CONSCIENCE.

2.

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They wear not their time out in sleeping or play,
But gather up corn on a sunshiny day,

And for winter they lay up their stores;

They manage their work in such regular forms,

One would think they foresaw all the frosts and the storms,

And so brought their food within doors.

3.

But I have less sense than a poor creeping ant,
If I take not good care of the things I shall want,
Nor provide against dangers in time;

When death or old age shall once stare in my face,
What a wretch shall I be in the end of my days,
If I trifle away all their prime!

CONSCIENCE.

1.

My conscience is my crown;
Contented thoughts my rest;

My heart is happy in itself;
My bliss is in my breast.

2.

Enough, I reckon wealth;
A mean, the surest lot;

That lies too high for base contempt,
Too low for envy's shot.

3.

My wishes are but few,
All easy to fulfil :

I make the limits of my power
The bounds unto my will.

4.

I have no hopes but one,
Which is of heavenly reign:
Effects attained, or not desired,
All lower hopes refrain.

5.

I feel no care of coin;

Well-doing is my wealth:

My mind to me an empire is, While grace affordeth health.

6.

I wrestle not with rage

While fury's flame doth burn; It is in vain to stop the stream Until the tide doth turn.

7.

But when the flame is out,

And ebbing wrath doth end,

I turn a late enraged foe

Into a quiet friend.

8.

And taught with often proof,
A tempered calm I find
To be most solace to itself,
Best cure for angry mind.

SUMMER EVENING.

9.

No change of fortune's calms

Can cast my comforts down:

When Fortune smiles, I smile to think

How quickly she will frown;

10.

And when in froward mood,
She moved an angry foe,

Small gain I found to let her come,
Less loss to let her go.

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SUMMER EVENING.

1.

How fine has the day been! How bright was the sun!
How lovely and joyful the course that he run!
Though he rose in a mist, when his race he begun,
And there followed some droppings of rain :

But now the fair traveller comes to the west,
His rays are all gold, and his beauties are best;
He paints the sky gay as he sinks to his rest,
And foretells a bright rising again.

2.

Just such is the Christian: his course he begins
Like the sun in a mist, while he mourns for his sins,
And melts into tears; then he breaks out and shines,
And travels his heavenly way:

But when he comes nearer to finish his race,

Like a fine setting sun, he looks richer in grace,
And gives a sure hope, at the end of his days,

Of rising in brighter array.

THE CRICKET AND THE ANT.

1.

A CRICKET who sang gaily
While the days were long,
Found the north wind blowing,
And quickly changed her song.

2.

Thought she felt rheumatic,
Folded up her wing,

And said, 'The season's over,
I'll go to sleep till spring.'

3.

But feeling very hungry,
Searched for worm or fly,
Not a scrap for supper
Near her could she spy.

4.

She went to see her neighbour,
The Ant, who lived next door,
And begged her, 'As a favour,
To help her from her store;

5.

And when the frost was gone,

She'd pay her without fail,
Upon a cricket's honour,

Interest and principal.'

THE POLAR STAR.

6.

The Ant, who ne'er was guilty
Of willingness to lend,
Replied to this importunate:

'The spring how did you spend?'

7.

'May 't please you, to all-comers
I sang the spring-time through.'
'You sang!-I'm glad to hear it!
Begin your dancing now.'

THE POLAR STAR.

1.

THERE shines on high a lonely star,
To guide the sailor o'er the deep;
To lead him home when yet afar,
And cheer his heart while others sleep.

2.

It is the bright, the Polar Star,

The faithful beacon of the sky;

That speaks of peace when tempests war,
And swelling billows mount on high.

3.

But yet there is one brighter far,
That ever beams with holy light;
And Virtue is that Polar Star,

To keep our wandering footsteps right.

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