For on her small hand
There glitters plain
The first sad link

Of a life-long chain ;-
And she needs his guiding
Through paths of pain.

THE ANGEL'S BIDDING.

OT a sound is heard in the Convent ;
The Vesper Chant is sung,

The sick have all been tended,

The poor nun's toils are ended

Till the Matin bell has rung.

All is still, save the Clock, that is ticking
So loud in the frosty air,

And the soft snow, falling as gently

As an answer to a prayer.

But an Angel whispers, "Oh, Sister,
You must rise from your bed to pray;
In the silent, deserted chapel,
You must kneel till the dawn of day;
For, far on the desolate moorland,
So dreary, and bleak, and white,
There is one, all alone and helpless,
In peril of death to-night.

"No sound on the moorland to guide him,

No star in the murky air;

And he thinks of his home and his loved ones

With the tenderness of despair;

He has wandered for hours in the snow-drift,
And he strives to stand in vain,
So lies down to dream of his children,
And never to rise again.

Then kneel in the silent chapel
Till the dawn of to-morrow's sun,
And ask of the Lord you worship
For the life of that desolate one;
And the smiling eyes of his children
Will gladden his heart again,

And the grateful tears of God's poor ones
Will fall on your soul like rain !—

"Yet, leave him alone to perish,

And the grace of your God implore,
With all the strength of your spirit,
For one who needs it more.
Far away, in the gleaming city,
Amid perfume, and song, and light,

A soul that Jesus has ransomed
Is in peril of sin to-night.

"The Tempter is close beside him,
And his danger is all forgot,
And the far-off voices of childhood

Call aloud, but he hears them not;

He sayeth no prayer, and his mother—
He thinks not of her to-day,

And he will not look up to Heaven,
And his Angel is turning away.

"Then pray for a soul in peril,
A soul for which Jesus died;
Ask, by the cross that bore Him,
And by her who stood beside;
And the Angels of God will thank you,
And bend from their thrones of light,
To tell you that Heaven rejoices

At the deed you have done to-night."

SPRING.

ARK! the Hours are softly calling,
Bidding Spring arise,

To listen to the raindrops falling
From the cloudy skies,

To listen to Earth's weary voices,
Louder every day,

Bidding her no longer linger

On her charmed way;

But hasten to her task of beauty

Scarcely yet begun;

By the first bright day of summer

It should all be done.

She has yet to loose the fountain
From its iron chain;

And to make the barren mountain
Green and bright again;

She must clear the snow that lingers
Round the stalks away,

And let the snowdrop's trembling whiteness
See the light of day.

She must watch, and warm, and cherish
Every blade of green;
Till the tender grass appearing

From the earth is seen;

She must bring the golden crocus
From her hidden store;

She must spread broad showers of daisies
Each day more and more.
In each hedgerow she must hasten
Cowslips sweet to set;

Primroses in rich profusion,

With bright dewdrops wet,

And under every leaf, in shadow
Hide a Violet !

Every tree within the forest

Must be decked anew

And the tender buds of promise

Should be peeping through,

Folded deep, and almost hidden,

Leaf by leaf beside,

What will make the Summer's glory,
And the Autumn's pride.

She must weave the loveliest carpets,
Chequered sun and shade,

Every wood must have such pathways,
Laid in every glade;

She must hang laburnum branches
On each arched bough ;-

And the white and purple lilac
Should be waving now;

She must breathe, and cold winds vanish
At her breath away;

And then load the air around her
With the scent of May !
Listen then, Oh Spring! nor linger
On thy charmed way;

Have pity on thy prisoned flowers
Wearying for the day.
Listen to the raindrops falling

From the cloudy skies;

Listen to the hours calling,

Bidding thee arise.