THE AURORA. A harbinger of light and truth, Thrice happy he whose light of youth Where surges dash and tempests lower, The mariner's frail bark. That mighty surge, that swelling wave, May shatter and dismay; But see! the Pilot strong to save, Who walks the billowy way. That blessed ark, the Church of God, No winds nor waves may sever Borne through the depths where Jesus trod, In Him it rests for ever. 101 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."1 COR. X. 12. THE AURORA. BORNE on the wings of genius, rayed in light, An essence came: Methinks a meteor passed before my sight, Wit was her spirit-language, from her tongue And melodies which there like pearl-drops hung, In beauty fell. Her lips were bathed in dew-gems clear and bright Like morning's rosy balm that cheers the sight Her page was nature's record-for with skill How man hath walked at his own bootless will, She marked the course of nations—and her eye Upon the wonders of their destiny, Manners and mind she penciled-and she walked Amid the homes of Europe, where she talked And with her living-who in lustre shone, With earth's bright tenants, and with spirits gone She treads this vale no longer, where her soul She now has passed life's confines, won its goal And gone from sight. "Man goeth to his long home.... .....then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."-ECCL. xii. 5, 7. How wonderful is thought! how vast is mind! And thou hast learned to trace Him, with an eye Thy pen was dipt in knowledge-and for thee Has reached our hearts through channels large and wide: The accordant links of nature and of grace, Hail to thy tutored spirit! heaven on thee Speaks that the God of truth has stamped His signet there. "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity."-PSALM Xciv. 9-11. ANGELICA. BRIGHT in thy course and blessed in thy close, And converts yet unborn-let these confess Sister and saint! whilst in life's chequered vale, Though winds and waves were round thee-yet thy bark Was cradled like the prophet's hallowed ark; For Jesus was thy Pilot-and His word Is ever in the soul's deep stillness heard. ANGELICA. He led thee all thy pilgrimage along- His Spirit clothed His servant, and His power Look on the weeping Magdalene! whose cheek Whose path has lain through earth's dark wilderness! Let these unite, a tale of love to tell! These all shall greet thee in Immanuel's land, To Him who sits sublime, on heaven's high throne ; 105 "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."-MATT. XXV. 34-36. |