In holy, humble attitude she kneeled,
And to her bosom, fair as moon-beam, pressed
One hand, the other lifted up to heaven.
Her eye, upturned, bright as the star of morn,
As violet meek, excessive ardour streamed,
Wafting away her earnest heart to God.
Her voice, scarce uttered, soft as Zephyr sighs
On morning lily's cheek, though soft and low,
Yet heard in heaven, heard at the mercy-seat.
A tear-drop wandered on her lovely face;
It was a tear of faith and holy fear,
Pure as the drops that hang at dawning-time,
On yonder willows by the stream of life.
On her the moon looked steadfastly; the stars,
That circle nightly round the eternal Throne,
Glanced down, well-pleased; and Everlasting Love
Gave gracious audience to her prayer sincere.
Oh, had her lover seen her thus alone,
Thus holy, wrestling thus, and all for him!
Nor did he not for ofttimes Providence
With unexpected joy the fervent prayer
Of faith surprised. Returned from long delay,
With glory crowned of righteous actions won,
The sacred thorn to memory dear, first sought
The youth, and found it at the happy hour,
Just when the damsel kneeled herself to pray.
Wrapped in devotion, pleading with her God,
She saw him not, heard not his foot approach.
All holy images seemed too impure
To emblem her he saw. A seraph kneeled,
Beseeching for his ward, before the Throne,
Seemed fittest, pleased him best. Sweet was the thought!
But sweeter still the kind remembrance came,
That she was flesh and blood, formed for himself,
The plighted partner of his future life.
And as they met, embraced, and sat embowered
In woody chambers of the starry night,
Spirits of love about them ministered,
And God, approving, blessed the holy joy!
SAILING upon life's dangerous sea,
Amidst surrounding rocks and shoals,
Lord, I would lift my heart to Thee,
To guide me as the tempest rolls.
How oft I fear that I shall fail,
How oft my spirit sinks and faints,
How oft doth dark mistrust prevail,
And faithless tremors and complaints!
Yet hast Thou kept me safe thus far,
And surely still wilt safely keep;
Veil not thy Spirit's guiding-star,
But lead my pathway through the deep.
From every peril of the wave,
From every devious track restore;
Till the calm harbour of the grave
I reach, and gain the promised shore.
WHOM call we gay? That honour has been long
The boast of mere pretenders to the name.
The innocent are gay-the lark is gay,
That dries his feathers, saturate with dew,
Beneath the rosy cloud, while yet the beams
Of dayspring overshoot his humble nest.
The peasant too, a witness of his song,
Himself a songster, is as gay as he.
But save me from the gaiety of those
Whose headaches nail them to a noonday bed;
And save me too from theirs whose haggard eyes
Flash desperation, and betray their pangs
For property stripped off by cruel chance;
From gaiety, that fills the bones with pain,
The mouth with blasphemy, the heart with woe.
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.'
WHAT is this world? a wildering maze,
Where sin hath traced ten thousand ways,
Her victims to ensnare;
All broad, and winding, and aslope,
All tempting with perfidious hope,
All ending in despair.
HIGHER, higher will we climb
Up the mount of Glory,
That our names may live through time
In our country's story.
Happy, when her welfare calls,
He who conquers, he who falls.
Deeper, deeper let us toil
In the mines of knowledge,
Nature's wealth and learning's spoil
Win from school and college.
Delve we there for richer gems
Than the stars of diadems.
Onward, onward will we press
Through the path of duty;
Virtue is true happiness,
Excellence true beauty; Minds are of supernal birth,
Let us make a heaven of earth.
Close and closer then we knit
Hearts and hands together,
Where our fireside comforts sit
In the wildest weather.
Oh! they wander wild who roam
For the joys of life from home.
Nearer, dearer bands of love
Draw our souls in union
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