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FAITH.

R. 5. Andros.

A SWALLOW in the spring Came to our granary, and 'neath the eaves Essayed to build her nest, and there did bring Wet earth, and straw, and leaves.

Day after day she toiled

With patient art, but ere her work was crown'd,
Some sad mishap the tiny fabric spoil'd,
And dashed it to the ground.

She found the ruin wrought;

Yet not cast down, forth from her place she flew, And with her mate fresh earth and grasses brought

And built her nest anew.

But scarcely had she placed

The last soft feather on its ample floor,
When wicked hands, or chance again laid waste,
And wrought the ruin o'er;

But still her heart she kept,

And toil'd again; and last night, hearing calls, I look'd, and lo! three little swallows slept Within the earth-made walls.

What truth is here, O man!

Hath hope been smitten in its earliest dawn? Have clouds o'ercast thy purpose, trust or plan? Have faith, and struggle on!

IT IS NOT ALWAYS MAY.

Longfellow.

THE sun is bright, the air is clear,
The darting swallows soar and sing,
And from the stately elms I hear
The blue bird prophesying spring.

So blue yon winding river flows,
It seems an outlet from the sky,
Where waiting till the west wind blows,
The freighted clouds at anchor lie.
All things are new-the buds, the leaves,
That gild the elm-trees nodding crest,
And even the nest beneath the eaves;
There are no birds in last year's nest.

All things rejoice in youth and love,
The fulness of their first delight;
And learn from the soft heavens above
The melting tenderness of night.

Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme,
Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay;
Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime,
For O! it is not always May.

Enjoy the spring of love and youth,
To some good angel leave the rest,
For time will teach thee soon the truth,
There are no birds in last year's nest.

SPEAK GENTLY.

Anon.

SPEAK gently! it is better far
To rule by love than fear;
Speak gently! let not 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 little child!
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild
It may not long remain.

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 care-worn 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! He who gave his life
To bend man's stubborn will,
When elements were in fierce strife,
Said to them, 'Peace! be still.'

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

LIFE'S LIKENESSES.

Anon.

LIFE is-what?

It is the shooting of a star

That gleams along the trackless air,
And vanishes almost ere seen, to nought.
And such is man ;

He shines and glitters for a span,

And is forgot.

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It is the vermeil of the rose

That blooms but till the bleak wind blows;

Then all combined with sweets doth fade and rot.

And such is man;

He struts in bravery for a span
And is forgot.

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It is the dew drop of the morn
That glistening hangs upon the thorn,

Till quaffed by sunbeams it flies e'en from thought:

And such is man ;

He's steeped in sorrow for a span,
And is forgot.

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A stone whose fall doth circles make

On the smooth surface of a lake,

Which spread till one and all forsake the spot : And such is man;

He's steeped in sorrow for a span,

And is forgot.

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It is a bubble in the main,

Caused by a little globe of rain,

Whose fall destroys the fabric he has wrought:
And such is man ;

Swelled into being for a span,
And is forgot.

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A shapow on a mountain side

A cloud that does on ether ride,

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