Yearly in our course returning,
Messengers of shortest stay,
Thus we preach this truth concerning,
Heaven and earth shall pass away.
On the tree of life eternal,
Oh let all our hopes be laid ! This alone, for ever vernal,
Bears a leaf that shall not fade.
MANY sounds were sweet, Most ravishing, and pleasant to the ear; But sweeter none than voice of faithful friend, Sweet always, sweetest heard in loudest
storm. Some I remember, and will ne'er forget, My early friends, friends of my evil day; Friends in my mirth, friends in my miser
Friends given by God in mercy and in love.
My counsellors, my comforters, and guides;
My joy in grief, my second grief in joy;
Companions of my young desires; in doubt
My oracles, my wings in high pursuit.
Oh, I remember, and will ne'er forget
Our meeting-spots, our chosen sacred hours:
Our burning words, that uttered all the soul ;
Our faces beaming with unearthly love;
Sorrow with sorrow sighing, hope with hope
Exulting, heart embracing heart entire.
As birds of social feather helping each
His fellow's flight, we soared into the skies,
And cast the clouds beneath our feet, and
earth With all her tardy leaden-footed cares, And talked the speech, and ate the food of
heaven.
True happiness had no localities,
No tones provincial, no peculiar garb.
Where duty went, she went; with justice
went
And went with meekness, charity, and love.
Where'er a tear was dried; a wounded heart
Bound up; a bruised spirit with the dew
Of sympathy anointed; or a pang
Of honest suffering soothed; or injury,
Repeated oft, as oft by love forgiven.
Where'er an evil passion was subdued,
Or virtue's feeble embers fanned; where'er
A sin was heartily abjured and left;
Where'er a pious act was done, or breathed
A pious prayer, or wished a pious wish,
There was a high and holy place a spot
Of sacred light, a most religious fare,
Where happiness, descending sat and smiled.
,
P
LORD, when we bend before thy throne,
And our confessions pour, Teach us to feel the sins we own,
And shun what we deplore.
Our contrite spirits pitying see,
And penitence impart;
And let a healing ray from thee
Beam hope upon the heart.
When our responsive tongues essay
Their grateful songs to raise ;
Grant that our souls may join the lay,
And rise to thee in praise.
When we disclose our wants in prayer,
May we our wills resign;
And not a thought our bosom share,
Which is not wholly thine.
Let faith each meek petition fill,
And waft it to the skies; And teach our hearts 'tis goodness still
That grants it or denies.
BARTON.
Nay, shrink not from that word “Farewell!"
As if 'twere friendship's final knell ;
Such fears may prove but vain :
So changeful is Life's fleeting day,
Whene'er we severHope may say
We part, to meet again!
E'en the last parting earth can know,
Brings not unutterable wo,
To souls that heavenward soar.
For humble Faith, with stedfast eye
Points to a brighter world on high,
Where hearts, that here at parting sigh,
May meet-to part no more!
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