I shall then show forth thy praise;
Serve thee all my happy days;
Then the world shall always see
Christ, the Holy Child, in me.

CHARLES WESLEY.

MAN FORMED TO PRAISE GOD.

UN, moon, and stars, by day and night, At God's commandment give us light; And when we wake, and while we sleep, Their watch, like guardian angels, keep.

The bright blue sky above our head,
The soft green earth on which we tread,
The ocean rolling round the land,
Were made by God's almighty hand.

Sweet flowers that hill and dale adorn,
Fair fruit trees, fields of grass and corn,
The clouds that rise, the showers that fall,
The winds that blow-God sends them all.

The beasts that graze with downward eye,
The birds that perch, and sing, and fly,
The fishes swimming in the sea,
God's creatures are as well as we.

But us he formed for better things-
As servants of the King of kings,
With lifted hands and open face,
And thankful heart to seek his grace.

The Angels.

Thus God loved man-and more than thus,

He sent his Son to die for us;

And now invites us, when we die,

To come and live with him on high.

But we must live to him below,
For none but such to heaven will go: .
Lord Jesus, hear our humble prayer,
And lead the little children there.

MONTGOMERY.

373

THE ANGELS.

HERE are the angels, mother?
Though you have often said

They watched at night around me,

And safely kept my bed;

Though every night I listen

Their voices low to hear,
Yet I have never heard them-
Where are they, mother dear?

And when the silver moonshine
Fills all my room with light,
And when the stars are shining,
So countless and so bright,

hope to see them coming, With their fair forms, to me; Yet I have never seen them

Mother, where can they be?

I saw a cloud, this evening,
Red with the setting sun;
It was so very lovely,

I thought it might be one.

But when it faded slowly,
I knew it could not be,
For they are always shining—
Why come they not to me?"

66

My child, when through your window Shines down the moonlight clear,— When all is still and silent,

And no kind friend is near,

These thoughts the angels bring you;

And though the gentle tone Of their sweet voices comes not When you are all alone;

Yet they are always leaving,

For earth, their homes on high; And though you cannot see them,

You feel that they are nigh."

ANON.

The Deluge.

375

THE DELUGE.

RAIN once fell upon the earth
For many a day and night,

And hid the flowers, the grass, the trees,

The birds and beasts, from sight.

The deep waves covered all the land,
And mountain-tops so high;
And nothing could be seen around,
But water and the sky.

But yet there was one moving thing,—
A still and lonely ark,-

That many a weary day and night
Sailed o'er that ocean dark.

At last, a little dove was forth
From that lone vessel sent;
But, wearied, to the ark again,
When evening came, she bent.

Again she went, but soon returned,
And in her beak was seen
A little twig-an olive-branch-
With leaves of shining green.

The waters sank, and then the dove
Flew from the ark once more,

And came not back, but lived among
The tree-tops as before.

Then from the ark they all came forth,

With songs of joy and praise;
And once again the green earth smiled
Beneath the sun's warm rays.

ANON.

THE ARK AND DOVE.

WHERE was a noble ark,
Sailing o'er waters dark
And wild around;

Not one tall tree was seen,

Nor flower, nor leaf of green

All, all was drowned.

Then a soft wing was spread,

And o'er the billows dread

A meek dove flew;

But on that shoreless tide,

No living thing she spied

To cheer her view.

So to the ark she fled,

With weary, drooping head,

To seek for rest:

Christ is thy ark, my love,

Thou art the tender dove;

Fly to his breast.

MRS. SIGOURNEY.