For none can elude my grasp,
Or loosen my steady clasp;

Thou must go with me all the way,
And my every word obey."

And the end? "Oh! that is naught !
Thou need'st not give it a thought."

What wilt thou do with the year?
A voice comes soft and clear,
Comes in thy sadness,

Comes in thy gladness

What wilt thou do with the year?

The Lord speaks :

Give it to Me!

With My life I ransomed thee,

And I come to set thee free.
My service is constant peace,
And blessing with sure increase,
Joy-springs that never run dry,
And work that will satisfy !"
And the end? "A glorious day
And a crown of life for aye!"

Marianne Farmingbam.

66

FROM CONSECRATION HYMN."

"Just as I am," Thine own to be, Friend of the young, who lovest me ; To consecrate myself to Thee,

O Jesus Christ, I come.

In the glad morning of my day,
My life to give, my vows to pay,
With no reserve and no delay,
With all my heart, I come.

I would live ever in the light,

I would work ever for the right,

I would serve Thee with all my might,
Therefore to Thee I come.

"Just as I am," young, strong, and free,
To be the best that I can be

For truth and righteousness and Thee,
Lord of my life, I come.

3. F. Eichendorf.

O SILENCE DEEP AND STRANGE!

O silence deep and strange!

The earth doth yet in quiet slumber lie, No stir of life, save on yon woodland range, The tall trees bow as if their Lord passed by.

Like to one new-create

I have no memory of grief and care;

Of all the things which vexed my soul of late, I am ashamed in this calm morning air.

This world, with all its band

Of clamorous joys and griefs, shall be to me A bridge whereon, my pilgrim-staff in hand, I cross the stream of Time, O Lord, to Thee.

Dary G. Brainard.

GOD KNOWETH.

I know not what shall befall me,
God hangs a mist o'er my eyes,
And so, each step in my onward path,
He makes new scenes to rise,
And every joy He sends me
Comes as a sweet surprise.

I see not a step before me,
As I tread on another year ;
But the past is still in God's keeping,
The future His mercy will clear;
And what looks dark in the distance
May brighten as I draw near.

For perhaps the dreariest future
Has less bitter than I think;
The Lord may sweeten the waters
Before I stoop to drink ;

Or, if Marah must be Marah,

He will stand beside the brink.

It may be He has waiting

For the coming of my feet
Some gift of such rare blessedness,
Some joy so strangely sweet,
That my lips shall only tremble
With the thoughts I cannot speak.

O blissful, restful ignorance!
'T is blessed not to know,

If it keeps me so still in those arms
That will not let me go,

And hushes my soul to rest

In the bosom that loves me so.

So I go on, not knowing;

I would not if I might;

I would rather walk in the dark with God,
Than go alone in the light;

I would rather walk with Him by faith
Than walk alone by sight.

My heart shrinks back from trials
Which the future may disclose;

Yet I never have a sorrow

But what the dear Lord chose ; So I send the coming tear back,

With the whispered word, He knows!

va. S. Passmore.

"NOT A SPARROW FALLETH."

Not a sparrow falleth, but its God doth know Just as when His mandate lays a monarch low, Not a leaflet waveth but its God doth see; Think not, then, O trembler, God forgetteth thee!

Far more precious surely than the birds that fly, Is a Father's image to a Father's eye,

E'en thine hairs are numbered: trust Him full and free,

Cast thy care before Him and He '11 care for thee.

For the God that planted in thy breast a soul,
On His sacred tables doth thy name enroll;
Cheer thine heart, then, trembler, never faithless

be;

He that marks the sparrow will remember thee!

Caroline Leslie.

AT LAST.

I stood beside my window one stormy winter

day,

And watched the light white snow-flakes flutter

past;