Under the snow, the beautiful snow, Rests all the fair future of promise and bloom, The bud and the blossom, the summer's bright glow, The autumn's full fruitage, the winter's rich boon. Under the snow, ah! under the snow, Lie buried the hopes of the sorrowing heart: Wailing and sad the winds over them blow, While, weeping, they watch the dear promise depart. Oh! hear we not murmuring voices below, When we hopefully listen, and patiently wait The hurrying of unseen feet, that go On errands of love for humanity's sake? Hear we the beating, the stir, and the strife Though under the snow, deep under the snow, And the pale bud of hope into rich beauty bloom. Mrs. Cheseboro. 12. ONE BY ONE. NE by one the sands are flowing, One by one the moments fall: Some are coming, some are going; Do not strive to grasp them all. One by one thy duties wait thee; One by one, bright gifts from heaven, One by one thy griefs shall meet thee: Do not look at life's long sorrow; Every hour that fleets so slowly Do not linger with regretting, Hours are golden links, God's token, Adelaide A. Procter. T 13. THE ARK AND DOVE. HERE was a noble ark, Sailing o'er waters dark, And wild around : Not one tall tree was seen, Then a soft wing was spread, So to the ark she fled, Mrs. Sigourney. I 14. GLADNESS. S this a time to be cloudy and sad, When our mother Nature laughs around; When even the deep blue heavens look glad, And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground? There are notes of joy from the hang-bird and wren, And the gossip of swallows through all the sky; The ground-squirrel gayly chirps by his den, And the wilding bee hums merrily by. The clouds are at play in the azure space, And their shadows at play on the bright green vale; And here they stretch to the frolic chase, There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower; There's a titter of wind in that beechen tree; There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower, And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea. And look at the broad-faced Sun! how he smiles W. C. Bryant. THI 15. THOU, GOD, SEEST ME. THROUGH all the busy daylight, through all the quiet night, Whether the stars are in the sky or the sun is shining bright, In the nursery, in the parlor, in the street, or on the stair, Though I may seem to be alone, yet God is always there. Whatever I may do, Wherever I may be, Yet God sees me. |