134

CHRISTMAS CAROL.

For to the Babe, that at her bosom clung,
A mother's song the Virgin-mother sung.

They told her how a glorious light, Streaming from a heavenly throng, Around them shone suspending night! While sweeter than a mother's song, Blest Angels heralded the Saviour's birth, Glory to God on high! and Peace on earth!

Thou mother of the Prince of Peace,
Poor, simple, and of low estate !
That strife should vanish, battle cease,
O why should this thy soul elate?

Sweet music's loudest note, the poet's story,Did'st thou ne'er love to hear of fame and glory?

And is not War a youthful king,
A stately hero clad in mail?
Beneath his footstep laurels spring;

Him Earth's majestic monarchs hail Their friend, their playmate! and his bold bright eye

Compels the maiden's love-confessing sigh.

"Tell this in some more courtly scene, To maids and youths in robes of state!

FOUNTAIN,

I am a woman poor and mean,

And therefore is my soul elate.

135

War is a ruffian, all with guilt defiled,
That from the aged father tears his child!
"A murderous fiend, by fiends adored,
He kills the sire and starves the son;
The husband kills, and from her board
Steals all his widow's toil had won;
Plunders God's world of beauty; rends away
All safety from the night, all comfort from
the day.

Then wisely is my soul elate

That strife should vanish, battle cease; I'm poor and of a low estate,

The mother of the Prince of Peace.

Joy rises in me like a summer's morn, Peace, Peace on Earth! the Prince of Peace is born."

Coleridge.

THE FOUNTAIN.

"What one can never do for me again That I'll not do for him. To none I owe What he ne'er did for me, and ne'er can do."

And thus can you live justly, well, and calmly?
No; not even so; say nought of useful, noble,
Divine and human life, (the two are one).
Humanity will always be around you;
Hear then my council, hear the word divine-
To every man give that which he most needs;
Do that which he can never do for you!
Thus live you like the spring that gives you

water,

And like the grape that sheds for you its blood, And like the rose that sheds perfume for you, And like the bread that satisfies your need, And like the clouds that pour their rains for you,

And like the sun that shines so gladly for you, And like the earth that bears you on her bo

som,

As the dead lived; who living, cared for you. You cannot teach the dead, nor bless the heavens,

Nor bear the earth, nor give the sun more glory,

Nor clouds more rain; you cannot nourish bread,

Nor give the rose its fragrance, nor the vine Its sap, nor can you feed the water-springs. And now, what were you, if none did for you

CORAL INSECT.

137

What you ne'er did and ne'er can do for

him?

For what can you return to God for all?
Your very spirit means His Spirit,-given-
Then like that spirit freely, purely, truly,
Divinely, do for every one your best.
Thus only can you live in righteousness,
In heavenly peace, joyful and free from care;
Thus will you live even as His spirit lives;
Thus will you in His very kingdom dwell.
Do all for men, though they do nought for
you!

From the German of Schefer.

CORAL INSECT.

Toil on, toil on, ye ephemeral train, Who build in the tossing and treacherous main:

Toil on,-for the wisdom of man ye mock, With sand-based structures and domes

your

of rock.

Your columns the fathomless fountains lave, And your arches spring up to the crested

wave;

Ye're a puny race to so boldly rear
A fabric so vast in a realm so drear.

When I consider how my light is spent
Ese mad my days in this dark world

and wide,

And that one talert which is death to isce,

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve wherewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest He, returning, clide;

'Dein God exact day-labour, light denied ?"

I fondly ask; but patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies;—“God doth not

need

Either man's work, or his own gifts; who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best;

his state

Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without

rest;

They also serve, who only stand and wait.

Milton.