Original Poetry.
A SPRING SONG.
MARCH winds and April showers
(So ancient proverbs say)
Bring forth the smiling flowers
That crown our month of May.
Their tender roots were nourish'd
'Mid tears and bitter sighs;
Their opening leaves have flourish'd
Beneath inclement skies.
And yet, though boist'rous weather
Each slender stem hath bow'd,
And they have wept together
'Neath many an April cloud,
Still rise they but the stronger
For all their woes and fears,
And flourish yet the longer
For some few April tears.
And thus the afflicting rigour
Of Love's own chastening rod
Renews the spirit's vigour,
And lifts it up to God.
Had March a pitying bosom,
Were April's brow serene,
We should not cull a blossom
To deck our May-day queen.
And so unmingled pleasure,
A world without a frown,
Lays up no heavenly treasure,
No palm or jewell'd crown.
But fairer shines to-morrow
For yesterday's annoy;
And they who sow in sorrow
Will surely "reap in joy."
May Day Song.
"THE flowers are blooming every where,
On ev'ry hill and dell;
And oh how beautiful they are!
How sweetly do they smell!
The little birds, they spring along,
And look so glad and gay,
I love to hear their pleasant song-
I feel as glad as they.
The young lambs bleat and frisk about,
The bees hum round their hive;
The butterflies are coming out:
'Tis good to be alive!
The trees that look'd so stiff and grey,
With green wreaths now are hung;
O mother! let me laugh and play-
I cannot hold my tongue.
See yonder bird spreads out his wings,
And mounts the clear blue skies;
And hark! how merrily he sings,
As far away he flies!"
"Go forth, my child, and laugh and play,
And let your cheerful voice
With birds, and brooks, and merry May,
Cry out, rejoice, rejoice!
I would not check your bounding mirth,
My happy little boy!
For He Who made this blooming earth
Smiles on an infant's joy."
THE feast of St. Philip and St. James is on the 1st of May. Ascension-day or Holy Thursday, forty days after Easter, falls either in May or June; but most commonly in May. The three days before Ascension-day are called Rogation-days, and kept as days of fasting.
Ancient Hymn on the Ascension.
O CHRIST, Who hast prepared a place
For us around Thy thonre of grace,
We pray Thee lift our hearts above,
And draw them with the cords of love!
Source of all good, Thou, gracious Lord,
Art our exceeding great reward;
How transient is our present pain!
How boundless our eternal gain!
With open face and joyful heart,
We then shall see Thee as Thou art:
Our love shall never cease to glow,
Our praise shall never cease to flow.
Thy never-failing grace to prove,
A surety of Thine endless love,
Send down Thy Holy Ghost to be
The raiser of our souls to Thee.
O future Judge, eternal Lord,
Thy name be hallow'd and ador'd:
To God the Father, King of heaven,
And Holy Ghost, like praise be given.
The Editors return their thanks to "F. C." for his kind notes and corrections.
Robson, Levey, and Franklyn, Great New Street, Fetter Laue
Original Poetry: The Butterfly
English Church-History: Edwin and Paulinus
Fable of the Wild Cherry-Tree.
"How lovely I shall look!" said a tall young cherrytree which grew near the hedge of a cottage-garden; "the late showers have greatly improved my appearance, and a few more such sunshiny days as this will bring out all my blossoms-how lovely I shall look when in full bloom! Last spring the squire and the young ladies stopped to look at me; and so, I dare say, they will again." 66" "Yes," observed an old gooseberry-bush which grew not far off from the cherry-tree, "so they did; but they looked at and praised other things besides you; one of the young ladies, as I well remember, looked over the hedge, and admired the neatness and good order No. VI.
Ancient Hymn on the Ascension.
O CHRIST, Who hast prepared a place
For us around Thy thonre of grace,
We pray Thee lift our hearts above,
And draw them with the cords of love!
Source of all good, Thou, gracious Lord,
Art our exceeding great reward;
How transient is our present pain!
How boundless our eternal gain!
With open face and joyful heart,
We then shall see Thee as Thou art:
Our love shall never cease to glow,
Our praise shall never cease to flow.
Thy never-failing grace to prove,
A surety of Thine endless love,
Send down Thy Holy Ghost to be
The raiser of our souls to Thee.
O future Judge, eternal Lord,
Thy name be hallow'd and ador'd:
To God the Father, King of heaven,
And Holy Ghost, like praise be given.
The Editors return their thanks to "F. C." for his kind notes and corrections.
Robson, Levey, and Franklyn, Great New Street, Fetter Laue.
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