8

To him protection shall be shewn,
And mercy from above

Descend on those who thus fulfil
The perfect law of love.

E'EN in the midst of life and hope,
Dependent on a breath,

To buoy a frail existence up,
Are we, alas! in death.

2

The weary day of Age must close

In evening shadows soon;

And those on whom the morning rose,

May never see the noon.

3

The sturdiest heart, at length o'ertir'd,

Obtains its long release ;

And number'd out each pulse requir'd,

Shall throb itself to peace.

6

Brighter, broader lightnings flash,
Hail and rain tempestuous fall :
Louder deeper thunders crash,
Desolation threatens all;

Struggling NATURE grasps for breath
In the agony of death.

7

GOD OF VENGEANCE! from above,
While thine awful bolts are hurl'd,
O remember Thou art LovE!
Spare! O spare a guilty world!
Stay Thy flaming wrath awhile,
See Thy bow of promise smile!

8

Welcome, in the eastern cloud,
Messenger of Mercy still!

Now, ye winds! proclaim aloud,

"Peace on Earth, to Man good will!" NATURE! GOD's repenting child,

See thy Parent reconcil'd!

9

Hark! the nightingale, afar,
Sweetly sings the sun to rest,
And awakes the evening star

In the rosy-tinted west:
While the moon's enchanting eye
Opens Paradise on high!

10

Cool and tranquil is the night,
NATURE'S sore afflictions cease,
For the storm, that spent its might,
Was a covenant of peace:

VENGEANCE drops her harmless rod !
MERCY is the POWER OF GOD!

VIII.

CHARITY.

BY MRS. BARBAULD.

1

BEHOLD, where, breathing love divine, Our dying master stands!

His weeping follow'rs gath'ring round, Receive his last commands.

2

From that mild Teacher's parting lips What tender accents fell!

The gentle precept which he

Became its author well,

gave

4

The finest fibre of the brain,

Distorted or opprest;

The valve of one life-streaming vein Obstructed in the breast,

5

Then, not by art to be repair'd,
To dust, from whence it came-
Its virtues, birth, nor titles spar'd,
Down sinks this fragile frame.

6

Lord! shall the creature of a day,—
The insect of an hour,
The vanity of pride betray,
Or insolence of pow'r ?

7

The nameless ills that sweep away

This perishable dust,
Should teach Humanity to stay

On earth no more its trust.

8

O! to anticipate that bliss

Be hope and faith employ'd,

Where souls a body shall

possess,

That ne'er can be destroy'd.

X

THE DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

I

SWEET is the scene when Virtue dies,
When sinks a righteous soul to rest;
How mildly beam the closing eyes!
How gently heaves th' expiring breast!

2

So fades a summer cloud away :

So sinks the gale when storms are o'er :
So gently shuts the eye of day:
So dies a wave along the shore.

3

Triumphant smiles the victor brow,
Fann'd by some angel's purple wing.
O Grave! where is thy vict'ry now?
Invidious Death! where is thy sting?

4

A holy quiet reigns around;

A calm which nothing can destroy; Nought can disturb that peace profound, Which their unfetter'd souls enjoy.