With God a day endures alway; A thousand years are but a day. God said in heaven, “Nor day nor night Now brings the voice of my delight.” Then Gabriel, like a rainbow's birth, Spread his wings, and sank to earth; Entered in flesh the empty cell; Lived there, and played the craftsman well; And, morning, evening, noon, and night, Praised God in place of Theocrite. And from a boy to youth he grew : The man put off the stripling's hue; The man matured, and fell away Into the season of decay; And ever o'er the trade he bent, And ever lived on earth content. God said, “ A praise is in my ear: There is no doubt in it, no fear. So sing old worlds, and so New worlds that from my

footstool

go; Clearer loves sound other ways : I miss my little human praise.”

Then forth sprang Gabriel's wings; off fell
The flesh disguise ; remained the cell.
'Twas Easter Day: he flew to Rome,
And paused above St. Peter's dome.
In the robing-room, close by
The great outer gallery,
With his koly vestments dight:

Stood the new Pope, Theocrite:

And all his past career
Came back upon him clear,
Since when, a boy, he plied his trade,
'Till on his life the sickness weighed;
And in his cell, when death drew near,
An angel in a dream brought cheer;
And, rising from the sickness drear,
He

grew a priest, and now stood here.
To the east with praise he turned,
And on his sight the angel burned.
“I bore thee from thy craftsman's cell,
And set thee here: I did not well.
Vainly I left my angel sphere;
Vain was thy dream for many a year:
Thy voice's praise seemed weak; it dropped ;
The chorus of creation stopped !
Go back, and praise again
The early way, while I remain.
With that weak voice which we disdain,
Take up creation's pausing strain.
Back to the cell and poor employ;
Become the craftsman and the boy!"

Theocrite

grew

old at home:
A new pope dwelt in Peter's dome.
One vanished as the other died:
They sought the good God side by side.

R. Browning.

13. THE CHILD AND THE ANGELS.

THE

JHE sabbath's sun was setting low

Amidst the clouds at even: “Our Father," breathed a voice below,

" Father who art in heaven."

Beyond the earth, beyond the clouds,

Those infant words were given : “Our Father," angels sang aloud,

“Father who art in heaven."

“Thy kingdom come,” still from the ground

That child-like voice did pray; “ Thy kingdom come,” God's hosts resound

Far up the starry way.

“Thy will be done,” with little tongue

That lisping love implores; “Thy will be done,” the angelic throng

Sing from the heavenly shores.

“Forever,” still those lips repeat

Their closing evening prayer; “Forever," floats in music sweet

High 'midst the angels there.

Charles Swain.

2

14. THE CHILD AND THE DOVE.

THERE sitteth a dove so white and fair,

All on

a ,

the lily spray,
And she listeth how to Jesus Christ

The little children pray.
Lightly she spreads her friendly wings,

And to heaven's gate hath sped,
And unto the Father in heaven she bears

The prayers which the children have said.

And back she comes from heaven's gate,

And brings — that dove so mild -
From the Father in heaven who hears her speak

A blessing on every child.
Then, children, lift up a pious prayer:

It hears whatever you say, -
That heavenly dove so white and fair,
All on the lily spray.

Fredrika Bremer (Trans. by Mary Howitt).

2.

ASPIRATION.

1.

me.

O LORD! thou hast searched me and known
Thou knowest my resting and my rising;
Thou understandest my thoughts afar off.
Thou watchest my path and my lying-down,
And art acquainted with all my ways.
Before the word is on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord! thou knowest it altogether.
Thou besettest me behind and before,
And layest thine hand upon me.
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit,
And whither shall I flee from thy presence ?
If I ascend into heaven, thou art there;
If I make my bed in the under-world, behold!

thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me,
And thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness will cover me,
Even the night shall be light about me.