THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST.

261

very feeble. A great multitude of people were crowding and pressing to keep close to Jesus, that they might not miss of seeing the miracle. The difficulty of getting through the crowd was, no doubt, very great; but salvation was so near and so desirable, that it invigorated her feeble system to such a degree that her efforts were availing. We may, perhaps, form some idea of the manner of her exertions upon this occasion. She would naturally direct her eyes toward Jesus, and would catch a glimpse of him as often as possible. When it so happened that she could by the greatest exertion get before one of the crowd, she never let the opportunity slip by unimproved. Each step gained was cautiously kept. She was careful that no one should crowd her back. She speaks not a word to any one, lest she should miss an opportunity to advance. The nearer she comes to the prize the stronger and more active she grows, till she eagerly reaches forth her hand and touches the garment of the Saviour. She now realizes her faith; her confidence has not deceived her; she is made whole!

Although she did not once think that the Saviour was apprehensive of her approach, yet he who knew the very thoughts of men's hearts, who saw Nathaniel under the fig-tree afar off, already knew her case, her faith, and the efforts which she had made to come to him. Immediately as she touched his garment he turned himself about in the press, and, as if surprised that any one should touch him, said, "who touched my clothes?" The disciples, ignorant of the particular cause, and surprised that their master should ask who touched him, when so pressed with the crowd of people all around him, said to him: "Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, who touched me?" Jesus made them no reply, but cast his eyes around to see who had done this thing, when the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what she had done, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague!"

Between the disorders of the human body and those of the mind, there seems to be no small resemblance. Both are the natural productions of the constitution of the creature. Both are promoted by the indulgence of appetite and passion. Both become inveterate by habit. Natural blindness and ignorance of divine things are so very similar that the Scriptures use the same word to signify both, and the Saviour represents sinners as those who are sick. As there were no natural disorders which were too stubborn for the miraculous power of Jesus to remove; no demoniac so raving that Jesus could not clothe him in his right mind; none so strongly locked in the dark house of death that he could not call them thence; so there is no sin so chronical, so inveterate, as to be beyond the power of divine mercy to wash away. The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. All death, sorrow, and crying shall cease. Pains and disorders shall no more be felt, nor temptations trouble the lovers of God, but the blessed hand of the once-crucified shall wipe the tears from off all faces.

HARP of the sea! bold minstrel of the deep!
Sound from your halls where proud armadas sleep;
Ring from the waves a strain of other days,
When first rude Commerce poured her feeble rays;
Tell what rich burdens India's princes bore
Of balmy spices to the Arab's shore;

What mines of wealth on Traffic's dauntless wings
Sailed down from Egypt to the Syrian kings;
By what mischance, those wonders of their hour,
The fleets of Carthage and the Tyrian power,
Were lost, and vanished like the meteor ray
That flashes nightly through the milky-way:
Sing of the Grecian States, that warlike band
Which held the ocean in its dread command;
Of Caesar's glory, when his navies furled
Their sails before the granary of the world;
Of Afric's spoils by Vandals rent away,
And Eastern empires waning to decay.

Stand forth, old Venice

Genoa-Pisa-Rome! With all your galleys on the crested foam; Say, where are now your royal merchants seen? Go ask the Red-Cross Knight at Palestine!

And thou, great Prince of Florence,-wise and free, With pride on history's scroll thy name we see; And while entranced, that brilliant page we find Gemmed with the trophies of a cultured mind; Another name demands the just applause Of friends of Commerce, and her equal laws; Thine was a light that o'er broad Europe shone, And Roscoe's fame shall mingle with thine own!

But lo! what crowds on Albion's shore arise,
Of noble fleets with costly merchandise;

What swift-winged ships rush in from every strand,
To swell the coffers of her teeming land,

While lofty flags proclaim on every breeze

The island queen,

-the mistress of the seas!

Look to the West-the Elysian borders view! See where from Palos speeds yon wearied crew: Haste, ere the vision to your eye grows dim, O'er rock and forest comes the Mayflower's hymn: Fleet as the night-star fades in brightening day, That exiled pilgrim-band has passed away; But where their anchors marked a dreary shore, When first thanksgivings rose for perils o'er, A nation's banner fills the murmuring air, And freedom's ensign wantons gaily there.

Oh, glorious stripes! no stain your honor mars: Wave! ever wave! our country's flag of stars! Float till old time shall shroud the sun in gloom, And this proud empire seeks its laurelled tomb.

But brief my lay; the fairy land of song
Holds me a truant in its maze too long;
Yet chide me not, if lingering on the shore,
I cast one pebble to the ripples more.

Our Yankee ships! in fleet career,
They linger not behind,

Where gallant sails from other lands
Court favoring tide and wind.
With banners on the breeze, they leap
As gaily o'er the foam

As stately barks from prouder seas,
That long have learned to roam.

The Indian wave with luring smiles
Swept round them bright to-day;
And havens to Atlantic isles
Are opening on their way;
Ere yet these evening shadows close,
Or this frail song is o'er,

Full many a straining mast will rise
To greet a foreign shore.

High up the lashing northern deep,
Where glimmering watch-lights beam,

Away in beauty where the stars

In tropic brightness gleam;

Where'er the sea-bird wets her beak,
Or blows the stormy gale;

On to the water's farthest verge
Our ships majestic sail.

They dip their keels in every stream
That swells beneath the sky;

And where old ocean's billows roll,

Their lofty pennants fly:

They furl their sheets in threatening clouds

That float across the main,

To link with love earth's distant bays

In many a golden chain.

DUTIES OF AMERICAN MOTHERS.

BY DANIEL WEBSTER.

It is by the promulgation of sound morals in the community, and more especially by the training and instruction of the young, that woman performs her part towards the preservation of a free government. It is now generally admitted, that public liberty, the perpetuity of a free constitution, rests on the virtue and intelligence of the community which enjoys it. How is that virtue to be inspired, and how is that intelligence to be communicated? Bonaparte once asked Madame de Stael in what manner he could most promote the happiness of France. Her reply is full of political wisdom. She said "Instruct the mothers of the French people." Because the mothers are the affectionate and effective teachers of the human race. The mother begins this process of training with the infant in her arms. It is she who directs, so to speak, its first mental and spiritual pulsations. She conducts it along the impressible years of childhood and youth; and hopes to deliver it to the rough contests and tumultuous scenes of life, armed by those good principles which her child has first received from maternal care and love.

If we draw within the circle of our contemplation the mothers of a civilized nation, what do we see? We behold so many artificers working, not on frail and perishable matter, but on the immortal mind, moulding and fashioning beings who are to exist for ever. We applaud the artist whose skill and genius present the mimic man upon the we admire and celebrate the sculptor who works

canvass