THE DEPARTED IN THE LORD.

BROTHER, thou art gone before us, and thy saintly soul is flown
Where tears are wiped from every eye, and sorrow is unknown ;
From the burthen of the flesh, and from care and fear released,
Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.

The toilsome way thou'st travell'd o'er, and borne the heavy load,
But Christ hath taught thy languid feet to reach His blest abode.
Thou'rt sleeping now, like Lazarus upon his Father's breast,
Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.

Sin can never taint thee now, nor doubt thy faith assail,
Nor thy meek trust in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit fail.

And there thou'rt sure to meet the good, whom on earth thou lovedst best,
Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.

"Earth to earth," and "dust to dust," the solemn priest hath said,
So we lay the turf above thee now, and we seal thy narrow bed;
But thy spirit, brother, soars away among the faithful blest,
Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.

And when the Lord shall summon us whom thou hast left behind,
May we, untainted by the world, as sure a welcome find;
May each, like thee, depart in peace, to be a glorious guest,
Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.

Milman.

'Twas early day, and sunlight stream'd Soft through a quiet room,

That hush'd, but not forsaken, seem'd,

Still, but with naught of gloom.

A FATHER READING THE BIBLE.

For there, serene in happy age,
Whose hope is from above,
A father communed with the page

Of Heaven's recorded love.

Pure fell the beam, and meekly bright

On his grey holy hair,

And touch'd the page with tenderest light,
As if its shrine were there!

But, oh that patriarch's aspect shone

With something lovelier far

A radiance all the spirit's own,
Caught not from sun, or star.

Some word of life e'en then had met
His calm, benignant eye;

Some ancient promise breathing yet

Of Immortality!

Some martyr's prayer, wherein the glow
Of quenchless faith survives :
While every feature said, "I know

That my Redeemer lives."

And silent stood his children by,
Hushing their very breath,
Before the solemn sanctity

Of thoughts o'er-sweeping death.
Silent-yet did not each young breast
With love and reverence melt?

Oh! blest be those fair girls, and blest
That Home where God is felt.

Felicia Hemans.

HUSH! 'tis a holy hour-the quiet room

Seems like a temple, while yon soft lamp sheds A faint and starry radiance, through the gloom

And the sweet stillness, down on fair young heads, With all their clust'ring locks, untouch'd by care, And bow'd, as flowers are bow'd with night, in prayer.

Gaze on 'tis lovely! Childhood's lip and cheek, Mantling beneath its earnest brow of thoughtGaze-yet what seest thou in those fair, and meek, And fragile things, as but for sunshine wroughtThou seest what grief must nurture for the sky, What death must fashion for Eternity!

EVENING PRAYER AT A GIRLS' SCHOOL.

O! joyous creatures! that will sink to rest,

Lightly, when those pure orisons are done, As birds with slumber's honey-dew opprest,

'Midst the dim-folded leaves at set of sunLift up your hearts! though yet no sorrow lies Dark in the summer-heaven of those clear eyes.

Though fresh within your breasts th' untroubled springs
Of hope make melody where'er ye tread,

And o'er your sleep bright shadows, from the wings
Of Spirits visiting but youth, be spread;
Yet in those flute-like voices, mingling low,
Is woman's tenderness,-how soon her woe!

Her lot is on you-silent tears to weep,

And patient smiles to wear through suffering's hour, And sumless riches, from affection's deep,

To pour on broken reeds-a wasted shower! And to make idols, and to find them clay, And to bewail that worship,-therefore pray!

Her lot is on you-to be found untired,

Watching the stars out by the bed of pain, With a pale cheek, and yet a brow inspired,

And a true heart of hope, though hope be vain; Meekly to bear with wrong, to cheer decay, And, oh! to love through all things-therefore pray!

And take the thought of this calm vesper time
With its low murmuring sounds and silvery light,
On through the dark days fading from their prime,
As a sweet dew to keep your souls from blight!
Earth will forsake-O! happy to have given
Th' unbroken heart's first fragrance unto Heaven!

Hemans,