B THE EMPTY CRADLE. ESIDE an empty cradle sat A youthful mother fair; But a few short days had pass'd away Since a baby form slept there. And she had sat by that cradle oft With a mother's pride and joy, And thank'd her God for His precious gift Ah! but too well she remember'd her babe, With its lovely angel smile, Its mirth and playfulness which did Her lonely hours beguile. And that mother sat in silent grief, And not one word spake she; She wrung her hands and compress'd her lips, And she sat by that cradle, lone and still, And oft she utter'd, in murmuring tones, "Why did my baby die?" But that mother sat by that cradle no more; The struggle was o'er, her mind was calm, For she had learn'd that her Father in heaven Had come in mercy and love, And taken her babe, from a world of sin, And whenever that mother kneels in prayer, She feels a heavenly joy; And she blesses her Father in heaven, who took DISTRESS AT SEA. M E are on the ocean lonely, For the sleet and snow Around us blow, And God can guide us only. Speed the vessel slowly, Speak in accents lowly, Our vessel, we fear, The rocks is near, And we may perish wholly. Is yon some welcome land, Or ominous shifting sand, From the ocean bed, At death's dread command? We have sail'd all night so drearily, O God! where shall we steer? The dark horizon clears, Throws a death-like stream Around us all, While for help we call, And try to quell our fears. List! 'tis the passing bell, On the far-off shore, For those who wake no more, Who have gone to sleep In the mighty deep, And will guide the ship no more. WORK AND WAIT. HERE'S a song I would ever in cheer fulness sing, It is fitted for every state, The music is set by each noble heart, The words are," Work and wait.” The husbandman sings as he scatters his grain, He trusts to his God for the sun and the rain, The sculptor, with hammer and chisel, stands His work is hard, his task is long, But he knows how to "work and wait.” The hero gazes on fortune's hour, While he grasps the reins of fate, And trusts for success in a higher Power, While he sings, “I will work and wait.” |