IMMORTALITY. Was once a little crawling worm, The little worm was then enclosed And now on red and purple wings That make the earth so fair. And we if humbly we behave, And do the will of God, And strive to follow, to our grave, The paths the saints have trod Shall find a change more glorious far Through Christ, who reigns above the skies, Aloft on angels' wings to rise, And taste the joys of heaven. 203 SONGS FROM THE GERMAN. 204 THE STARS. THE STARS. "STARS, that on your wondrous way Travel through the evening sky, Is there nothing you can say To a child so small as I ? Tell me for I long to know 66 Child, as truly as we roll Through the dark and distant sky, You have an immortal soul, Born to live when we shall die: Suns and planets pass away, Spirits never can decay. "When, some thousand years at most, All their little time have spent, One by one our sparkling host Shall forsake the firmament, "Yes, and God, who bade us roll, And esteems it dearer far, A CHRISTMAS HYMN. "O then, while your breath is given, Pour it out in fervent prayer, And beseech the God of Heaver To receive your spirit there; As a living star to blaze Ever to your Saviour's praise." 99 205 HYMNS FOR INFANT MINDS. A CHRISTMAS HYMN. It was the calm and silent night! Seven hundred years and fifty-three Had Rome been growing up to might, And now was queen of land and sea! No sound was heard of clashing wars, Peace brooded o'er the hushed domain; Held undisturbed their ancient reign,- "T was in the calm and silent night! His breast with thoughts of boundless sway: 206 A CHRISTMAS HYMN. What recked the Roman what befell Within that province far away Went plodding home a weary boor; Fallen through a half-shut stable door How keen the stars, his only thought; O strange indifference! - low and high The world was listening-unawares! One that shall thrill the world forever! It is the calm and silent night! A thousand bells ring out, and throw FOREST SCENE IN THE DAYS OF WICKLIFF. 207 The night that erst no shame had worn, To it a happy name is given; For in that stable lay, new-born, The peaceful Prince of earth and heaven,- ALFRED DORNETT. FOREST SCENE IN THE DAYS OF WICKLIFF. A LITTLE child, she read a book, And as she read page after page, Her little finger, carefully, Went pointing out the place; The open book lay on her knee, Her color came and went. She sat upon a mossy stone, An open door beside; And round, for miles on every side, |