Ah! grieve not, sweet maiden, for star or for sun, For the mountains that tower, or the rivers that

run;

For beauty, and grandeur, and glory, and light, Are seen by the spirit, and not by the sight.

In vain for the thoughtless are sunburst and shade;

In vain for the heartless flowers blossom and fade : While the darkness, that seems your sweet being to bound,

Is one of the guardians, an Eden around!

LESSON XX.

HIS LOVING KINDNESS IN SENDING TRIALS-Continued. PART II, "BLIND SAMUEL.”

From Abbott's "Caleb in the Country."

THE next Sunday evening, when Walter's lesson time came, his mother took down from the book shelves a little book, called "Caleb in the Country." Walter was always glad when he saw her take down that book, for he liked it so very much, and he and his mother almost always nice talks together, when she had that book in her hand. She read to him that evening the fifth chapter.

"Madam Rachel went into the house, and sat down in her large rocking-chair, by a window, in a back parlour, that looked out upon a little

The teacher will find the whole volume excellent, and most interesting to his class.

garden, and began to sew. Caleb played around a little while, rather languidly, and at last came up to his grandmother, and, leaning upon her lap, asked her if she would not take him up, and rock him a little. She could not help pitying him, he looked so feeble and sad; and she accordingly laid down her work, and lifted him up: he was not heavy.

"Well, Caleb, you have not asked me to take you up, and tell you a story so, for a long time. This is the way I used to do when you were quite a little boy; only then you used to kneel in my lap, and lay your head upon my shoulder, so that my mouth was close to your ear. But you are too big now."

Caleb smiled a little, for he was glad to find that he was growing big; but it was rather a faint and sad smile.

"But I don't grow any stronger, grandmother," said he. 66 I wish I was well and strong, like the other boys."

"You don't know what would be best for you, my little Caleb. God leads you along in His own way, through life, and you must go patiently and pleasantly on, just where He thinks best. You are like blind Samuel, going through the woods with his father."

"How was that, grandmother?" said he, sitting up, and turning round to look at her.

"You sit still," said she, gently laying him back again, "and I will tell you."

"Samuel was a blind boy. He had been away, and was now going home with his father. His father led him, and he walked along by his side. Presently they came to a large brook, and, before they got near it, they heard it roaring. His father said, Samuel, I think there is a freshet.' 'I think so too,' said Samuel, for I hear the water roaring.'

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"When they came in sight of the stream, his father said, 'Yes, Samuel, there has been a great freshet, and the bridge is carried away.' 'And what shall we do now?' said Samuel. 'Why, we must go round by the path through the woods.' That will be bad for me,' said Samuel. 'But I will lead you,' said the father, all the way; just trust everything to me.' 'Yes, father,' said Samuel, 'I will.'

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"So his father took a string out of his pocket, and gave one end of it to Samuel. There, Samuel,' said he, 'take hold of that, and that will guide you; and endeavour to walk directly after me.'

"How long was the string?" said Caleb.

R

"O not very long," replied Madam Rachel; "so, as just to let him walk a step or two behind."

⚫ that

"After he had walked on a short distance, he said, 'Father, I wish you would let me take hold of your hand.' 'But you said,' replied his father, you would trust every thing to me.' 'So I will, father,' said Samuel; but I do wish you would let me take hold of your hand, instead of this string.' 'Very well,' said his father; 'you may try your way.'

"So Samuel came and took hold of his father's hand, and tried to walk along by his father's side. But the path was narrow; there was not more than room for one, and though his father walked as far on one side as possible, yet Samuel had not room enough. The branches scratched his face, and he stumbled continually upon roots and stones. At length he said, 'Father, you know best. I will take hold of the string, and walk behind.'

"So after that he was patient, and submissive, and followed his father wherever he led. After a time, his father saw a serpent in the wood directly before them. So he turned aside, to go round by a compass in the woods."

"A compass?" said Caleb. "Yes," said his grandmother; "that is, a round-about way.