The years, that erst we bade so swiftly fly,
Need soon no impetus to urge them on;
But like dark clouds across a wintry sky,

One moment here, the next so quickly gone;

But the to-morrow Hope once painted bright,
With blissful images is ever filled;

And Faith grows firmer, that with coming night
Naught but the earthly in the grave is stilled.

THE TEACHER'S WORK.

Not on the canvas doth the Teacher's hand
In beauty's lines his daily task portray,
Not fleeting Nature with harmonious hues
Depict and bid transfigured there to stay.

From out the marble block with patient art

He bids no sleeping beauty wake! arise!
Nor brings his dreams of haunting loveliness
Before the curious World's admiring eyes.

He calls no music forth from note or string
To thrill and sway the list'ning multitude;
His eloquence holds not the public ear,

Shaping the public mind for future good.

A higher work than Painter's art is his;

A nobler grace he carves than Sculptor's dream;
He bids the Soul's imprisoned thoughts awake,
And the dull eye with reason's light to beam.

He worketh ever with a trusting Faith

That seeth now the harvest gathered in ; And countless minds directed by his thought, The fruits of Knowledge pressing on to win.

The Great and Good of earth lay at his feet The tribute grateful mem'ry still bestows : And through the shadows of his daily life Affection's sunshine still around him glows.

THE SABBATH CALM.

The Sabbath sun! how brightly break
Its golden beams o'er earth and skies,
As if of our poor earth to make

A Paradise!

The sounds of week-day labor cease,
And softly on the ambient air
There rests a hallowed spell of peace,
That seems a prayer.

So without noise or stormy wrath
Cometh the kingdom of our God!
Peace, gentleness, love, mark the path
On earth Christ trod.

There soft Compassion lingered long,

There Hope the downcast sinner cheered,And drawn by Love, whose bands are strong, Their Home men neared.

So when this troubled life shall cease,
And toils and sorrows all be past,
May we a Sabbath calm of peace
Enter at last.

A CLOUD COMES O'ER THE SUN.

The blood flows warm, the heart beats high,
And youth essays life's race to run ;
But suddenly athwart the sky

A cloud comes o'er the sun.

Bright hopes, like flowers whose life is light,
Are opening daily one by one;
But tear-drops fill their cups to-night—
A cloud comes o'er the sun.

Love strives to lift her veil's thick fold, The soul to meet by whom she's wonEyes turn aside and hands are cold;

A cloud comes o'er the sun.

Man toils for many weary years
To finish what his youth begun,

And when the goal his spirit nears,

A cloud comes o'er the sun.

But God be praised! a world of light
Awaits us when life's journey's done,
Where, 'mid eternal glories bright,

No cloud comes o'er the sun!

THE FRIENDS' BURYING GROUND.

Lonely it lies upon the busy street;

There wanders round its low mounds but the wind;
Its grass untrodden by men's careless feet.
In its few trees the warbling spring birds find.
A place to weave unscared their airy nests.
Winter sends down its fleecy veil of snow,
Which never broken on its surface rests
A spotless cov'ring for the graves below.
Its gate ne'er opens save when through the year
Death sends one inmate more in it to lie;
Its rusty hinges grate not on his ear
As in Death's carriage dark he passes by.
Its high old wooden fence forbids the gaze
Which might behold a lesson daily there,
Where in the silent dust how soon decays
All which in life, earth's children call most fair.
Silent as in their worship here they lie!
The spirit moving once forever fled!
No white-haired Elder in this company,
Lifting above the rest his silver head!

To yon brick Church how many year by year
Came worshipping in happy household bands,
Till with their God death called them to appear
To worship in a house not made with hands!

THE SEED.

"Who'll help me?" cried the little Seed, "Full long I have been sleeping;

Will no one to my voice give heed?" "I," said the Rain-Drop, weeping.

"I'll send my pelting hammers down
Until your prison's broken,

I'll deck you with a pearly crown.”
Scarcely the words were spoken

Than shining elves their tools did ply
To free th' imprisoned lady;
As quick as light their hammers fly-
Hands willing, bold and ready.

So the Seed's heart began to swell
With thought of freedom coming;
She almost fancied she could tell
The wild bee's gentle humming.

And soon the prison walls were down ;
The graceful Rain-Drop met her-
He decked her with a pearly crown,
Removed each earth-bound fetter.

Then came a sunbeam bright and warm,
Who bade the drop, ascending,
Rise up the rainbow's arch to form ;
Where gorgeous hues were blending.

The Seed put forth her fingers small

The Sunbeam's warm hand clasping, Hoping to rise, fearing to fall,

Her new friend firmly grasping;