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"While here below how sweet to know
His wondrous love and story,

And then, through grace, to see His face,
AND LIVE WITH HIM IN GLORY!"

Underneath a spreading tree

A narrow mound is seen,

Which first was covered by the snow,
Then blossomed into green :

Here first I heard that childish voice,
That sings on earth no more;

IN HEAVEN IT HATH A RICHER TONE,
And sweeter than before:

For those who know His love below,
So runs the wondrous story,

IN HEAVEN, THROUGH GRACE, SHALL SEE HIS FACE,
AND DWELL WITH HIM IN GLORY!

CONVERSATION ABOUT HEAVEN.
[Dialogue for an adult and boy.]

Boy. Dear father, you often speak of Heaven
As a place that is HAPPY AND FAIR,

Where sweet songs of praise to the Saviour are given,
And that brothers and sisters are there.

Do you think them more happy than when, in our play,
We wandered through meadow and dell,

And in gambols so merry we passed each day;
Oh, I love on those sweet scenes to dwell!

Adult. Oh, YES, my dear child, they are happier far,
'Midst the angels in glory so bright;

There no sickness nor sorrow their pleasure can mar: "Tis a world of immortal delight.

I trust when from earth I am called away

To see them surrounding the throne;

And you, my dear child, too, I earnestly pray
MAY FIND THERE A HEAVENLY HOME!

I hope, when I die, to meet all I love there,
And to join the redeemed in the song
Of" Worthy the Lamb," whose image they bear,
Whilst millions his praises prolong.

Boy. Dear father, I love you to speak of that place,
And wish to be made fit for Heaven,

For I long to see Jesus, to gaze on His face,

AND PRAISE HIM FOR ALL THAT HE'S GIVEN.

LIFE.

BY JOHN BOWRING.

[Earnest and vigorous]

If all our hopes and all our fears
Were prisoned in life's narrow bound;
If, travellers through this vale of tears,
We saw no better world beyond;
Oh, what could check the rising sigh?
What earthly thing could pleasure give?
Oh, who would venture then to die?
Oh, who could then endure to live?
Were life a dark and desert moor,
Where mist and clouds eternal spread
Their gloomy veil behind, before,

AND TEMPESTS THUNDER OVERHEAD;
Where not a sunbeam breaks the gloom,
And not a floweret smiles beneath;
IVho could exist in such a tomb?

Who dwell in darkness and in death?

AND SUCH WERE LIFE WITHOUT THE RAY
FROM OUR DIVINE RELIGION GIVEN ;
"TIS THIS THAT MAKES OUR DARKNESS DAY,

"TIS THIS THAT MAKES OUR EARTH A HEAVEN. Bright is the golden sun above,

And beautiful the flowers that bloom,

And all is joy, and all his love,

REFLECTED FROM A WORLD TO COME.

WHERE IS THE SPIRIT-LAND?

BY FELICIA HEMANS.

[Earnest and vigorous.]

Answer me, burning stars of night!
WHERE hath the spirit gone,
That past the reach of human sight,
E'en as a breeze, hath flown?
And the stars answered me, "WE ROLL
IN LIGHT AND POWER ON HIGH;
But of the never-dying soul

Ask things that cannot die !"

O many-toned and chainless wind,
Thou art a wanderer free !

Tell me if thou its place canst find,
Far over mount and sea?

And the wind murmured in reply,
"The blue deep I have crossed,
And met its barks and billows high,
But not what thou hast lost."

Ye clouds that gorgeously repose
Around the setting sun,

Answer! have ye a home for those
Whose earthly race is run?

The bright clouds answered," WE DEPART,
WE VANISH FROM THE SKY;

Ask what is deathless in thy heart

For that which cannot die !"

SPEAK, THEN, THOU VOICE OF GOD WITHIN !
Thou of the deep, low tone;

ANSWER ME! through life's restless din,

Where hath the spirit flown?

And the voice answered, "Be thou still!

Enough to know is given;

Clouds, winds, and stars their task fulfil—
Thine is to trust in Heaven!"

INFLUENCE.

