1

The sun, the moon, each lucent 1 star,
The birds, the streams, my poets are:
What other pictures need I see
Than God the artist paints for me?

* 45 *

THE VIOLET.

Down in a green and shady bed
A modest Violet grew;
Its stalk was bent, it hung its head,
As if to hide from view.

And yet it was a lovely flower,
Its colors bright and fair;

It might have graced a rosy bower,
Instead of hiding there.

Yet there it was content to bloom,
In modest tints arrayed;

And there it spread its sweet perfume
Within the silent shade.

Then let me to the valley go
This pretty flower to see,
That I may also learn to grow

In sweet humility.2

JANE TAYLOR.

1 lucent, shining.

2 humility, humbleness, lowliness.

* 46 *

TRUST IN GOD, AND DO THE RIGHT.

COURAGE, brother! do not stumble,
Though thy path be dark as night;
There's a star to guide the humble:
Trust in God, and do the right.

Though the road be long and dreary,
And the goal be out of sight,
Foot it bravely, strong or weary:
Trust in God, and do the right.

Perish, policy 1 and cunning,
Perish, all that fears the light:
Whether losing, whether winning,
Trust in God, and do the right.

Fly all forms of guilty passion;
Fiends can look like angels bright;
Heed no custom, school, or fashion:
Trust in God, and do the right.

Some will hate thee, some will love thee, Some will flatter, some will slight; Cease from Man, and look above thee: Trust in God, and do the right.

1 policy, art in management.

Simple rule and surest guiding,
Inward peace and shining light;
Star upon our path abiding,
Trust in God, and do the right.

NORMAN MACLEOD.

* 47 *

SPEAK GENTLY.

SPEAK gently; it is better far
To rule by love than fear;
Speak gently, let no harsh words mar
The good we might do here.

Speak gently; love doth whisper low The vows that true hearts bind; And gently friendship's accents flow; Affection's voice is kind.

Speak gently to the young, for they
Will have enough to bear;

Pass through this life as best they may, 'Tis full of anxious care.

Speak gently to the aged one;

Grieve not the careworn heart; The sands of life are nearly run; Let such in peace depart.

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word.

Speak gently to the erring; know
They must have toiled in vain;
Perchance unkindness made them so:
Oh, win them back again!

Speak gently; 'tis a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well:
The good, the joy which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.

* 48 *

OUR DAILY BREAD.

THE raven builds her nest on high,

The loud winds rock her craving brood;

The forest echoes to their cry:

Who gives the ravens food?

'The lion goeth forth to roam

Wild sandy hills and plains among; He leaves his little whelps at home: Who feeds the lion's young?

God hears the hungry lion's howl;

He feeds the ravens hoarse and gray: Cares he alone for beast and fowl?

Are we less dear than they?

Nay, Christian child, kneel down, and own
The hand that feeds thee day by day;
Nor careless, with thy lip alone,
For "all things needful" pray.

God gave to thee thy home so dear;
Gave store enough for frugal fare:
If richer homes have better cheer,
'Twas God who sent it there.

But better far than garners stored,
Than bread that honest toil may win,
Than blessings of the laden board,—
The food he gives within.

The lion and the raven die;

They only ask life's common bread:

Our souls shall live eternally,

And they, too, must be fed.

Then not alone for earthly food

Teach us with lisping tongue to pray: The heavenly meat that makes us good, Lord, give us day by day.