Delayed it may be for more lives yet, Ere the time be come for taking you. But the time will come,-at last it will, In the new life come in the old one's stead. I have lived, I shall say, so much since then, Gained me the gains of various men, I loved you, Evelyn, all the while; My heart seemed full as it could hold— There was place and to spare for the frank young smile And the red young mouth and the hair's gold. young So, hush, I will give you this leaf to keep See, I shut it inside the sweet cold hand. There, that is our secret! go to sleep: You will wake, and remember, and understand. ROBERT BROWNING. IN Earth and Heaven. hell no life, in heaven no death there is; In earth both life and death, both bale and In heaven's all life, no end, nor new supplying; Ten thousand deaths let me endure rather My life's with thee, for, Lord, thou art in heaven. 0 Entrance into Bliss. SACRED star of evening, tell In what unseen, celestial sphere, Too pure to rest in sadness here. Roam they the crystal fields of light, Soul of the just! and canst thou soar Amidst those radiant spheres sublime, Where countless hosts of heaven adore, Beyond the bounds of space or time? And canst thou join the sacred choir, Oh! who would heed the chilling blast The bright wave of eternity! And who the sorrows would not bear W. O. PEABODY. Easter. AGAIN the Lord of life and light Awakes the kindling ray; Unseals the eyelids of the morn, And pours increasing day. Oh! what a night was that which wrapt Oh! what a Sun which broke this day This day be grateful homage paid, And loud hosannas sung; Ten thousand differing lips shall join Jesus, the friend of human kind, The powers of darkness leagued in vain He shook their kingdom, when He fell, Not long the toils of hell could keep On aught so much divine. And now his conquering chariot wheels Ascend the lofty skies; While broke, beneath his powerful cross, Death's iron sceptre lies. G Exalted high at God's right hand, And Lord of all below; Through Him is pardoning love dispensed, And still for erring, guilty man And still his bleeding heart is touched With To Thee, my Saviour and my King, Glad homage let me give; And stand prepared like Thee to die, With Thee that I may live. ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD. I Easter. GOT me flowers to strew thy way; I got me boughs off many a tree : But thou wast up by break of day, And brought'st thy sweets along with thee. The sun arising in the east, Though he give light, and the east perfume; If they should offer to contest With thy arising, they presume. Can there be any day but this, GEORGE HERBERT. |