That death seems but a covered way Which opens into light, Wherein no blinded child can stray That care and trial seem at last, That all the jarring notes of life And all the angles of its strife And so the shadows fall apart, J. G. WHITTIER. Tokens of the Better Country. THE PALM-TREE. T waved not through an eastern sky, It was not fanned by southern breeze, In some green isle of Indian seas, But fair the exiled palm-tree grew Strange looked it there: the willow streamed Where silvery waters near it gleam'd, The lime-bough lured the honey-bee To murmur by the desert's tree, There came an eve of festal hours, But one, a lone one, 'mid the throng, And slowly, sadly, moved his plumes, To him, to him, its rustling spoke, It whispered of its own bright isle, Aye, to his ear that native tone Had something of the sea-wave's moan. His mother's cabin-home, that lay Oh, scorn him not! the strength whereby These have one fountain, deep and clear; The same whence gushed that childlike tear. MRS. HEMANS. Nature's Teachings. HERE'S not a tint that paints the rose Or streaks the humblest flower that blows, But God has placed it there. There's not of grass a single blade Or leaf of loveliest green, Where heavenly skill is not displayed And heavenly wisdom seen. There's not a star whose twinkling light And cheers the silent gloom of night, There's not a place on earth's vast round, In ocean deep, or air, Where skill and wisdom are not found,- Around, beneath, below, above, Wherever space extends, There He displays His boundless love, And power with mercy blends. In heaven the sun will ever shine: No glories fade above; There countless hosts will ever sing Of God's redeeming love. REGINALD HEBER. Hymn of Praise. ROSE of Sharon! fruitful Vine! Plant of renown, whose Branch Divine All things in earth, or air, or sea, And serve their end in serving Thee. O Pearl of price! rich Treasure found, And breathes heaven's fragrance through the air! But emblems of Thy glory be, And serve their end in serving Thee. O Sun of Righteousness, whose wings With healing on the world arise ! Bright Morning-star, whose daybreak brings All things in earth, or air, or sea, And serve their end in serving Thee. |