THE BETTER LAND.

I hear thee speak of the better land;
Thou callest its children a happy band;
Mother! oh where is that radiant (1) shore,—
Shall we not seek it, and weep no more?

Is it where the flower of the orange blows,
And the fire-flies (2) dance through the myrtle boughs?
'Not there, not there, my child!'

Is it where the feathery palm-trees rise,
And the date grows ripe under sunny skies,
Or midst the green islands of glittering seas,
Where fragrant forests perfume the breeze,
And strange bright birds on their starry wings,
Bear the rich hues of all glorious things?
'Not there, not there, my child!'

Is it far away, in some region old,

Where the rivers wander o'er sands of gold-
Where the burning rays of the ruby (3) shine,
And the diamond lights up the secret mine,
And the pearl gleams forth from the coral strand-
Is it there, sweet mother, that better land?
'Not there, not there, my child!'

(1) Radiant-shining.

(2) Fire-flies-beautiful insects found in tropical climes, which emit light from beneath their wing, and flying about in the lovely evenings of those beauteous countries, appear like particles of fire. (3) Ruby-a precious red stone.

'Eye hath not seen it, my gentle boy!
Ear hath not heard its deep songs of joy,
Dreams cannot picture a world so fair,
Sorrow and death may not enter there ;
Time doth not breathe on its faultlegs 4 bloom,
For beyond the clouds, and beyond the tomb,
It is there, it is there, my child!'

(4) Faultless-without fault or imperfection.

MRS. HEMANS.

This deservedly well known and popular poem, is worthy of your admiration, and will I am sure be learnt rather as a pleasure than a task.

The poetess is perfectly right the better land' or Heaven towards which, we all at times cling as to a bright and holy hope, is not to be found on any part of this world of ours. It is beyond the clouds and beyond the tomb, in a region of unspeakable beauty, where the Saviour of the world will shed his love, his glory, and his goodness on all around. May you live worthily, so as to be received into those holy habitations.

THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER.

Father of all! in every age,

In every clime ador'd,(1)

By saint, by savage, and by sage,

Jehovah, Jove, or Lord!

Thou great First Cause, least understood,

Who all my sense confin'd

To know but this, that thou art good,

And that myself am blind;

(1) Ador'd-worshipped.

Yet gave me, in this dark estate, (2)
To see the good from ill;

And, binding Nature fast in Fate, (3)

Left free the human will.

What conscience dictates to be done,
Or warns me not to do,

This, teach me more than hell to shun,
That, more than heaven pursue.

What blessings thy free bounty (4) gives,
Let me not cast away,

For God is paid when man receives;
To enjoy is to obey.

Yet not to earth's contracted (5) span
Thy goodnes let me bound,

Or think thee Lord alone of man,
When thousand worlds are rouud.

Let not this weak unknowing hand
Presume thy bolts to thow,
And deal damnation round the land
On each I judge thy foe. 7

If I am right, thy grace impart, 8

Still in the right to stay;

If I am wrong, oh! teach my heart

To find that better way.

(2) Estate-abode, world.

(6)

(3) Fate-destiny, providence. [ (4) Bounty-goodness, generosity. (5) Contracted-shortened.

(6) Space-lasting only a short time, often applied to our career or life on earth, which is alike short and uncertain.

(7) Foe-an enemy, or adversary. | (8) Impart-communicate, grant, or reveal.

Save me alike from foolish pride,
Or impious, discontent,

At aught thy wisdom has deny'd,
Or aught thy goodness lent.

Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the faults I see,
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.

Mean tho' I am, not wholly so,
Since quicken'd 10 by thy breath;

O lead me wheresoe'er I go,

Thro' this day's life or death.

This day, be bread and peace my lot;
All else beneath the sun,

Thou know'st if best bestowed or not,
And let thy will be done.

To thee whose temple is all

space, Whose altar, earth, sea, skies, One chorus let all beings raise,

All nature's incense 11 rise:

РОРЕ.

(9) Impious-wicked. (10) Quickened-created, made, having

the breath of life

11 Incense-offering.

THE CUCKOO.

Hail, beauteous stranger of the wood,

Attendant on the spring!

Now heaven repairs thy vernal (1) seat,
And woods thy welcome sing.

Soon as the daisy decks the green,
Thy certain voice we hear:
Hast thou a star to guide thy path,
Or mark the rolling year ?

Delightful visitant! with thee

I hail the time of flowers,

When heaven is filled with music sweet

Of birds among the bowers.

The school-boy wandering in the wood,
To pull the flowers so gay,
Starts-thy curious voice to hear,
And imitates thy lay.(2)

Soon as the pea puts on the bloom,
Thou fly'st the vocal vale:

An (3) annual guest in other lands,

Another spring to hail,

Sweet bird, thy bower is ever green,

Thy sky is ever clear;

Thou hast no sorrow in thy song,

No winter in thy year!

(1) Vernal-belonging to the spring.-(2) Lay-song, note.