MY FAITH, MY BIBLE, AND MY GOD.

COURAGE.

LOOK ALOFT.

BY JONATHAN LAWRENCE.

[Earnest and bold.]

In the tempest of life, when the wave and the gale
Are around and above, if thy footing should fail,—
If thine eye should grow dim, and thy caution depart,-
"LOOK ALOFT!" AND BE FIRM, AND BE FEARLESS OF HEART.

If the friend who embraced in prosperity's glow,
With a smile for each joy, and a tear for each woe,
Should betray thee when sorrows like clouds are arrayed,
"LOOK ALOFT" to the friendship which never shall fade.

Should the visions which HOPE spreads in light to thine eye,
Like the tints of the rainbow, but brighten to fly,
Then turn, and, through tears of repentant regret,
"LOOK ALOFT to the Sun that is NEVER to set.

Should they who are nearest and dearest thy heart,—
Thy friends and companions,—in sorrow depart,
"LOOK ALOFT" from the darkness and dust of the tomb,
TO THAT SOIL WHERE AFFECTION IS EVER IN BLOOM.

And, oh when Death comes, in his terrors, to cast
His fears on the future, his pall on the past,

In that moment of darkness, with hope in thy heart
And a smile in thine eye, "LOOK ALOFT,"—AND DEPART.

A MESSAGE FROM GENNESARET.
[Bold and earnest.]

Fisher of men, wouldst thou no more
O'er empty nets still weep?
Then stay no longer near the shore :
"LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!'

"

Within the same accustomed bound
Thou need'st not always keep;
Go, seek another fishing-ground:
"LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!

If thou would'st prove the gospel's power,
And plenteous harvests reap;

Heed not the clouds that round thee lower :
"LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!"

Does not thy Master's boundary-line
Wide as the ocean sweep?

Then listen to the Voice Divine:
"LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP! "9

Hast thou long toiled, and toiled in vain,
And watched while others sleep?

At His word cast the net again :
"LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!"
If thou His last command obey,
He will His promise keep—
"Lo, I am with you every way:
"LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!"

DARE.

[Bold and earnest.]

DARE to be HONEST, GOOD, and SINCERE;
DARE to please God, and you never need fear.
DARE to be BRAVE in the cause of THE RIGHT,

DARE WITH THE ENEMY EVER TO FIGHT.

DARE to be loving and patient each day,

DARE SPEAK THE TRUTH whatever you say.

DARE to be gentle and orderly too,

DARE shun the evil whatever you do.

DARE to speak kindly, and ever true :

DARE TO DO RIGHT, and you'll find your way through.

THE LITTLE LIGHT-KEEPER.

[Earnest and bold.]

Here is the story of a little child

Who, with her father, lived beside the sea,
On a lone island, from whose rocks was piled
A lighthouse tower of stoutest masonry-
A sleepless sentinel whose beaming eye
Watched through the night to warn of danger nigh.
One day her father, who had gone ashore,
Failed with the early twilight to return;
And so she sat, and wondered more and more
Until the evening star began to burn,

And thought, "Our light should shed as true a ray,
Lest ships should be misled and cast away."
And so she sat, perplexed with anxious care,
And listened to the ocean's restless moan;
"What can I do? Indeed I cannot bear

Through all the dreary night to stay alone;
Nay not alone," she thought; and undismayed,
The little creature then knelt down and prayed.
Then she arose, and with a trembling hand,

Slow dragged a chair beneath the well-trimmed light; Perched her slight figure on the trusty stand,

And stretched on tiptoe to her utmost height,

And then reached up-alas! her heart was sick;
The lighted taper did not reach the wick.

What should she do in this her hour of need?

Nought could she find to make the pile more high,

Till the big Bible, kept with careful heed,

And read at night and morning, met her eye;
But still she paused, for, with a reverent dread,
Upon the book of God she feared to tread.

And yet she thought, "What if our light could save
Some ship from wreck upon the rocky shore!"
And so, WITH RESOLUTION STRONG AND BRAVE,

THE HEAVY VOLUME TO THE PILE SHE BORE.
THE DEED WAS DONE; THE LIGHT'S BENIGNANT RAY
BEAMED O'ER THE BOILING BREAKERS OF THE BAY.

Her father sat upon the shore meanwhile,

Detained by cruel wretches, who had planned

To keep the light untended, and beguile
Some passing vessel on the rocky straud;
And when the cries of drowning men were o'er,
To steal the cargo as it washed ashore.

And as they sat there plotting evil schemes,

Hoping the midnight hour would bring them luck, True as a star the light's reproachful beams

FLASHED O'ER THE WATERS. Foiled and panic-struck,
They rose together with a sudden start,
And gruffly bade the keeper to depart.

Soon o'er the waves the little boat he steers,
Its white sails gleaming in that grateful light;
And now the strong man's eyes are full of tears,
To see afar the face so wan and white,
Peering through darkness from the slippery rocks,
The night-dews falling on her flaxen locks.
Glad was the daughter when her father came;
Proud was the father as he kissed his child;
But when she asked, with blush of bashful shame,
If her young feet the Bible had defiled,

"No, No," he said; THERE NEVER IS ABUSE
WHEN SACRED THINGS ARE PUT TO NOBLE USE."
And so he soothed her till her thoughts grew calm,
And brought the Bible when she was in bed,
And read the glowing language of a psalm
Until her heart grew warm and comforted;
And, listening to the roaring of the deep,
The little lighthouse-keeper fell asleep.

ADVICE TO BOYS.

[Bold and earnest.]

Whatever you are, BE BRAVE, BOYS
The liar's a coward and slave, boys.
Though clever at ruses,

And sharp at excuses,

He's a sneaking and pitiful knave, boys.
Whatever you are, BE FRANK, BOYS!
'Tis better than money and rank, boys.
STILL CLEAVE TO THE RIGHT,

BE LOVERS OF LIGHT,

BE OPEN, ABOVEBOARD, AND FRANK, BOYS!

Whatever you are, BE KIND, BOYS!
Be gentle in manners and mind, boys.
The man gentle in mien,

Words and temper, I ween,

Is the gentleman truly refined, boys!

But, whatever you are, BE TRUE, BOYS!
BE VISIBLE THROUGH AND THROUGH, BOYS.
Leave to others the shamming,

The "greening" and "cramming"
In fun and in earnest, BE TRUE, BOYS

THE GIRL AND THE DROWNING LAMB.

BY WORDSWORTH.

[Earnest and bold.]

Seek who will delight in fable,

I shall tell you truth.

A lamb

Leapt from this steep bank, to follow
'Cross the brook its thoughtless dam.
Far and wide, on hill and valley,
Rain had fallen-unceasing rain;
And the bleating mother's young one
Struggled through the flood in vain.
But it chanced a cottage maiden-
Ten years scarcely had she told-
Seeing, plunged into the torrent,

Clasp'd the lamb and kept her hold.

WHIR'D ADOWN THE ROCKY CHANNEL,
Sinking, rising on they go;

Peace and rest, as seems before them,

Only in the lake below.

Oh! it was a frightful current,

Whose fierce wrath the girl had braved;

Clap your hands with joy, my hearers,

SHOUT WITH TRIUMPH

BOTH ARE SAVED!

SAVED by COURAGE THAT WITH DANGER

GREW, by STRENGTH THE GIFT OF LOVE ;

And belike a guardian Angel

CAME with SUCCOUR from ABOVE.

THE HAND-POST.

BY ANN TAYLOR.

[Bold and with spirit.]

The night was dark, the sun was hid
Beneath the mountain grey;

And not a single star appeared,
To shoot a silver ray.