61.

Early Religion. S. M.

By cool Siloam's shady rill
How sweet the lily grows!
How sweet the breath beneath the hill
Of Sharon's dewy rose !

Lo, such the child whose early feet
The paths of peace have trod;
Whose secret heart, with influence sweet,
Is upward drawn to God!

O Thou, who giv'st us life and breath,
We seek thy grace alone,

In childhood, manhood, age and death,
To keep us still thine own!

Like Him, whose early feet were found
Within his Father's shrine,

Whose years, with changeless virtue crowned,
Were all alike divine.

62.

The Same. 7's & 6's M. H. BACON.

All fruit is in the blossom,
All hope is with the bud,
As in the cloudlet's bosom
The fulness of the flood:
So in the heart of childhood
The sweetest virtues lay,
As seeds beneath the wildwood
Wait for the sunny day.

O as to earth the showers,
And as the warmth of spring,
So to these virtue-flowers,
A kindred influence bring:
O guard with care the springing,
And shield the bud from harm,
For thus thou best art bringing
To ripeness every charm.

O as the flowers are fading

For want of air and light,

And show where leaves are shading,
God made them not for night,-

64.

So do your youthful errors
Cry out for more of grace,-
So by sin's woes and terrors,
Make ours a sunny place.

Individual Influence. C. M.

What if the little rain should say,
So small a drop as I

Can ne'er refresh the thirsty fields,-
I'll tarry in the sky?

What if a shining beam of noon

Should in its fountain stay,
Because its feeble light alone
Cannot create a day?

Doth not each rain-drop help to form
The cool, refreshing shower!
And every ray of light to warm
And beautify the flower?

'Tis thus the good each child may do,
When many do their best,

Will help to bring within our view
The glory of the blest.

Small acts of Goodness. C. M.

A little word in kindness spoken,

A motion, or a tear,

Has often healed the heart that's broken,
And made a friend sincere.

A word, a look, has crushed to earth
Full many a budding flower:
Which, had a smile but owned its birth,
Would bless life's darkest hour.

Then deem it not an idle thing

A pleasant word to speak;

The face you wear, the thoughts you bring,
A heart may heal or break.

65.

66.

67.

Following departed Worthies. C. M.

Rise, O my soul, pursue the path
By ancient worthies trod;
Aspiring, view those holy men

Who lived and walked with God.

Though dead, they speak in reason's ear,
And in example live;

Their faith, and hope, and mighty deeds,
Still fresh instruction give.

Lord, may I ever keep in view

The patterns thou hast given,

And ne'er forsake the blessed road
That leads them safe to heaven.

Dawn, Dew, and Youth. 81. S. M.
Sweet is the dawn of day,

When light just streaks the sky;
When shades and darkness pass away,
And morning beams are nigh:
But sweeter far the dawn

Of piety in youth;

When doubt and darkness are withdrawn

Before the light of truth.

Sweet is the early dew,

Which gilds the mountain tops,

And decks each plant and flower we view
With pearly, glittering drops;

But sweeter far the scene

On Zion's holy hill,

When there the dew of youth is seen
Its freshness to distil.

Example of Early Piety. H. M.

When little Samuel woke,

And heard his Maker's voice,
At every word he spoke

How much did he rejoice:

O blessed, happy child, to find
The God of heaven so near and kind!

68.

69.

If God would speak to me,
And say he was my friend,
How happy should I be,

O, how would I attend!

The smallest sin I then would fear,
If God almighty were so near.

And does he never speak?
O yes; for in his word
He bids me come and seek

The God that Samuel heard.

In almost every page I see

The God of Samuel calls to me.

183

"Lead us not into Temptation." MRS. N. T. MUNROR.

When we tread the dreary desert

That our Saviour's steps have trod,
When we stand mid dark temptation,
Give us strength, our Father, God.
Like him, in that bitter hour,
May we spurn the tempter's power.

Lead us, lest our footsteps wander,
Lest in error's paths we stray;
Guide us, by thy heavenly wisdom,
Teach us, Lord, the better way.
By thy holy might and power,
Keep us in temptation's hour."

Father, we are weak and feeble,
Let our spirits trust in thee,
Let thy strong right arm uphold us,
Thou our rock and fortress be.
In the dark and trying hour,
Keep us from temptation's power.

Asking Divine Aid. L. M.

Uphold me, Father, I am weak,
And day by day I feel it more;
I would be humble, mild and meek,
And serve the God I do adore.

H. BACON.

$184

As moves, the trembling wires along,
The low, sweet sound of some dear strain,
So in my spirit wake the song

That brings thy spirit back again.

Nor leave me, Father! let thy love
Restrain, subdue, till I am pure;
Then, though on earth, with hopes above,
I shall eternal life secure.

TO. Resisting Temptation. L. M. E. A. PECKHAM,

Whene'er our feet are prone to stray

From walking in thy righteous way,
May we remember Jesus trod

That pathway to his Father, God.

And when our hearts would yield to sin,
And into deep'ning guilt slide in,
May we remember Jesus strove,
And conquered by the might of love.

Then will the tempter's wiles be vain,
And we at peace with God remain ;
Then let us His example try,

And live as we would wish to die.

71.

For a Holy Heart. S. M.

Great Source of life and light,
Thy heavenly grace impart,
And by thy Holy Spirit write
Thy law upon my heart.

My soul would cleave to thee;
Let naught my purpose move;
O, let my faith more steadfast be,
And more intense my love!

That grace to me impart,
With meekness to reprove,

To hate the sin with all my heart,
And still the sinner love.