Leaves have their time to fall,

And flowers to wither at the north-wind's breath, And stars to set,—but all,

Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death.

We know when moons shall wane;

When summer birds from far shall cross the sea, When autumn's hue shall tinge the golden grain,

But who shall teach us when to look for thee!

Is it when Spring's first gale

Comes forth to whisper where the violets lie?
Is it when roses in our path grow pale?
They have one season,-all are ours to die!

Thou art where billows foam,

Thou art where music melts upon the air;
Thou art around us in our peaceful home,
And the world calls us forth,-and Thou art there!

Thou art where friend meets friend,

Beneath the shadow of the elm to rest;

Thou art where foe meets foe, and trumpets rend The skies, and swords beat down the princely

crest.

Leaves have their time to fall,

And flowers to wither at the north-wind's breath,

And stars to set,—but all,

Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death.

Hemans.

"TO GIVE LIGHT TO THEM THAT SIT IN

Ye that

DARKNESS."

LOVELY voices of the sky,

That hymn'd the Saviour's birth! Are ye not singing still on high, sang "Peace on Earth"?

To us yet speak the strains

Wherewith, in days gone by,

Ye bless'd the Syrian swains,
O voices of the sky!

O clear and shining light, whose beams
That hour heaven's glory shed
Around the palms, and o'er the streams,
And on the shepherds' head;
Be near, through life and death,

As in that holiest night
Of Hope, and Joy, and Faith,

O clear and shining light!

O Star which led to Him, whose love

Brought down man's ransom free; Where art thou ?-midst the hosts above May we still gaze on thee?

In heaven thou art not set,

Thy rays earth might not dim,
Send them to guide us yet!

O star which led to Him!

Hemans.

66

EVEN THE WINDS AND SEA OBEY HIM."

EAR was within the tossing bark,
When stormy winds grew loud,

And waves came rolling high and dark,

And the tall mast was bow'd;

And men stood breathless in their dread,

And baffled in their skill;

But One was there, who rose and said
To the wild sea, "Be still!"

And the wind ceased,-it ceased,-that word
Pass'd through the gloomy sky;
The troubled billows knew their Lord,

And sank beneath His eye.

And slumber settled on the deep,

And silence on the blast;

As when the righteous falls asleep,
When death's fierce throes are past.

Thou that didst rule the angry hour,
And tame the tempest's mood,-
Oh! send Thy Spirit forth in power,
O'er our dark souls to brood!

Thou that didst bow the billows' pride
Thy mandates to fulfil,—
So speak to passion's raging tide;
Speak, and say, "Peace, be still !

HILD of the dust! if e'er thine eye
Has watch'd the torrent's flow,

Where, distant from its source on high,

It sweeps the vale below,

Then hast thou seen a silent force

Pervade its current strong;

No sound, no ripple, marks its course,
And yet it speeds along.

'Tis noiseless thus, yet swift as thought,

The stream of time rolls by;

And thus, though man regards them not,
His precious moments fly.

A few brief days, in splendour bright,
Yon glorious orb has shone;
Add next a few returns of night,
And, lo! a year is gone.

Lord! grant me grace these seasons fleet
To Thee alone to spend ;

That I with joy Thy face may meet,
When life's short course shall end :

And teach me on that Saviour's love
To build my only trust,

Who, though He fills a throne above,
Was once allied to dust.

Oh then, while days and years shall glide

In silent speed away,

My soul shall view the ebbing tide,
But know no sad dismay;
For still my Saviour-God shall be
At hand, though unperceived,

And I salvation nearer see

Than when I first believed.

Huie.