"Look bravely up into the sky,
And be content with knowing
That God wished for a buttercup,
Just here where you are growing."

Charles Francis Richardson.

1851.

LOVE.

If suddenly upon the street

My gracious Saviour I should meet,
And He should say, "As I love thee,
What love hast thou to offer me?"
Then what could this poor heart of mine
Dare offer to that heart divine?

His eye would pierce my outward show,
His thought my inmost thought would know;
And if I said, "I love Thee, Lord,"
He would not heed my spoken word,
Because my daily life would tell
If verily I loved Him well.

If on the day or in the place
Wherein He met me face to face,
My life could show some kindness done,
Some purpose formed, some work begun,
For His dear sake, then it were meet
Love's gift to lay at Jesus' feet.

Madame Guyon.

GOD THE FOUNTAIN OF LOVE TO HIS

CHILDREN.

I love my God, but with no love of mine,
For I have none to give ;

I love Thee, Lord; but all the love is Thine,
For by Thy life I live.

I am as nothing, and rejoice to be

Emptied, and lost, and swallowed up in Thee.

Thou, Lord, alone, art all Thy children need, And there is none beside;

From Thee the streams of blessedness proceed;
In Thee the bless'd abide.

Fountain of life, and all-abounding grace,
Our source, our centre, and our dwelling-place!

Translator unknown.

Unknown.

TWO ANGELS.

Two angels came and spoke to me ;

The face of one was full of beauty.

The other wore a sadder look ;

And these their names were: Joy and Duty.

I said to Joy: "I'll follow thee

Wherever thou shalt go to lead me;

I'll serve thee with a willing hand
Wherever thou may'st chance to need me."

But Joy said: "Nay, it cannot be,
Because we twain are sister graces,
And Duty is the elder one;

Nor do we dare to change our places.

But follow on where Duty calls,
And I will evermore attend thee;
And while thou servest at her will,
My presence I will surely lend thee."

b. R. b. S.

TO V. H. F.

A woman of lovely visage,
Sweet eyes of a heavenly blue,
Bright, beautiful eyes revealing
A soul, large, loving, and true.

And a mouth of wondrous sweetness,
Of exquisite shape and mould,
Hair softly waving and curling,
Fair hair, with a touch of gold.

An expression of radiant gladness,
Bright intellect, womanly power,
A sympathy confidence winning
In joy or in sorrow's sad hour.

Figure and carriage so queenly,
Rare grace of manner withal,
And a glorious gift of singing
Holds captive within its thrall.

A spirit so blithe and merry,

So joyous and bright and gay,
Like the gleam of a glancing sunbeam,
Cheers everything on its way.

But not to what earth calls pleasure,
These treasures of God are given,
But increased tenfold are offered
Again to the God of Heaven.

And thoroughly has she tested

The tempting pleasures of earth,

And found them as dross compared with The gold of the heavenly birth.

Of character pure and noble,

Such freedom from wilful sin,
That tells of her trust in the Saviour,
And speaks of the God within.

And her life draws nearer to Jesus
As heavenly blessings descend,
More faithful her ministry loving
To family, husband, and friend-

Unselfish, forbearing, forgiving,
Surrendered to God alone,

Her peace flows deep and unruffled,
Her watchword “Thy will be done.”

And among the high or lowly,

In God-given strength from above,
Winning others to follow her Saviour,
Her work and labor of love.

Most richly has God rewarded
Her constant and truest aim,
And souls have departed breathing
Warm benisons on her name.

And Jesus who gives the increase
To prayerful and true endeavor
Will surely fulfil His promise-
"Shall shine as the stars forever.”

And I know one day the tidings,
The day when life's race is run,

With rapture will thrill her whole being
The words of her Saviour, "Well done."

GOOD-BYE.

To-morrow, dear Sister, to-morrow we part, Good-bye must be spoken, but deep in my heart Rest the Heaven-breathing words thou hast said

unto me,

And wherever I wander by land or by sea, Know thou ever my soul whispers "Mizpah" to

thee.