I looked on the mountains--a vapour lay I looked on the peasant's lowly cot, To the earth's wild places a guest thou art, ; Thou takest through the dim church-aisle thy way, And its pillars from twilight flash forth to day And its high pale tombs, with their trophies old, Are bathed in a flood as of burning gold. And thou turnest not from the humblest grave, Where a flower to the sighing winds may wave; Thou scatterest its gloom like the dreams of rest,-Thou sleepest in love on its grassy breast. Sunbeam of Summer! oh, what is like thee? One thing is like thee, to mortals given The Faith, touching all things with hues of heaven. HEMANS. THE TIME FOR PRAYER. WHEN is the time for prayer?— With the first beams that light the morning sky, Lift up thy thoughts on high; Commend thy loved ones to His watchful care :Morn is the time for prayer! And in the noontide hour, If worn by toil or by sad cares oppressed, And He will give thee rest : Thy voice shall reach Him through the fields of air :Noon is the time for prayer! When the bright sun hath set,— Whilst yet eve's glowing colours deck the skies,— For those who in thy joys and sorrows share :- And when the stars come forth, When to the trusting heart sweet hopes are given, Kneel to thy God, ask strength life's ills to bear :- When is the time for prayer?— In every hour, while life is spared to thee- Thy thoughts should heavenward flee. At home-at morn and eve—with loved ones there, Bend thou the knee in prayer! ANON. BE KIND. Be kind to the old man, while strong in thy youth- Be kind to the poor man, and give of thy bread, Be kind to the crooked, the lame, and the blind; Be kind to the fallen who lives but to mourn; The injured, who down by oppression is borne ; For vast is the world of the generous mind, Then unto the old show respect while thou mayest The poor, while to Him who gives all things thou prayest,- ANON. THE BENDED BOW. THERE was heard the sound of the coming foe, "Heard ye not the battle horn? Reaper! leave thy golden corn! Leave it for the birds of heaven, Swords must flash and shields be riven ! And the reaper armed like a foeman's son,- 66 'Hunter! leave the mountain chase, Let the wolf go free to-day, Arm thee! Britain's foes are nigh!" And the hunter armed ere his chase was done, "Chieftain! quit the joyous feast, Leave the hearth and leave the hall Arm thee! Britain's foe must fall." And the chieftain armed, and the horn was blown, And the bended bow and the voice passed on. "Prince! thy father's deeds are told In the bower, and in the hold! Give our bards a tale of thee !" And the prince came armed like a leader's son, "Mother! stay thou not thy boy! Britain calls the strong in heart!" And the bended bow and the voice passed on, HEMANS. |