Approach for thou canst feel the gleam

:

That round the martyr's death-bed plays :

Thou hast an ear for angels' songs,

A breath the Gospel trump to fill,

And taught by thee the Church prolongs
Her hymns of high thanksgiving stille.

Ah! dearest mother, since too oft

The world yet wins some Demas frail Even from thine arms, so kind and soft, May thy tried comforts never fail !

When faithless ones forsake thy wing,
Be it vouchsaf'd thee still to see
Thy true, fond nurslings closer cling,
Cling closer to their Lord and thee.

The Christian hymns are all in St. Luke: the Magnificat, Benedictus, and Nunc Dimittis.

ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE.

That ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. St. Jude 3.

SEEST thou, how tearful and alone,
And drooping like a wounded dove,
The Cross in sight, but Jesus gone,

The widow'd Church is fain to rove?

Who is at hand that loves the Lord"?
Make haste, and take her home, and bring
Thine household choir, in true accord

Their soothing hymns for her to sing.

Soft on her fluttering heart shall breathe
The fragrance of that genial isle,
There she may weave her funeral wreath,
And to her own sad music smile.

f

ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι : "be very anxious for it:" "feel for it as for a friend in jeopardy."

St. John xix. 27. Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own

home.

The Spirit of the dying Son

Is there, and fills the holy place With records sweet of duties done,

Of pardon'd foes, and cherish'd grace.

And as of old by two and two h

His herald saints the Saviour sent To soften hearts like morning dew, Where He to shine in mercy meant;

So evermore He deems his Name
Best honour'd and his way prepar'd,
When watching by his altar-flame
He sees his servants duly pair'd.

He loves when age and youth are met, Fervent old age and youth serene,

Their high and low in concord set

For sacred song, Joy's golden mean.

He loves when some clear soaring mind Is drawn by mutual piety

To simple souls and unrefin'd,

Who in life's shadiest covert lie.

St. Mark vi. 7. St. Luke x. 1,

Or if perchance a sadden'd heart
That once was gay and felt the spring,
Cons slowly o'er its alter'd part,
In sorrow and remorse to sing,

Thy gracious care will send that way
Some spirit full of glee, yet taught
To bear the sight of dull decay,
And nurse it with all pitying thought;

Cheerful as soaring lark, and mild
As evening blackbird's full-ton'd lay,
When the relenting sun has smil'd
Bright through a whole December day.

These are the tones to brace and cheer
The lonely watcher of the fold,

When nights are dark, and foemen near,
When visions fade and hearts grow cold.

How timely then a comrade's song
Comes floating on the mountain air,
And bids thee yet be bold and strong-
Fancy may die, but Faith is there.

ALL SAINTS' DAY.

Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Revelations

vii. 3.

WHY blow'st thou not, thou wintry wind,
Now every leaf is brown and sere,
And idly droops, to thee resign'd,
The fading chaplet of the year?
Yet wears the pure aerial sky
Her summer veil, half drawn on high,
Of silvery haze, and dark and still
The shadows sleep on every slanting hill.

How quiet shows the woodland scenę!
Each flower and tree, its duty done,
Reposing in decay serene,

Like weary men when age is won,
Such calm old age as conscience pure
And self-commanding hearts ensure,
Waiting their summons to the sky,
Content to live, but not afraid to die.

Y