A TRADITION OF THE VAUDOIS.

Long before a Bible Society was thought of, the mountaineers of the Vaudois went up and down in the character of pedlars, in order to distribute the Word of God.

H! lady fair, these silks of mine
Are beautiful and rare,

The richest web of Indian loom,

Which Beauty's self might wear;

And these pearls are pure and mild to behold,
And with radiant light they vie ;

I have brought them with me a weary way,
Will my gentle lady buy?"

And the lady smiled on the worn old man,
Through the dark and clustering curls
Which veiled her brow, as she stooped to view
His silks and glittering pearls.

And she placed their price in the old man's hand,
And lightly she turned away;

But she paused at the wanderer's earnest call,

"My gentle lady, stay!

"Oh! lady fair, I have yet a gem,

Which a purer lustre flings

Than the diamond-flash of the jewelled crown

On the lofty brow of kings;

A Tradition of the Vaudois. 43

A wonderful pearl of exceeding price,

Whose virtue shall not decay, Whose light shall be as a spell to thee, And a blessing on thy way!"

The lady glanced at the mirroring steel,

Where her youthful form was seen,

Where her eyes shone clear and her dark locks waved

Her clasping pearls between ;

"Bring forth thy pearl of exceeding worth,

Thou traveller grey and old,

And name the price of thy precious gem,
And my pages shall count the gold!"

The cloud went off the pilgrim's brow,
As a small and meagre book,
Unchased by gold or diamond gem,
From his folding robe he took ;
"Here, lady fair, is the pearl of price,
May it prove as such to thee!
Nay, keep thy gold, I ask it not,

For the Word of God is free!'

The hoary traveller went his way,
But the gift he left behind

Hath had its pure and perfect work

On the high-born maiden's mind;
And she hath turned from her pride of sin
To the loveliness of truth,

And given her human heart to God

In the beauteous hour of youth.

And she hath left the old grey halls

Where an evil faith had power,

And the courtly knights of her father's train, And the maidens of her bower;

And she hath gone to the Vaudois vale,

By lordly feet untrod,

Where the poor and needy of earth are rich In the perfect love of God!

ALL WORK IS HOLY.

ORK while life is given;

Faint not, although 'tis hard;

Work is the will of Heaven,

And peace is the reward!
All work is Holy.

What though thy lot be hidden,
And proud ones pass thee by;
Feel duty as God-bidden,

Act as beneath His eye!

For work is Holy.

Cleave to thy humble place,

Ennoble it with thy zeal;

Work with a manful grace,

Make fruitless cumberers feel
That work is Holy.

All Work is Holy.

Scorn nought as plain or mean;
All with thy worth impress;
That all where thou hast been
May day by day confess

That work is Holy.

Work while life is given,

Nor shrink though hardship scars; True suffering fits for Heaven,

There SIN alone debars!

For work is Holy.

Angels' ears now listen

Thy earth-spurned plaintive tale;

Angels' eyes shall glisten,

While they thy scars unveil!
For work is Holy.

They'll know these are the proof
That thou hast striven well;

Nor idly stood aloof,

While other brave ones fell;
For work is Holy.

Work while life is given;

Pine not although 'tis hard;

Work is the will of Heaven,

And peace is the reward!

All work is Holy.

45

GIVE.

IVE PRAYERS: the evening hath begun ;
Be earlier than the rising sun;

Remember those who feel the rod;

Remember those who know not God.

His hand can boundless blessings give;
Breathe prayers, through them the soul shall live.

GIVE ALMS: the needy sink with pain;
The orphans mourn, the crushed complain.
Give freely; hoarded gold is curst,
A prey to robbers and to rust.

Christ, through His poor, a claim doth make :
Give gladly, for thy Saviour's sake.

GIVE BOOKS: they live when you are dead;
Light on the darkened mind they shed:
Good seed they sow from age to age,
Through all this mortal pilgrimage.
They nurse the germ of holy trust;
They wake untired when you are dust.

GIVE SMILES: to cheer the little child,
A stranger on this thorny wild:
It bringeth love, its guard to be-
It, helpless, asketh love from thee.
Howe'er by fortune's gifts unblest,

Give smiles to childhood's guiltless breast.