I forget the shining crown,
Glad exchange for cross laid down,
Now his baby brows upon.

Yearning sore, I only know
I am very full of woe-
And I want my baby so

Selfish heart, that thou shouldst prove So unworthy of the love

Which thine idol doth remove!

Blinded eyes, that cannot see,
Past the present misery,
Joy and comfort full and free!

O! my Father, loving Lord!
I am ashamed at my own word;
Strength and patience me afford.

I will yield me to Thy will;
Now Thy purposes fulfil;
Only help me to be still.

Though my mother-heart shall ache,
I believe that, for Thy sake,
It shall not entirely break.

And I know I yet shall own,
For my seeds of sorrow sown,
Sheaves of joy around Thy throne!

DEATH AND THE MOTHER.

DEATH to the mother said,

“Thou canst not keep the baby still, let me ! Thou mark'st with pain his gasping, feverish breath;

With one long kiss I set it free,

And on his brow the signet write
Of immortality!

Oft thou dost strive to lay

In smoothness down his golden hair: let me !
Smoother beneath thy touch 't will never be,
Nor look more bright and fair!

Nay, weep not, that his toilet I would make,
Closing like violet up his eyes of blue;

For know'st thou not, earth-flowers as frail as this

Were better closed against life's chilling dew? The sheet no more thou 'lt fold,

Above his dimpled limbs over and o'er;

So statue like, inanimate and cold,

They will lie bare no more!

The form that holds thy baby to His breast

Thou wilt not look to see!

Nor hear'st the soft voice breaking through his

rest,

'Suffer the little one to come to Me!'

Else thou and I would soon be reconciled.

No more thy tears would flow

But thou would'st bless me that I bear thy child Forth from a life of woe

To One unbiased by a mother's love

Or mother's fears, to bring him up!

Perchance to aid thee when thou goest above! Then push me from the still, the sweet, sad cup!"

MISS LYDIA L. A. VERY.

THE INFANT'S GRAVE.

SLEEP, little cherub! on the breast
Of the green hillock take thy rest;
The wintry snow, the dropping rain,
Shall dash above thy head in vain ;
The beaded hail, the cutting sleet,
Unheeded o'er thy head shall beat;
The spring-buds o'er thee will renew
Their blooming sweets and vernal hue;
And honeyed flowers shall o'er thee spring,
And birds their dulcet measures sing.

I. MCLELLAN.

TWO IN HEAVEN.

"You have two children," said I.

"I have four,” was the reply—“two on earth, two in heaven."

There spoke the mother! Still hers, only gone before ! Still remembered, loved and cherished, by the hearth and at the board their places not yet filled, even though their successors draw life from the same faithful breast where their dying heads were pillowed. "Two in Heaven!"

No

Safely housed from storm and tempest. sickness there, nor drooping head, nor fading eye, nor weary feet. By green pastures, tended by the good Shepherd, linger the little lambs of the heavenly fold.

"Two in Heaven!"

Earth less attractive. Eternity nearer. Invisible cords drawing the maternal soul upwards. "Still small voices" ever whisper "Come!" to the world-weary spirit.

"Two in Heaven!"

Mother of angels Walk softly! Holy eyes watch thy footsteps! Cherub forms bend to listen! Keep thy spirits free from earth's taint; so shalt thou go to them, though they may not return to thee.

THE EMPTY CRADLE.

SHE sits beside the cradle,

And her tears are streaming fast, For she sees the present only, While she thinks of all the past; Of the days so full of gladness, When her first-born's answering kiss Filled her soul with such a rapture That it knew no other bliss. O! those happy, happy moments! They but deepen her despair, For she bends above the cradle, And her baby is not there!

There are words of comfort spoken,
And the leaden clouds of grief
Wear the smiling bow of promise,
And she feels a sad relief;
But her wavering thoughts will wander
Till they settle on the scene

Of the dark and silent chamber,
And of all that might have been!

For a little vacant garment,

Or a shining tress of hair,

Tells her heart, in tones of anguish,

That her baby is not there!