thus favoured like me.”
"I wish," said Lucilla, (whose turn 'twas to speak,) "For beauty transcendant and rare ;
my hair be like gold, and like carmine my cheek, And my eyes to which none can compare; How happy, thrice happy, Lucilla would be, Not one in the kingdom, then, equal to me."
"I wish," said Matilda, " for far better gain- Let my heart to God's service be rais'd; For, though favour's deceitful, and beauty is vain,' She that feareth the Lord shall be prais'd;' What tongue could my rapture then rightly define, When the honour that cometh from God should be mine!"
They ceased; but one question I put to you all,
As a sort of infallible test;
Which wish, my young friends, do you candidly call The wisest, the safest, the best?
By the choice that you make, you will certainly show If true wisdom be yours, or true honour you know.
THE DANGER OF TELLING A LIE.
And has my darling told a lie? Did she forget that God was nigh? That God who saw the thing she did, From whom no action can be hid? Did she forget that God could see And hear, wherever she might be? your eyes, and can discern Whichever way you think to turn ; He made your ears, and He can hear E'en when you think no one is near; In ev'ry place, by night or day, He watches all you do and say. Then always be afraid, my dear, To tell a lie-for God is near; Would you, my love, but always try To act as shall not need a lie, You'll never have to turn aside, From any one, your faults to hide ; Nor heave a sigh, nor have a fear, That either God or I should hear.
IMPORTANCE OF INSTRUCTION.
When blossom in the field is found, We must not it destroy;
With golden fruit it will be crown'd, And autumn cheer with joy.
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