Poetry. HYMN FOR ALL SAINTS' DAY. O heavenly Jerusalem, Thou art the golden mansion, Calm hope from thence is leaning, To Christ, the sun that lightens To Father and to Spirit, All things created bow. THE ARK. WITH Sure and steady motion Though furious winds are blowing, Though torrents fierce are rushing Yea, though such force assail her, She's stronger than the strong. How could that bark, so fearless, Because that vessel lowly For as the ark so surely Was built life whole to save, And bear her freight securely Above the watery grave; And as her patient builder Was raised the world to warn ; And gladly would have filled her With those who died in scorn ; So sure as Scripture spoken Of Christ's own Church to you: So sure the Church securely So sure, when life is ended, O, may I never faulter To enter her low door; Like rebels proud of yore. That so, when life is over, The Church, at Christ's command, May to my soul discover That bright and happy land. November. THE festivals of this month are, All Saints' Day on the 1st, and St. Andrew's Day on the 30th. Advent Sunday will be on the 27th, being the Sunday next before the feast of St. Andrew. Innocents' Day PAGE 265 276 277 280 281 Poetry: St. Thomas's Day; Christmas-Day; St. Stephen's Day 282 Calendar for December 284 WHEN she had been two or three Sundays, Mr. Chaloner called, and said that he was glad to see her remembering her duty at last; and he hoped she would not neglect it again as she had done. "I am always very sorry," he said, "when those whom I have met over a death-bed do not meet me in the house of God. It seems strange, that those whose dear friends have just been removed from them into the unseen world, should not wish to come to the church, No. XII. N where they may hear about another world and about things unseen, and learn how to live so as they may meet again. When joining with Christians on earth in the worship of God, we feel more bound to departed Christians, who make up together with us one great family. At home earthly things are about you, and toil and care may oppress you; but at church you hear about heavenly things, and you are brought nearer to God." Lydia's looks and her tears shewed that she felt her pastor's words: she did not try to excuse herself, for she could not expect him to understand her difficulties, and she knew she had been partly wrong; so she took meekly the reproof that was given her. Afterwards Mr. Chaloner spoke kindly, and encouraged her, and heard her say part of her Catechism; and he talked to her a good deal about the great blessings and privileges given us at baptism, which are ours to keep or to lose. He said that we had most precious gifts entrusted to us; that we could not have gained them ourselves, and could only keep them by prayer and watchfulness. And that whatever troubles might meet her, she might keep that greatest blessing of belonging to the Church of Christ, and being an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. The good old gentleman took leave of her kindly, and said, as he went away, “Mind you keep the cottage comfortable for your father. Your not having done so has sometimes driven him to the publichouse, which is a very sad thing. He has always been a sober man, and he tells me he only went there for comfort and company, because every thing was cheerless and untidy at home; and when he was out at sea late, he felt this very much. I do not know how it was; but it must be your business that it does not happen again, or you will have a great deal to answer for. I am no judge of these things; but your house seems to me tidy now, and I hope you will keep it so. You would be the loser, if your father's money went to the public-house; but that would be |