THE UTMOST.

BY ELIZABETH P. ROBERTS.

[Earnest and vigorous.]

When our spirit grows faint with its burden of care,
And seems ready to barter its hope for despair;
Through this season of trial, whate'er it may be,
There's a whisper of comfort for thee and for me:
'Tis a motto which patience and toil must reveal,
WHILE ONWARD- with shoulder pressed firm "to the
wheel;"

We CONQUER THE BAD, though we scarce win the good,
Still cheered by the thought-that we've "DONE WHAT WE

It may be but little, the most we can do,

But this matters not if our motives be true;
We shall NEVER GO WRONG while we steadily try

To redeem every hour as it passes us by.

Employment alone makes this life worth the living,
We must give our whole time, nor be grudging in giving.
God's work is unceasing for beauty and good,

And of us be it whispered "THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEY
COULD."

All "labour is holy," a sanctified thing,

To which life's best blessings and benefits cling;
Even Sorrow grows calm, and at last learns to smile,
When Labour has taught her the time to beguile.
And Faith-the brave spirit-she loveth the best
In the hearts of the true earnest workers to rest,
Where she breathes a low whisper, so well understood,
In the tone of a blessing, "They've done what they could."

Oh, BRAVE SOUL, or feeble whichever it be,
Let Faith's gentle whisper bring comfort to thee;
If STRONG in thy workings of PURPOSE and WILL,
Let their powers be directed to BATTLE WITH ILL.
If faint and afflicted, yet slow to repine,

Think WHOSE strength was "made perfect in weakness" like thine,

WHOSE love was UNCEASING in WORKING our good,

And WHO first breathed the words, "SHE HATH DONE WHAT

SHE COULD!"

DIRTY JEM.

[Cheerful and lively.]
There was one little Jem,
"Twas reported of him,

And 'twill be to his lasting disgrace,
That he never was seen

With his hands at all clean,
Nor ever yet wash'd was his face.
His friends were much hurt
To see so much dirt,

And often they made him quite clean; But all was in vain,

He was dirty again,

And never was fit to be seen.

When to wash he was sent,
He unwillingly went,

With water he'd splash himself o'er;
But he seldom was seen

To have wash'd himself clean,
And often look'd worse than before.

The idle and bad,

Like this little lad,

May be dirty and black, to be sure;
BUT GOOD BOYS ARE SEEN

TO BE DECENT AND CLEAN,
ALINGUGH THEY ARE EVER SO POOR,

HUMAN PROGRESS.

BY J. HAGAN.

[Bold and vigorous,]

All is ACTION, all is MOTION,

In this mighty world of ours! Like the current of the ocean,

MAN IS URGED BY UNSEEN POWERS.

STEADILY, but STRONGLY MOVING,

Life is ONWARD EVERMORE ;
Still the present is improving
On the age that went before.

Duty POINTS, with outstretched fingers,
Every soul to ACTION HIGH !
Woe betide the soul that lingers,-
ONWARD! ONWARD! is the cry.

Though man's form may seem victoricus,
War may waste and famine blight,
Still, from out the conflict glorious,
Mind comes forth with added light.
O'er the darkest night of sorrow,
From the deadliest field of strife,
Dawns a clearer, brighter morrow,
SPRINGS A TRUER, NOBLER LIFE,
ONWARD! ONWARD! ONWARD! EVER!
Human progress none may stay;
All who make the vain endeavour
Shall, like chaff, be swept away.

EXAMPLE.

-

HOW TO BE GOOD.

[Dialogue for three Children.]
All. We children three, a happy band,
Before our friends assembled stand,
To thank our Father for this sight,
And for the pleasant Sabbath light.

Walter. I am the oldest, as you see,
And I must an example be;
Must strive to do the things I'm told,
And for the truth be firm and bold.
In patience I must bear with brother,
Teach him to love and care for mother;
Be kind to little sister here,
And love and pray for father dear.
And I must pray to Jesus, too,

To cleanse my heart and make it new,
That I may love him while I live,
And when I die a crown receive.

Eugene. I'm not as old as brother yet,

But I have heard, and don't forget,
That Jesus died for such as I,
That we might not for ever die.
And if I love and serve him here
With holy love and holy fear,
Then I shall dwell in heaven above,
Where all is peace, and joy, and love.

Jennie. I am a very little child,
And sometimes I am very wild;
I do not do the things I'm taught,
Nor love the Saviour as I ought.
But I will ask him when I pray,
To take my naughty thoughts away,
And make me loving, good, and mild,
And fit to be his holy child.

All. Father in heaven, our hearts keep pure,
Preserve us from all sin;

And save us all in heaven above,
For Jesus' sake.

Amen.

GEHAZI: OR, LYING PUNISHED.

2 Kings, v.

[Bold and vigorous.]

"Whither, Gehazi, hast thou been?
What was thy errand, say,

With Syria's captain, whom the Lord
Heal'd of his leprosy ?

"With what intent didst thou pursue,

His chariot to o'ertake?

What was thy object or design?

THE TRUTH, my servant, speak."

"Why does my lord this question ask?
What end has he in view?

Am I not faithful to my trust
In all I say or do?

"Your question fills me with surprise;
I know not what you mean;
Surely my lord can never think,

That I from hence have been.

"Thy servant hath not whither gone,
For he was occupied

With business, such as duty calls,
You may in me confide.

"Besides, what reason could I have

The captain to pursue;

For heard I not what thou didst say,
When he returned to you.

"Did he not offer you rewards,
And didst not thou refuse?
Then why should I then go to him,
What pretext could I use?"

"STOP, STOP, GEHAZI, SAY NO MORE;
'Went not my heart with thee?'
And saw I not thy base design,
And thy vile treachery?

"And will you now, to hide your guilt, With lying lips presume, Thus to deny, with artful guile,

The crime which thou hast done?

"Bring forth thy sad, ill-gotten gains,
Which thou hast stowed away;
Nor seek to hide your wickedness,
In such a manner, pray.

"Was it the time thus to receive,

The gifts which worldlings prize?
And could'st thou covet to possess
Their glittering, sordid toys?
"For this thy sin, Gehazi, know,
God's anger thou shalt feel;
For lying lips he will chastise,
And recompense them well.

66 Hence, then, Naaman's leprosy
On thine own head shall fall;
And to thy seed hereafter prove,
A sad memorial."

No sooner had Elisha spoke,
Ere it began to flow;

And from his presence forth he went,

66

A leper white as snow.

Thus may we not a lesson learn,
How God abhors deceit ;

That he the guilty will not clear,

But punish them complete.