THE TWO DISCIPLES GOING TO EMMAUS,

By W. Cowper.

[Earnest and cheerful.]

It happen'd on a solemn eventide,
Soon after He that was our surety died,

Two bosom friends, each pensively inclined,
The scene of all those sorrows left behind,
Sought their own village, busied as they went
In musings worthy of the great event:

They spake of Him they loved, of Him whose life,
Though blameless, had incurr'd perpetual strife,
Whose deeds had left, in spite of hostile arts,
A deep memorial graven on their hearts.

The recollection, like a vein of ore,

The farther traced enrich'd them still the more!

They thought Him, and they justly thought Him, one Sent to do more than he appear'd to have done ;

To exalt a people, and to place them high
Above all else, and wonder'd He should die.
Ere yet they brought their journey to an end,
A stranger join'd them, courteous as a friend,
And ask'd them, with a kind, engaging air,
What their affliction was, and begg'd a share.
Inform'd, he gather'd up the broken thread,
And, truth and wisdom gracing all he said,
Explain'd, illustrated, and search'd so well
The tender theme on which they chose to dwell,
That, reaching home, the night, they said, is near,
We must not now be parted, sojourn here.
The new acquaintance soon became a guest,
And made so welcome at their simple feast,
He bless'd the bread, but vanish'd at the word,
And left them both exclaiming, ""TWAS THE LORD!
DID NOT OUR HEARTS FEEL ALL HE DEIGNED TO SAY,
DID NOT THEY BURN WITHIN US BY THE WAY?"
Now, theirs was converse such as it behoves
Man to maintain, and such as God approves :
Their views indeed were indistinct and dim,
But yet successful, being aim'd at Him.
Christ and His character their only scope,
Their object, and their subject, and their hope,
They felt what it became them much to feel,
And, wanting Him to loose the sacred seal,
Found him as prompt, as their desire was true,
To spread the new-born glories in their view.
WELL-what are ages and the lapse of time

MATCH'D AGAINST TRUTHS AS LASTING AS SUBLIME?

The works of man inherit, as is just,

Their author's frailty, and return to dust:

BUT TRUTH DIVINE FOR EVER STANDS SECURE,

Its head is guarded as its base is sure;

Fix'd in the rolling flood of endless years,

The pillar of the eternal plan appears,

THE RAVING STORM AND DASHING WAVE DEFIES.

BUILT BY THAT ARCHITECT WHO BUILT THE SKIES.

LIVE FOR SOMETHING.

BY E. N. GUNNISON.

[Earnest and boldly.]

LIVE FOR SOMETHING! UP, BE DOING,
Sit not down with folded hands!
Steadfastly thy way pursuing,
Wield the hammer, till the lands.
With thy strong right arm demolish
Walls of ignorance and crime;
FROM THEE EVERY WRONG ABOLISH,
Write thy name upon thy time.
Speed the plough that clears the stubble
From the darkened human mind;
Persevere through toil and trouble;
Gain the blessings of mankind.
FORWARD IN THY NOBLE LABOUR,
Ever faithful to the end;

Think each man thy brother-neighbour :
BE OF HUMAN RIGHTS THE FRIEND.

RAISE THY BROTHER who is falling;
Lead him back to wisdom's ways;

From the path of error calling—

Peace shall crown his future days.
Think that though his feet have wander'd
And his past you must regret,
Though his talents he has squandered,
Still he is thy brother yet.

Look thou FORWARD FOR THE DAWNING
OF A BRIGHT, A GLORIOUS DAY ;
LABOUR FOR A HAPPIER MORNING;
Be thy motto "WATCH and PRAY."
Clouds are gathering, mercy laden ;
Blessings scatter o'er thy way;

Press thou t'ward the blissful Eden

SEE

ABOVE THEE DAWNS THE DAY.

LIVE FOR SOMETHING! LOOK AROUND THEE ! Let thy course be UPWARD still!

Give the world some cause to love thee,

And some holy task fulfil.

FORWARD in thy noble labour,

Ever faithful to the end;

Think each man thy brother-neighbour :

Be of erring ones the friend.

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