A LULLABY.

A LULLABY.

HUSH, my darling, on thy pillow, While I chant an evening hymn, Shadows of the weeping willow Waving o'er my window dim.

Sad and sombre yonder mountain,
Where the gloomy larches stand,
And the ever-plashing fountain
Echoes through the arches grand.

In these moments of emotion
Mystic visions come and go,
While with mother's fond devotion
O'er thy dreams my spells I draw.

Once thy form with light immortal
Glowed within thine olden home,
Far above life's painful portal,
Under glory's golden dome.

Listen, darling, to my murmur,
List thy mother's mournful lay,
Let thy memories confirm her,
Tell her what the angels say.

Thou, my joy, art fresh from glory,
Scarce thy harp-strings silent yet,
Breathe some echo of thy story
Ere earth teach thee to forget.

AMSTERDAM.

AMSTERDAM.

AMSTERDAM is the capital of Holland. It stands on what was once a salt marsh. In order to make a foundation for the houses, large piles of wood were driven through layers of peat, which in some places was sixty feet thick. The town has canals in almost every street. On each side of the canal trees are planted, and between the trees and the houses there is a very pleasant walk.

To those who go for the first time to Amsterdam it seems very strange to see great ships in the middle of the streets. The canals, or gragten, as the Dutch call them, are so numerous that the city is divided into ninety islands, which are united by two hundred and ninety bridges. The private houses are built of brick, and are kept very clean. It would almost appear that the servants love cleaning for its own sake. One gentleman who has seen the town speaks of every part as clean as a new made pin.

Amsterdam is a large city. There are more than two hundred thousand people living in it. Some of the buildings are very beautiful. Amstel is the name of a river near the city; and dam, which so often occurs at the end of the names of Dutch towns,

EVERY LITTLE HELPS.

means a dyke, or bank of earth to separate two canals.

There is no water in the place fit to drink but what is brought in boats from Vecht, four miles away. In hot weather the water in the canals becomes very offensive, and tells seriously on the health of the people. For fuel the people burn peat, which is found all over Holland in great abundance. But coal is also taken from this country now.

Amsterdam has changed very little during the last century, and guide-books and descriptions of the place issued a hundred years ago are still correct. The manufactures of the city are very numerous, and the trade, especially with the East and West Indies and England is very large. When besieged, the inhabitants can flood the whole country round the city for several miles.

EVERY LITTLE HELPS.

SUPPOSE a little twinkling star,

Away in yonder sky,

Should say,

"What light can reach so far

From such a star as I?

Not many rays of mine so far
As yonder earth can fall :

EVERY LITTLE HELPS.

The others so much brighter are,
I will not shine at all!"

Suppose a bright green leaf that grows
Upon the rose-bush near,

Should say, "Because I'm not a rose,
I will not linger here!"

Or that a dew-drop, fresh and bright,
Upon that fragrant flower,

Should say," I'll vanish out of sight
Because I'm not a shower!"

Suppose a little child should say,
"Because I'm not a man,

I will not try, in word or play,
To do what good I can !"

Dear child, each star some light can give,
Though gleaming faintly there :
Each rose-leaf helps the plant to live;
Each dew-drop keeps it fair!

And our good Father who's in heaven,

And doth all creatures view,

To every little child has given

Some needful work to do.

Kind deeds toward those with whom you live, Kind words and actions right,

Shall, midst the world's deep darkness, give A precious little light.