BEATITUDES And frost and shortening days portend Then doth thy sweet and quiet eye I would that thus, when I shall see 191 BEATITUDES Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. THE THREE KINGS REV. FREDERICK W. FABER Who are these who ride so fast o'er the desert's sandy road That have tracked the Red Sea shore, and have swum the torrents broad; Whose camels' bells are tinkling through the long and starry night, For they ride like men pursued, like the vanquished of a fight? Who are these that ride so fast? They are Eastern monarchs three, Who have laid aside their crowns, and renounced their high degree; The eyes they love, the hearts they prize, the well known voices kind, Their people's tents, their native plains, they've left them all behind. The very least of faith's dim rays beamed on them from afar, And that same hour they rose from off their thrones to track the Star; THE THREE KINGS 193 They cared not for the cruel scorn of those who called them mad; Messias' Star was shining, and their royal hearts were glad. But a speck was in the midnight sky, uncertain, dim, and far, And their hearts were pure, and heard a voice proclaim Messias' Star; And in its golden twinkle they saw more than common light, The Mother and the Child they saw in Bethlehem by night! And what were crowns, and what were thrones, to such a sight as that? So straight away they left their tents, and bade not grace to wait; They hardly stop to slack their thirst at the desert's limpid springs Nor note how fair the landscape is, how sweet the skylark sings! Whole cities have turned out to meet their royal cavalcade, Wise colleges and doctors all their wisdom have displayed; And when the Star was dim, they knocked at Herod's palace gate, And troubled with the news of faith his politic estate. And they have knelt in Bethlehem! The Everlasting Child They saw upon His mother's lap, earth's Monarch meek and His little feet, with Mary's leave, they pressed with loving kiss, O what were thrones, O what were crowns, to such a joy as this? One little sight of Jesus was enough for many years, One look at Him their stay and staff in this dismal vale of tears: Their people for that sight of Him they gallantly withstood, They taught His faith, they preached His word, and for Him shed their blood. Ah me! what broad daylight of faith our thankless souls receive, How much we know of Jesus, and how easy to believe; 'Tis the noonday of His sunshine, of His sun that setteth never; Faith gives us crowns, and makes us kings, and our kingdom is forever! Oh, glory be to God on high for these Arabian kings, Conscience is a collector that presents the bills to pas sion. -Austin O'Malley. LITTLE CHRISTEL MRS. MARY E. BRADLEY MRS. MARY E. BRADLEY, a resident of Maryland, was born in 1835, and died in 1898. She wrote principally for girls, and two of her well-known books are “Douglas Farm” and “Grace's Visit." Fräulein, the young school mistress, to her pupils said one 66 day, Next week, at Pfingster holiday, King Ludwig rides this way; And you will be wise, my little ones, to work with a will at your tasks, That so you may answer fearlessly whatever question he asks. It would be a shame too dreadful if the king should have it to tell That Hansel missed in his figures, and Peterkin could not spell." "O, ho! that never shall happen," cried Hansel and Peterkin too; "We'll show King Ludwig, when he comes, what the boys in this school can do." "And we," said Gretchen and Bertha, and all the fair little |