Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Thou lovely star! methinks thy herald ray
Speaketh of rest beyond our hour of time;
And seemeth to invite the soul away
To seek for refuge in a happier clime.

STANZAS.

Anonymous.

SUMMER may spread her choicest flowers,
And zephyrs waft their fragrance round,
And smiling skies and pleasant bowers
With the gay song of birds resound ;
Yet will not these a charm impart,
If peace be banish'd from the heart.

Winter may bid his tempests rise,

And change the earth's fair robe of green; And leafless bowers, and frowning skies Present a sad and dreary scene : Yet will the heart bright verdure wear If peace have fix'd its dwelling there.

But summer's glow, or winter's gloom,
Or the dark midnight of the tomb,

Nor one, nor all of these can move

The soul engross'd by heavenly love :
Peace from the man shall ne'er depart,
Who yields to God a perfect heart.

LAYING HOLD OF CHRIST.

Grant.

WHEN gath'ring clouds around I view,
And days are dark, and friends are few,
On Him I lean who not in vain
Experienced ev'ry human pain;

He sees my wants, allays my fears,
And counts and treasures up my tears.

When aught shall tempt my soul to stray
From heavenly wisdom's narrow way,
To shun the precept's holy light,
Or quit my hold on Jesu's might,
May He who felt temptation's power,
Still guard me in that dangerous hour.

M

And oh! when I have safely pass'd
Through ev'ry conflict but the last,
Still, Lord, unchanging, watch beside
My dying bed, for Thou hast died;
Then point to realms of cloudless day,
And wipe the latest tear away.

SONNET.

I SAW a happy Bride within a home

Of wedded bliss; she smiled on one who loved Her gentleness in manhood's opening bloom, Whose heart for her its earliest passion proved,And she was bless'd.-The heaven that shone so bright,

Shone not so brightly as those soft dark eyes, Nor shed on all around a tenderer light.

Her passing griefs were breathed in happy sighs, For he was near to soothe her slightest pain,

And give to woe the semblance of a joy. A few short years, I pass'd that home again, 'Twas desolate, a father led his boy

To a lone grave—and mourn'd in deep despair For the once happy Bride, who slumber'd there.

PRAYER.

Edmeston.

ENTHRONED amidst the world of light,
Jehovah rules the realms of bliss ;
Yet bends to scenes of earthly night,
To such a house of pain as this!
The glories of the heavenly plains

Hide not one mourner from his eye,
Nor can the seraph's loudest strains

Drown, by their sound, the faintest sigh.

Oh Prayer! thou mine of things unknown, Who can be poor, possessing thee?

Thou wert a fount of joy alone,

Better than worlds of gold could be. Were I bereft of all beside,

That bears the form or name of bliss,

I yet were rich, what will betide,

If God, in mercy, leave me this.

THE EXILE.

Barton.

THE exile on a foreign strand,

Where'er his footsteps roam, Remembers that his father's land Is still his cherish'd home.

Though brighter skies may shine above,
And round him flowers more fair,
His heart's best hopes and fondest love
Find no firm footing there.

Still to the spot which gave him birth

His warmest wishes turn;

And elsewhere own, through all the earth, A stranger's brief sojourn.

Oh! thus should man's immortal soul

Its privilege revere;

And, mindful of its heavenly goal,

Seem but an exile here.

« AnteriorContinuar »