Yet, when winter winds are wailing, And the days are short and drear, Then to cheer the hearts of others, May my song be loud and clear !

THE EVENING STAR.

HA

AIL! thou star of evening, Far more bright to me Than the noontide's glory, Welcome though it be ! Thou, the first-born beauty Of the starry height, Sentinel of heaven,

First-lit lamp of night!

Fair is morning's planet,
Heralding the dawn,
Melting in the sunbeams,
When the night is gone:

But the star of evening
Is to me more dear,

Like hope's beacon, gleaming
When the gloom is near.

When the summer sunset
Softly fades and dies,
And the night-clouds gather

Over golden skies,

Through the spreading shadows

Breaks thy cheering light,

And, as night grows darker,

Grows more clear and bright.

When the storms of winter
Lower in the west,

And the sun enshrouded

Hurries to his rest,
Through the rising tempest
Peers thy peaceful ray,
Like the soaring spirit
Of the vanished day.

Oh! when clouds of sorrow
Gather o'er my soul,

And the storms of trouble

Round about me roll,

May some holy comfort
On my pathway shine
From the skies above me,
Sweet and pure as thine!

And, when death's dark valley
I at length shall tread,
And its unknown terrors
Thicken round my head,

Then, through doubt and darkness,

On my dying brow,

May a light from heaven

Beam as bright as thou!

THE MORNING STAR.

WE

ELCOME, star of morning,
Herald of delight!

Publishing the tidings
Of departing night,
O'er the distant mountains
Beaming brightly down,
Like some priceless jewel
In a monarch's crown!

All the host of heaven

Hide their dazzled face, Ere the day's great ruler Rises to his place; Thou alone remainest

Till the gloom is past, Watch and ward still keeping, Faithful to the last.

When the rosy splendour
Of the summer dawn
Wakes the early shadows
On the dewy lawn,
Thy clear, crystal radiance

Fades before the eye,
Like the rainbow, melting

In the bright'ning sky.

When the winter morning,

Dark with storm and cloud, Draws the folds asunder Of its misty shroud, Brilliantly thou gleamest On the gladdened sight, Like the flaming banner Of the march of light.

Oh! be this the lesson

I may learn from thee,—
At the post of duty

Constant still to be,
To none other yielding
Till my task is done,
Straight my course pursuing
Till the goal is won!

And, though long and weary
Earth's dark night appear,
May the hope of heaven
Shine undimmed and clear,
Till the day of promise
Break in glories bright,
And faith, long expectant,

Lose itself in sight!