But the love-light never went out of them,
Nor the courage and the faith.

"You, children, all of you," says mamma,
"Have need to look up to dear grandpapa."

Grandpapa's years are wearing few,

But he leaves a blessing behind,

A good life lived and a good fight fought,
True heart and equal1 mind.

"Remember, my children," says mamma,
"You bear the name of your grandpapa."

* 60 *

DINAH MULOCH CRAIK.

A CHILD'S EVENING HYMN.

How beautiful the setting sun!
The clouds, how bright and gay!
The stars, appearing one by one,
How beautiful are they!

And when the moon climbs up the sky,
And sheds her gentle light,

And hangs her crystal2 lamp on high,
How beautiful is night!

And can it be I am possessed

Of something brighter far?

Glows there a light within this breast

Outshining every star?

1 equal, not variable, even. 2 crystal, bright like a clear kind of glass.

Yes; should the sun and stars turn pale,

The mountains melt away,

This flame within shall never fail,

But live in endless day.

This is the soul that God has given;
Sin may its lustre 1 dim,

1

While goodness bears it up to heaven,

And leads it back to Him.

MRS. FOLLEN.

* 61 *

CHILD-FAITH.

By Alpine lake, 'neath shady rock,
The herd-boy knelt beside his flock,
And softly told, with pious air,
His A, B, C, as evening prayer.

Unseen, the pastor lingered near;
"My child, what means the sound I hear?"

“Where'er the hills and valleys blend,

The sound of prayer and praise ascend ;
Must I not in the worship share,

And raise to Heaven my evening prayer?"

"My child, a prayer that ne'er can be: You have but 2 said your A, B, C."

1 lustre, brightness.

2 but, only.

"I have no better way to pray,
But all I know to God I say;

I tell the letters on my knees,
And He'll make words Himself to please."

S. W. LANDER. From the German.

* 62 *

THE OLD PROVERB.

"THE boy is father to the man :
Such talk sounds very queer to me;
But I suppose they mean to say,
If I a true, brave man would be,

I must not be a sneaking boy,

But in my work, or in my play, Whatever I may say or do,

Be true and honest as the day.

"The boy is father to the man:"
I wonder how it is with girls!
If all they care for is to be

Pretty and fair, with glossy curls,
And handsome dresses, will they grow
To noble women, good and true?
Or will they be like pretty dolls,
Which please us for an hour or two?

"The boy is father to the man:"
Then, boys and girls, suppose we look
For the best pattern we can find,

And take him for our copy-book.

Then, looking backward, we may see
A pleasant pathway clear and bright,
And, looking forward, we may hope
To reach the World of Light.

EFFIE JOHNSON.

* 63 *

DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY.

I.

DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY

Came up in the cold,
Through the brown mould,
Although the March breezes
Blew keen on her face,
Although the white snow
Lay on many a place.

Daffy-down-dilly

Had heard under ground
The sweet rushing sound
Of the streams, as they broke
From their white winter chains,
Of the whistling spring winds,
And the pattering rains.

"Now, then," thought Daffy,
Deep down in her heart,

"It's time I should start."

So she pushed her soft leaves Through the hard frozen ground, Quite up to the surface,

And then she looked round.

There was snow all about her,
Gray clouds overhead;

The trees all looked dead:
Then how do you think

Poor Daffy-down felt,

When the sun would not shine,
And the ice would not melt?

II.

"Cold weather!" thought Daffy,' Still working away;

"The earth's hard to-day!

There's but a half inch

Of my leaves to be seen,

And two thirds of that

Is more yellow than green.

"I can't do much yet;

But I'll do what I can:

It's well I began!

For, unless I can manage

To lift up my head,

The people will think

That the Spring herself's dead."