THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

BY WILLIAM

B.

TAPPAN.

I GAZED upon the mountain's top,
That pierced in twain the passing cloud,
And wondered at its giant form,

So dark, magnificent, and proud.

Can this strong mountain from its base
Be shaken by the tempest's shock?
Can all the gathered thunders stir
This everlasting, solid rock,

And scatter forth its dust like hail?
And fling its fragments on the air?
Can aught created wield such strength?
Exists such power? Oh, tell me where?

They may remove; these mountains may
Tremble, and hence for ever pass;
These hills, that pillar up the skies,
Perish, as doth the new-mown grass.

Yea, saith the Lord, they shall depart,
The hills, and all the solid land;
But my sure word of truth remains,
My promise shall for ever stand.

CHARACTER OF THE REV. DR. PARKER,

OF PORTSMOUTH.

BY SAMUEL E. COUES.

THE mind of Dr. Parker was characterized by vigor of conception and distinctness of thought. His course ever appeared to be regulated and directed by his practical good sense. This was exhibited in his whole life, and gave a decided practical tendency to all his efforts in his profession. It was seen in all his sermons. There was not found in them any attempt merely to please the taste of the day, or to gratify the imagination by the charms of rhetoric. In their style they were plain, simple and direct; with a strong and manly eloquence they were addressed to the conscience. The end of preaching, reformation of life, appeared never to be forgotten. The most frequent topics were the practical truths of revelation, — the plain and universally admitted doctrines; for he believed, in these consisted the power of religion over the heart. He sought not originality of ideas, but strength of illustration. He did not exert his mental strength by boldness of speculation, by treading as it were on the confines of error, in advancing new and dazzling ideas, but he used his power, directed his search, and applied his knowledge of character to enforce the great truths which are the very corner-stones and foundations of the christian's hopes. His manner was solemn and impressive. There was no attempt to set himself off, or to draw the attention to the preacher. He appeared to forget self in his interest for others, to look for the effects of his sermons on the character of his hearers, not on his own repu

CHARACTER OF REV. DR. PARKER.

153

tation. He stood before his people as the ambassador of Christ, and his manner, expression, and whole appearance were such as to enforce the belief that he spoke from the heart, and was himself personally interested in the truths he illustrated, personally imbued with the spirit of the religion he preached. There was a sanctity of manner, an appearance of heart-felt reverence in his devotions. His mind seemed intently fixed in his adoration. His petitions flowed upward from the heart; the very tones of his voice, the richness and purity of his devotional language carried the mind upward from the changes of earth, from the weakness of man, to the peace and permanence of the heavens, to Him in whom is no variableness or shadow of turning.

The warmth of his feelings and his intimate knowledge of character peculiarly fitted Dr. Parker for the discharge of his parochial duties. To the mourner he was indeed the son of consolation, the guide of the wounded spirit. In whatever family he visited in times of trouble to its members, he was ever after the friend of their hearts. He came not coldly to discharge the duty of a pastor, to offer the formal words of consolation. He entered the house of mourning as the christian friend, calm and self-possessed, yet exhibiting a heart-felt commiseration. He appeared as one who personally suffered, and his deep sympathy with the afflicted enabled him to pour the balm of consolation into the wounded heart; he could thus hush the tumult of grief, and soothe the excited mind by directing it to the Star of Bethlehem, shining with mild and steady beams beyond the clouds which rested over their earthly hopes. How many tears now flow when the memory of his people carries them back to the times of their bereavements, when their dying friends reposed on his bosom, when his christian friendship, his devoted benevolence comforted and sustained them, and so often made the afflictions of life to minister to their permanent good!

He did indeed faithfully discharge the duties of a pastor. He identified himself with the sorrows of others. He came

wherever a trial was to be borne, and lightened the burden by partaking of the grief. Whoever was in trouble found a christian friend who could impart christian consolation. To the poor and sick, to the widow and to the stranger, Dr. Parker would freely give his attention. He sought all such opportunities of doing good. His time, his professional aid, his whole means of usefulness were at their service, whether they needed the consolations of religion, or that active charity which feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and sets the prisoner free. No man in private life perhaps was ever more frequently called to scenes of sorrow, no one was more familiar with human suffering, yet he never shrunk from duty, he was never deterred from attempts to alleviate distress. He found himself fully equal to every call of duty here.

"God will take charge of the happiness of him who forgets self in his exertions for the welfare of others." This remark, it is believed, was made with a personal conviction of its truth. The very weakness of human nature, the mutual and constant kind offices rendered necessary by the changes and vicissitudes of life, seem designed to render more intimate the connexion of mind with mind, destined perhaps to continue in a more perfect state of being. On the strength and purity of the sympathies of our nature depend our happiness. These should flow alike with sorrow and with joy; they must connect themselves with the sufferings as well as with the happiness of others. The changes of life seem designed to furnish them with their regular and strengthening exercise, that the character may be improved, and the capabilities for enjoyment enlarged. He who weeps with those who weep can rejoice with those who rejoice; the mind, purified and exalted by scenes of distress, shall turn with increased sensibilities to connect itself with all that is cheerful and happy here, and with all the brightness of the christian's future hopes.

THE VICTOR'S CROWN.

BY MRS. S. J. HALE.

A CROWN for the Victor, a crown of light!
From a land where the flowers ne'er feel a blight,
Was gathered the wreath that around it glows,
And he who o'ercometh his treacherous foes,
That radiant crown shall gain :

A king went forth on the rebel array

That arose where a beautiful hamlet lay;

He frowned, and there's nought save ashes and blood And blackened bones where that hamlet stood,

Yet his treacherous foes he hath not slain.

A crown for the Victor, a crown of light!
Encircled with jewels so pure and bright,

Night never hath gloomed where their lustre glows,
And he who can conquer his proudest foes,
That glorious crown shall gain :

A hero came from the crimson field,
And low at his feet the pale captives kneeled;
In his might he had trodden a nation down,
But he may not challenge the glorious crown,
For his proudest foe he hath not slain.

A crown for the Victor, a crown of light!
Like the morning sun, to the raptured sight
From the night of a dungeon raised, it glows:
And he who can slay his deadliest foes,
That shining crown shall gain:

With searching eye and stealthy tread,

The man of wrath sought his enemy's bed;

Like festering wounds are the wrongs he hath borne, And he takes the revenge his soul hath sworn,

But his deadliest foe he hath not slain.

A crown for the Victor, a crown of light!
To be worn with a robe whose spotless white
Makes darkness seem resting on Alpine snows,
And he who o'ercometh his mightiest foes
That robe and crown shall gain :
With eye upraised, and forehead bare,
A pilgrim knelt down in holy prayer;

He hath wrestled with self and with passion striven,
And to him hath the sword of the Spirit been given,
O crown him, for his foes, his sins are slain!