ROBERT NICOLL. DEATH.* THE dew is on the summer's greenest grass, The sun shines sweetly-sweeter may it shine!— These words have shaken mighty human souls- Yet wherefore tremble? Can the soul decay? Are there not aspirations in each heart After a better, brighter world than this? Longings for beings nobler in each part— Things more exalted—steeped in deeper bliss? Who gave us these? What are they? Soul, in thee The bud is budding now for immortality! Death comes to take me where I long to be; One pang, and bright blooms the immortal flower; Death comes to lead me from mortality, To lands which know not one unhappy hour; I have a hope, a faith-from sorrow here I'm led by death away-why should I start and fear? This poem is supposed to have been the last, or among the last, of Nicoll's compositions. TEACHING FROM THE STARS. If I have loved the forest and the field, Can I not love them deeper, better there? May I not love them all, and better all enjoy? 159 A change from woe to joy-from earth to heaven, JANE TAYLOR. TEACHING FROM THE STARS. Is there nothing you can say Tell me, for I long to know, Yes, methinks I hear you say, "Child, as truly as we roll Through the dark and distant sky, You have an immortal soul, Born to live when we shall die. Suns and planets pass away: Spirits never can decay. "When some thousand years at most, "Yes, and God, who bade us roll, More in value than a star! Oh, then, while your breath is given, And beseech the God of heaven CAROLINE SOUTHEY.* I WEEP, BUT NOT REBELLIOUS TEARS. I mourn, but not in hopeless woe; For whom I've trusted, Him I know. "Lord! I believe, assuage my grief, And help-oh, help mine unbelief!" My days of youth and health arc o'er, My early friends are dead and gone; And there are times it tries me sore To think I'm left on earth alone. But then faith whispers-""Tis not so, He will not leave, nor let thee go." * Widow of the late Robert Southey. THE MARINER'S HYMN. Blind eyes--fond heart-poor soul that sought Thy heavenly home, thy second birth: The bonds that held thee down so fast. As link by link was rent away, My heart wept blood, so sharp the pain, That temp'ral loss eternal gain; A holier sphere, a happier place, And meet, rejoicing round his throne, 161 THE MARINER'S HYMN. LAUNCH thy bark, mariner! Christian, God speed thee! Let loose the rudder bands!--good angels lead thee! Set thy sails warily; tempests will come; Steer thy course steadily! Christian, steer home! Look to the weather-bow, breakers are round thee! What of the night, watchman? What of the night? How! gains the leak so fast? Clean out the hold- Slacken not sail yet at inlet or island; Straight for the beacon steer-straight for the high land; Crowd all thy canvas on, cut through the foamChristian! cast anchor now--HEAVEN IS THY HOME! WILLIAM DRUMMOND. CHARITY. COME, let us sound her praise abroad, Who, when she sees the sufferer bleed,- Who in her robe the sinner hides, And soothes and pities, while she chides; And asks no plea--but misery. Her tender mercies freely fall, Nor bounded to the earth alone, |