A

23. THE THISTLE.

THISTLE-DOWN took up its home
Within a greenwood glade;
And winter passed, and summer came
With sunshine, shower, and shade;

And years on years went rolling by,
Until it grew at last

Into a thistle strong and tall

That braved the tempest's blast.

So thus the smallest seed of Truth
May sink into the soul,
And, by God's blessing, gather power
As ages onward roll.

Against it, Superstition's bolts
And Error's shafts are hurled;
But, all unharmed, it grows and spreads
Until it fills the world.

24. THE FLIGHT OF TIME.

FAINTLY flow, thou falling river,

Like a dream that dies away;

Down to ocean gliding ever,
Keep thy calm utruffled way:
Time with such a silent motion
Floats along on wings of air
To eternity's dark ocean,
Burying all its treasures there.

Roses bloom, and then they wither;
Cheeks are bright, then fade and die;

Shapes of light are wafted thither,
Then, like visions, hurry by.
Quick as clouds at evening driven
O'er the many-colored west,
Years are bearing us to heaven,
Home of happiness and rest.

Percival.

T

25. CONTENTMENT.

HINK'ST thou the steed that restless roves

O'er rocks and mountains, fields and

groves,

→ With wild, unbridled bound,
Finds fresher pasture than the bee
On thymy bank or vernal tree,
Intent to store her industry

Within her waxen round?

Think'st thou the fountain, forced to turn
Through marble vase or sculptured urn,
Affords a sweeter draught
Than that which in its native sphere,
Perennial, undisturbed, and clear,
Flows, the lone traveller's thirst to cheer,
And wake his grateful thought?

Think'st thou the man whose mansions hold
The worldling's pomp and miser's gold

Obtains a richer prize

Than he who, in his cot at rest,

Finds heavenly peace a willing guest,
And bears the promise in his breast

Of treasure in the skies?

Mrs. Sigourney.

S

26. SOME MURMUR.

OME murmur, when their sky is clear
And wholly bright to view,

If one small speck of dark appear

In their great heaven of blue;

And some with thoughtful love are filled
If but one streak of light,

One ray of God's good mercy, gild

The darkness of their night.

In palaces are hearts that ask
In discontent and pride
Why life is such a dreary task,
And all good things denied;
And hearts in poorest huts admire
How love has in their aid

(Love that not ever seems to tire)
Such rich provision made.

Trench.

27. CATCHING SUNBEAMS.

R

EACHING after sunbeams
With a dimpled hand, -

That is right, my darling;
Grasp the golden band;
Fold it to your bosom;
Let it cheer your heart;
Gather radiant sunbeams;
Bid the clouds depart.

- When your feet shall wander
From my side away,
You will find that evil
With the good may stray.
Never heed it, darling;
Let it pass the while;
Gather only sunbeams;
Keep your heart from guile.

Grief may be your portion;
Shadows dim your way;
Clouds may darkly threaten
To obscure the day :
Don't despair, my darling;

There's a Father's love.
How could there be shadows,
With no light above?

Little Corporal.

T

28. PASSING AWAY.

HE snow-flake that glances at morn on Kai

lassa, Dissolved by the sunbeam, descends to the plain; There mingling with Ganges, it flows to the ocean, And, lost in its waters, returns not again.

On the rose-leaf at sunrise bright glistens the dewdrop,

That, in yapor exhaled, falls in nourishing rain; Then in rills back to Ganges, through green fields,

meanders,

Till onward it glides to the ocean again.

A snow-flake still whitens the peak of Kailassa; But the snow-flake of yesterday flows to the main:

At dawning a dew-drop still hangs on the roseleaf;

But the dew-drop of yesterday comes not again.

The soul that is freed from the bondage of
Nature

Escapes from illusion of joy and of pain;
And, pure as the flame that is lost in the sunbeam,
Ascends unto God, and returns not again:

It comes not, and goes not, and comes not again.

Eastern Pоет.