LITTLE CHRIS'S LETTER TO JESUS. [Earnest and cheerful.]

A postman stood with puzzled brow,
And in his hand turned o'er and o'er
A letter, with address so strange,
As he had never seen before.

66

The writing cramped, the letters small,
And by a boy's rough hand engraven,
The words ran thus: To Jesus Christ,"
And underneath inscribed, "In HEAVEN,"
The postman paused; full well he knew
No post on earth this note could take,
And yet 'twas writ in childish faith,
And posted for the dear Lord's sake.
With careful hands he broke the seal,
And rev'rently the letter read;
"Twas short, and very simple, too,
For this was all the writer said-

My Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
I've lately lost my father dear;
Mother is very, very poor,

And life to her is sad and drear.
Yet, Thou hath promised in Thy Word,
That none can ever ask in vain
For what they need of earthly store,
If only asked in Jesus' name.
"So I am writing in His name,

To ask that Thou wilt kindly send
Some money down; what Thou canst spare,
And what is right for us to spend.
I want so much to go to school,

While father lived I always went,
But he had little, Lord, to leave,
And what he left is almost spent.
"I do not know how long 'twill be
Ere this can reach the golden gate;
But I will try and patient be,

And for the answer gladly wait."
The tidings reached that far off land,
Although the letter did not go,
And straight the King an angel sent
To help the little boy below.

Oft to his mother he would say,

"I knew the Lord would answer make When He had read my letter through, Which I had sent for Jesus' salce."

An! HAPPY BOY, could you but teach
My heart to trust my Father's love,
And to believe where aught's denied
'TIS ONLY DONE MY FAITH TO PROVE.

THE DISCOURAGED TEACHER. [Earnest and vigorous.]

Teacher! lift up thy fainting head;
O, wipe thy tear-filled eye!
Let not thy fervent zeal grow cold,
Nor let thy courage die;

The promise of the Saviour stands
Engraved in fadeless hues;

If thou hast sown in faithfulness,

THE FRUIT THOU SHALT NOT LOSE. Thou canst not hope to number here The souls which thou hast won; Nor read the full-writ history

Of good which thou hast done :

BUT TOIL IN HOPE, WHILE LIFE ENDURES, And paradise shall show

Full many a plant thy hand has reared

IN BRIGHTENING BEAUTY GLOW.

Thy tears may flow, but not for fear
Thy toils shall be unpaid;
But 0, let ceaseless torrents fall
That souls which God has made,

With eager steps, will hurry on
In sin's deceitful way,

Nor heed the kindly voice and hand
That seek their course to stay.

Yet, teacher, WEARY NOT! Still let
Thy warning accents sound;

STILL STRIVE to draw their youthful feet

From off enchanted ground;

With melting eye and heart rehearse

The tale of Jesu's love,

And point to realms of purity,

AND BLISS AND JOY ABOVE.

Thy warning voice and falling tear
May pass unheeded now;

But, 0, dismiss the hopeless grief
That clouds thy saddened brow

THE SEED SHALL SPRING, THE PLANT SHALL BLOOM,
AND FRUITS SHALL YET APPEAR ;

AND THOU, IN HEAVEN, A DIADEM,
THICK SET WITH GEMS SHALL WEAR!

MY FATHER.

[Earnest and serious.]

Great God! and wilt Thou condescend
To be my Father and my Friend?
I, a poor child, and Thou so high,
THE LORD OF EARTH, AND AIR, AND SKY!

Art Thou MY FATHER !-Canst thou bear
To hear my poor, imperfect prayer?
Or wilt Thou listen to the praise
That such a little one can raise ?

ART THOU MY FATHER?-Let me be
A meek, obedient child to Thee!
And try in word, and deed, and thought,
TO SERVE AND PLEASE THEE AS I OUGHT.
ART THOU MY FATHER?-I'LL DEPEND
Upon the care of such a Friend;
AND ONLY WISH TO DO AND BE
Whatever seemeth good to Thee.

ART THOU MY FATHER?-Then, at last,
When all my days on earth are past,
Send down and take me in Thy love,
TO BE Thy BETTER CHILD ABOVE.

THE BLIND BOY.

By F. L. HAWKS.

[Earnest and cheerfully.]

It was a blessed summer's day;

The flowers bloomed, the air was mild;

The little birds poured forth their lay,

And everything in nature smiled.

In pleasant thought I wandered on
Beneath the deep wood's ample shade,—
Till, suddenly, I came upon

Two children who had thither strayed.

Just at an aged birch-tree's foot

A little boy and girl reclined;
His hand in hers she gently put--
And then I saw the boy was blind.
The children knew not I was near;
A tree concealed me from their view;
But all they said I well could hear,
And I could see all they might do.
"Dear Mary," said the poor blind boy,
"That little bird sings very long:
So do you see him in his joy,

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And is he pretty as his song?"

Yes, Edward, yes;" replied the maid, "I see the bird on yonder tree. The poor boy sighed, and gently said, 66 Sister, I wish that I could see.

"The flowers, you say, are very fair, And bright green leaves are on the trees, And pretty birds are singing there; How beautiful for one who sees ! "Yet I the fragrant flowers can smell, And I can feel the green leaf's shade, And I can hear the notes that swell

From those dear birds that God has made

66 So, sister, GOD to me is kind,

Though sight, alas! He has not given. But tell me, are there any blind

Among the children up in Heaven?" "No; dearest Edward; THERE ALL SEE; But why ask me a thing so odd?" "Oh, Mary, He's so good to me,

I thought I'd like to look at GOD!" Ere long Disease his hand had laid,

On that dear boy so meek and mild. His widowed mother wept and prayed That GOD would spare her sightless child. He felt her warm tears on his face,

And said: 66
Oh, never weep for me;
I'M GOING TO A BRIGHT, BRIGHT PLACE,
Where Mary says I GOD SHALL SEE !
"And you'll come there, dear Mary, too;
But, mother, dear, when you come there

Tell Edward, mother, that 'tis you
You know I never saw you here!"

He spoke no more, but sweetly smiled,
Until the final blow was given;
When GOD took up the poor blind child,
And opened first his eyes IN HEAVEN.

SHADOW AND SUNSHINE.
[Bold and cheerful.]

There's a shadow on the spirit,
But though it darkly clings,
O never, never fear it,

THERE'S MORNING ON ITS WINGS.

For the shadow on the fountain
IS SUNSHINE but in gloom;
And the sadness on the spirit
Doth herald JOY to come.

Gloomy days were not created
To last above their day;
Hearts were never rendered gloomy
To be in gloom alway.

LIGHT aye follows upon darkness,
Song-birds carol after showers,
And sad bosoms SPRING TO GLADNESS,
Like the merry-hearted flowers.

SO IT IS, AND EVER HAS BEEN,

SO IT WILL BE, NEVER FEAR;

WAIT ONE MOMENT, JOY IS COMING,
SHADES ARE FLEEING-DAY IS HERE!

YOUR PEARLS.

[Earnest and bold.]

Trust not the secret of thy soul with those
Who hold their treasures with a reckless hand,
Nor to each ready ear thy thought disclose,
Nor to each smiling face thy heart expand.
Pearls from the ocean's depth too priceful are
To be strewn heedless at the common feet.
Show not to curious eyes the hidden scar,

Nor to the winds thy sacred words repeat.