The purple west, and, two bright streaks between, That the bright glance from beauty's eyelid slanting But there are times, when those that love the bay, A sudden glow comes on them, nought they see poesy. It has been said, Dear George, and true I hold it, In air he sees white coursers paw and prance, All that's reveal'd from that far seat of blisses, These wonders strange he sees, and many more, With all its diamonds trembling through and through? Of whitest clouds she does her beauty dress, Like a sweet nun in holiday attire ? Ah, yes! much more would start into his sight- And should I ever see them, I will tell you Such tales as needs must with amazement spell you. These are the living pleasures of the bard: But richer far posterity's award. What does he murmur with his latest breath, While his proud eye looks through the film of death? That maids will sing them on their bridal-night. Gay villagers, upon a morn of May, When they have tired their gentle limbs with play, And placed in midst of all that lovely lass For lasting joys like these, sure I should be Happier, and dearer to society. At times, 'tis true, I've felt relief from pain When some bright thought has darted through my brain, Through all that day I've felt a greater pleasure Than if I'd brought to light a hidden treasure. As to my sonnets, though none else should heed them, Of scribbling lines for you. These things I thought Through which the poppies show their scarlet coats, Ocean's blue mantle, streak'd with purple and green; Which at this moment is in sunbeams drest; 99.-CHRISTIAN CHARITY. J. B. SUMNER, Bishop of Chester. [THE present excellent Bishop of Chester, Dr. John Bird Sumner, is the son of Dr. Sumner, who was a contemporary with Dr. Parr at Harrow, and became Head Master of that celebrated school. He died young. His two sons have each had the rare distinction of being promoted to the highest offices of the Church by the force of their own merits. The Bishop of Winchester is the younger brother of the Bishop of Chester. John Bird Sumner in 1815 published his first work, entitled " Apostolical Preaching." In 1816 appeared his "Records of Creation." To this remarkable work was awarded the second prize of £400, under the will of a Scotch gentleman named Burnett. In 1821 Dr. Sumner published the Sermons from which we extract the passage below, All his works are distinguished by their earnest piety, their depth of thought and elegance of language. When a Fellow of Eton College, he addressed a scries of Discourses to the scholars, and the effect of his winning and impressive eloquence was a marked improvement in the moral habits of the whole school. The standard of thought and action was raised by the exhortations of a man of high talent thoroughly in earnest.] My brethren, we are now, upon earth, masters of our own conduct, and accountable to no one here for the tempers which we cherish, or the dispositions we show. We may hate our enemies, and refuse to forgive an injury; we may pass by on the other side, while our neighbor is in grievous want; we may spend our substance in selfish gratifications, or lay it up for our children, and refuse meanwhile to bestow any portion of it upon the bodies or the souls of our poorer brethren; and, at the same time, none have a right to call us to account, except by a friendly warning: God leaves us to follow our own bent: no fire comes down from heaven to consume the churlish or the malicious; the sun shines alike on the merciful and on the uncharitable; and the rain fertilizes alike those fields which spread their bounty upon God's needy creatures, and those which enrich no one but their covetous owner. We are free to use as we like the gifts of Providence ; and this freedom affords the opportunity by which our characters are formed and displayed. But it will not be always so. There will be a time when we must render an account; when all superiority of strength, or talent, or influence, or place, or fortune, will be levelled; when the strongest, and the cleverest, and the greatest, and the richest, must yield up and return their several gifts to Him who lent them; and with their gifts must return an account of the way in which they have used them. The question will be, have you used your strength to injure, your wit to insult, your power to oppress? Have you, like the rich man in the parable, kept to yourself your good things, and taken no care to lay up for yourself a good foundation against the time to come? Have you never thought or spreading around you, as far as your opportunities allowed, temporal comfort and religious knowledge? Have you suffered the fatherless and widows to lie unfriended in their affliction, when you might have supported or consoled them? Has the ignorant. man, as far as concerned you, continued in his ignorance, and the |