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REFUGE.

147

The sum is this: If mans convenience,

health,

Or safety, interfere, his rights and claims
Are paramount, and must extinguish theirs:
Else are they all, the meanest things that are,
As free to live, and to enjoy that life,
As God was free to form them at the first,
Who in his sovereign wisdom made them all.
Conper.

THE REFUGE,

Who should it be ?-where would'st thou look for kindness ?

When we are sick where can we turn for ́succour;

When we are weary, where can we complain; And when the world looks cold and surly on us, Where can we go to meet a warmer eye, With such sure confidence as to a Mother? Joanna Ballie.

THE MUSIC OF HEAVEN.

The holy prophets say that Heaven will be a singing choir.

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I reverence the prophets,' their tongues are lit with fire;

148

MUSIC OF HEAVEN.

And when they say that Heaven will be an halleluia wide.

I feel a song within my heart, and strike my lyre with pride;

For oh, I ever pray the prayer, by blessed Jesus given,

"Thy will be done, our Father, on earth as 'tis' in heaven."

This earth will be hosanna; this earth will be a psalm,

When all the discords of our hearts are harmonised in calm;

This earth will be a concert as of myriad angel throats,

When Love, the Great Musician, plays on willing human notes;

When Life is Music-then the truth that prophets forth have given,

Will be; for earth will then become a harmony, a heaven.

Not that, O Lyre! thy tones can rise no higher than the earth,

But that the poet-child must sing first at its place of birth,

Then travel forth as troubadour, through countries and through years,

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As thou, O Earth! dost mingle with the music of the spheres;

For they must be prepared below to whom gold harps are given.

And have deep music in their souls to join the choir of heaven.

Goodwyn Barmby.

BOOKS.

That place which doth contain

My books, my best companions, is to me
A glorious court, where hourly I converse
With the old sages and philosophers.

Beaumont & Fletcher.

My never failing friends are they,
With whom I converse night and day.

With them I take delight in weal,
And seek relief in woe;

And, while I understand and feel
How much to them I owe,

My cheeks have often been bedew'd
With tears of thoughtful gratitude.

Sir E- Brydges.

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They give

New views to life, and teach us how to live; They soothe the grieved; the stubborn they chastise;

Fools they admonish, and confirm the wise: Their aid they yield to all, they never shun The man of sorrow, or the wretch undone :Unlike the hard, the selfish and the proud, They fly not sullen from the suppliant crowd; Nor tell to various people various things, But show to subjects what they show to kings. Crabbe.

The soul of song is in their deathless pages Even as the odour in the flower enshrin

ed

There the crowned spirits of departed ages Have left the silent melodies of mind, Listen, oh, listen! let their high words cheer thee!

Their swan-like music ringing through all woes;

Let my voice bring their holy influence near thee.

The Elysian air of their divine repose!

Mrs. Hemans.

MEANING OF THE LOOK.

151

THE MEANING OF THE LOOK.

"And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter."

I think that look of Christ might seem to say

"Thou Peter! art thou then a common stone Which I at last must break my heart upon, For all God's charge, to his high angels, may

Guard my foot better? Did I yesterday Wash thy feet my beloved, that they should

run

Quick to deny me 'neath the morning sun ?-
And do thy kisses, like the rest, betray ?—
The cock crows coldly.-Go, and manifest
A late contrition, but no bootless fear!
For when thy deathly need is bitterest,
Thou shalt not be denied, as I am here-
My voice, to God and angels, shall attest,-
Because I know this man, let him be clear."
E. B. Barrett.

EVENING.

Evening steals on nature's calm repose, Like death on beauty,-brightest at its close.

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