How like a death knell sad and slow,
Tolls through the soul," ONE YEAR AGO!"
Where is the face we loved to greet,
The form that graced the fireside seat,
The gentle smile, the winning way,
That blessed our life-path day by day?
Where fled those accents, soft and low,
That thrilled our hearts "ONE YEAR AGO!"

AH! vacant is the fireside chair,

The smile that won, no longer there;
From door and hall, from porch and lawn,
The echo of the voice is gone;

And we who linger only know

How much was lost "ONE YEAR AGO! "9

Beside her grave the marble white,
Keeps silent guard by day and night;
Serene she sleeps, nor heeds the tread
Of footsteps o'er her lowly bed;
Her pulseless breast no more may know
The pangs of life "ONE YEAR AGO!"
BUT WHY REPINE? a few more years,
A few more broken sighs and tears,
And we, enlisted with the dead,
Shall FOLLOW where her steps have led;
To that FAR WORLD REJOICING GO

66

TO WHICH SHE PASSED ONE YEAR AGO !"

DECISION.

A SHORT SERMON.

BY ALICE CARY.
[Bold and earnest.]

Children, who hear my lay,
This much I have to say;
Each day, and every day,

Do WHAT IS RIGHT,—

Right things in great and small;
Then, though the sky should iall,
Sun, moon, and stars, and all,
YOU SHALL HAVE LIGHT.

This further would I say:
Be tempted as you may,
Each day, and every day,

SPEAK WHAT IS TRUE,—
True things in great and small,
Then, though the sky should fall,
Sun, moon, and stars, and all,
Heaven would show through.
Figs, as you see and know,
Do not of thistles grow;
And though the blossoms blow
While on the tree,

Grapes never, never yet
On limbs of thorns were set:
So, if you good would get,

GOOD YOU MUST BE.

Life's journey through and through,
SPEAK WHAT IS JUST AND TRUE,
Do WHAT IS RIGHT TO DO

To one and all.

At work, and when you play,
Each day and every day,

Then peace shall gild your way,
Though the sky should fall.

TRUTH.

[Bold and cheerful.]

Once there was a little boy,

With curly hair and pleasant eye; A boy who always spoke the truth, AND NEVER, NEVER TOLD A LIE. And when he trotted off to school, The children all about would cry, "There goes the curly-headed boy,

THE BOY WHO NEVER TELLS A LIE.'

And everybody loved him so,

Because he always told the truth,

That every day, as he goes up,

"Twas said, "THERE GOES THE HONEST YOUTH.

And when the people that stood near

Would turn to ask the reason why,

The answer would be always this:

"BECAUSE HE NEVER TELLS A LIE."

A BOY'S DESIRE.

By J. BURNS.

[4 dialogue for a boy and girl.]
Boy. Dear sister, I am ready now,
And want to hear you tell
Of Jesus, and the way to heaven,
Where happy spirits dwell.
Our brother, just before he died,
Saw angels round his bed,
And father says, they guide to God
The happy pious dead.

I often wonder what God is,

And how I may Him know;
I much should like to do His will,
And in His favour grow.

Girl. Well brother, I will tell you all
My teacher has told me,

And should rejoice to lead your soul
To ways of piety.

God is a being great and wise,

Who made both heaven and earth ;
And at whose word the sun and moon
And all the stars came forth.

He form'd the sea, and mountains high
Before His bidding stood,

And every living thing He made,
And called them very good.

He then made man, a living soul,
In His own image bright,
And placed him in a paradise
Of pleasure and delight.

Of every tree He gave him leave
With freeness to enjoy,

Save one, the fruit of which, He said,
Would all his bliss destroy.

And yet to that he stretch'd his hand,
And ate the fruit of sin;

And thus did all our grief and woe,
With that bad act begin.

An outcast from fair Eden's scenes,

And from Jehovah's face,

He then was doom'd to earn his bread
With toil, and in disgrace.

His misery now seem'd quite complete,
For sinning he must die,

But God in mercy view'd his state
As he was passing by.

And promis'd he would send his Son,
The woman's conquering seed,

Who should come down from heaven to save

And bruise the serpent's head.

And so at length on Bethlehem's plain,
On one bright happy morn,

The angels sang in sweetest strain
THE SAVIOUR CHRIST IS BORN.

Behold him in a stable lodg'd,

And in a manger laid;

Was it not strange that there the Prince
Of heaven should have his bed!

In early life, the Scriptures say,
The blessed Saviour grew

In stature, wisdom, and in grâce,
And holy actions too.

At twelve years old, when at the feast,
Where all the tribes repair'd,

To worship in his holy house,
Where he was lov'd and fear'd.

The Saviour stayed to hear and teach,
'Midst doctors learn'd and wise,
And all who heard him were amaz'd
At his profound replies.

And when to manhood he had grown,

He then to Jordan came,

And was baptiz'd, at his desire,
Beneath the flowing stream.

Then were the heavens open'd wide,
The Holy Ghost came down,

And God in glory spake,

"BEHOLD

MY WELL-BELOVED SON."

Anointed then he went to preach,
And set the captive free,

To heal the sick, to raise the dead,
And save from misery.

He taught, and bless'd, and mercy show'd

And said, Who comes to me,

Shall now have pardon, peace, and hope,
And true felicity.

And then at last he gave his life,
And died on Calvary,

And bare upon himself our sins,
On the accursed tree.

But tho' he died, HE ROSE AGAIN

TRIUMPHANT FROM THE GRAVE,
To show that all who come to him
He is alive to save.

When all his work on earth was done,
With joy in heaven sat down,
And there in majesty he reigns
Upon his Father's throne.

And then he sent his servants forth,
The guilty to invite,

To come and bear his easy yoke,
And burden which is light.
Whoever now forsakes his sin,
And seeks His saving grace,
He will receive with open arms,
And guide in wisdom's ways.

Then brother, dear, will you repent,
And to the Saviour turn,

And for your sinful words and thoughts

With holy sorrow mourn.

Will you believe his gospel word,
And to his service live,

And all your heart, and soul, and mind,
Unto your Saviour give?

Will you obey his good commands,

And in his footsteps tread,

And try with all your heart to do
Whatever he has said?

Will you profess his holy name,
His ordinances keep?
For He hath said that only such
He'll number as his sheep.

Oh will you serve him while you live,
And serve him till you die?
Then you shall have a glorious crown,
Beyond the glittering sky.

Boy. Well, sister dear, I trust I shall
Begin this very day

To serve the Lord with all my heart;
Oh, let us now both pray.