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MARY.

WRITTEN IN AN ALBUM.

MARY!—it is a gentle name,

And they alone should bear it, Whose gentle thoughts and kindly deeds Proclaim them meet to wear it. MARY!-the first of whom we read Is in the Sacred Word:

The blessed Virgin, undefiled,

The mother of our Lord!

'Twas MARY to the Saviour knelt
And washed his feet with tears,

Sincere repentance when she felt,
For sins of other years;

With pity touched, the Saviour said,

"Thy sins be all forgiven !"

And she who knelt a sinner, rose-
MARY-a child of Heaven!

MARTHA, we learn, remained at home, “Troubled with many things," While MARY ran in haste to meet

Her Lord, the King of kings:

And He, who truly read each heart,
Jesus, of her did say,

"MARY hath chosen that good part
Which shall not pass away

And when the Lord of Heaven became

The lowly, crucified,

Three Marys stood around the cross,
And wept when Jesus died:

'Twas MARY sought at early dawn
The tomb from whence he brake;
And hers the first recorded name
The risen Saviour spake !

Then, MARY, let it be your aim
To keep these still in view;
And as you bear their gentle name,
Possess their graces too!

Be meek and lowly-pure in heart—
Be every sin abhorred;

Like MARY-choose the better part,

And early seek the Lord!

TO A CHILD AT PLAY.

"A beautiful and laughing thing,

Just in his first apparelling

Of childish loveliness!"

THOU fair and lovely boy!

Bright bud of beauty and of hope, Which thus upon our eyes doth ope, Radiant with mirth and joy !—

Now clambering on my knee,

With spirit buoyant as the air,
And brow from every shade of care,
And heart from sorrow free :-

How doth it joy my heart, To see thee frolic thus, sweet boy,

In very wantonness of joy,

Happy, as thus thou art!

Would grief might ever fly

As lightly o'er thy head as now;

That care might never cloud thy brow,

Nor sorrow dim thine eye!

But that, indeed, I know

'Twere vain to wish-such were a lot

An all-wise Providence gives not
To mortal here below:

But oh! dear boy, may all The blessings which a God, all-wise And good, may shower from the skies, Ever upon thee fall!

And, come what troubles may-Whatever ills betide,-may HE

Who orders all things well, to thee "Give strength, as is thy day;"—

And, when this life is o'er,

Translate thee to that "better land," Where sin and sorrow come not, and

Where death shall be no more!

66

TO MYRA, ON HER BIRTH-DAY.

Light to thy path, bright creature! I would charm
Thy being if I could-that it should be

Even as now thou deemest, and flow on
Thus innocent and beautiful, to Heaven!"

WILLIS.

For thee, my fair and gentle friend !
On this, thy joyous natal day,
Shall kindest words and wishes blend,
To frame the tributary lay.

Sweet child!--thus innocent and fair!
If ever grief, and pain, and care,——
In world like this, where griefs abound,
And aught save care is scarcely found,—
If these, could wish, or prayer of mine
Avert from every path of thine,-

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