8. THE CALL OF THE FLOWERS. LO! the lilies of the field, How their leaves instruction yield! Hark to Nature's lesson given "Children, fly from doubt and sorrow: Say, with richer crimson glows Barns nor hoarded grain have we; "Children, fly from doubt and sorrow: One there lives whose guardian eye One there lives, who, Lord of all, Free from doubt and faithless sorrow: Bishop Heber. 9. THE CALL OF THE BIRDS. LIST to the birds that sing! Pluck the primroses; pluck the violets; Sing their praises : Friendship with the flowers noble thoughts Come forth and gather these sweet elves; Learn of the gentle flowers whose worth is more than gold. Pierce into the bowers Of the gentle flowers, Which not in solitude Dwell, but with each other keep society, Are ready to be woven into garlands for the good, To die in virgin worth, Come forth on Sundays, Come forth on Mondays, Come forth on any day! Worship the God of Nature in your childhood; Worship him at your tasks with best endeavor; Worship him in your sports; worship him ever. Worship him in the wild wood; Edward Youl (altered). 10. THE JOY OF WORSHIP. H! SWEETER than the marriage feast, "Tis sweeter far to me, To walk together to the church To walk together to the church, And all together pray, While each to his great Father bends, He prayeth well who loveth well He prayeth best who loveth best S. T. Coleridge. R 11. WHAT RABBI JEHOSHA SAID. ABBI JEHOSHA used to say That God made angels every day Perfect as Michael and the rest First brooded in Creation's nest; * Whose only office was to cry "Hosanna!" once, and then to die. If with life's sources to be blent, Be not return from banishment. Rabbi Jehosha had the skill To know that heaven is in God's will; 'Twere glorious, no doubt, to be Should win my place as near the throne J. R. Lowell M 12. THE BOY AND THE ANGEL. ORNING, evening, noon, and night, Then to his poor trade he turned, He stopped, and sang, "Praise God!" Then back again his curls he threw, Were praising God the Pope's great way. This Easter Day, the Pope at Rome Praises God from Peter's dome." Said Theocrite, "Would God that I Night passed, day shone, And Theocrite was gone. |