56

HYMN TO THE SETTING SUN.

Warm hopes drop like dews from thy life-giving hand,
Teaching hearts closed in darkness like flowers to expand ;
Dreams wake into joys when first touched by thy light,
As glow the dim waves of the sea at thy sight.

Then slow, mighty wanderer, sink to thy rest,
And rise again beautiful, blessing, and blest.

Slow, slow, mighty wanderer, sink to thy rest,
Prolonging the sweet evening hour;

Then robe again soon in the morn's golden vest,
To go forth in thy beauty and power.

Yet pause on thy way

To the full height of day,

For thy rising and setting are blest.

When thou com'st after darkness to gladden our eyes,
Or departest in glory, in glory to rise,

May hope and may prayer still be woke by thy rays,
And thy going be marked with thanksgiving and praise.
Then slow, mighty wanderer, sink to thy rest,
And rise again beautiful, blessing, and blest.

G. P. R. JAMES.

Tale-bearers are enemies to civil society; whoever entertains thee with the faults of others, will entertain others with thine.

The bird that soars on highest wing,
Builds on the ground her lowly nest;
And she that doth most sweetly sing,
Sings in the shade when all things rest;
In lark and nightingale we see
What honour hath humility.

When Mary chose "the better part,"

She meekly sat at Jesus' feet;

And Lydia's gently opened heart

Was made by God's own temple meet.

Fairest and best adorn'd is she

Whose clothing is humility.

The saint that wears heaven's brightest crown,

In deepest adoration bends;

The weight of glory bows him down

Then most when most his soul ascends.

Nearest the throne itself must be

The footstool of humility.

J. MONTGOMERY.

THE PARTING SPIRIT

59

Farewell each dearest union

That bless'd my earthly hours,
We yet shall hold communion
In amaranthine bowers.

The love that seems forsaken
When friends in death depart,
In heav'n again shall waken,
And re-possess the heart.

The harps of heav'n steal o'er me,
I see the jasper wall-
Jesus, who pass'd before me,

And God the judge of all.

So sang the parting spirit,

While round flow'd many a tear

Then spread her wings t'inherit

Her throne in yonder sphere.

EDMESTON.

The imperfections of others may teach us patience; and our

own may teach us humility.

60

THE CONVICT SHIP.

THE CONVICT SHIP.

Morn on the waters!-and purple and bright,
Bursts on the billows the flushing of light;
O'er the glad waves, like a child of the sun,
See the tall vessel goes gallantly on;

Full to the breeze she unbosoms her sail,

And her pennon streams onward, like hope, in the gale;
The winds come around her, in murmur and song,
And the surges rejoice, as they bear her along.-
See! she looks up to the golden-edged clouds,
And the sailor sings gaily aloft in the shrouds:
Onward she glides, amid ripple and spray,
Over the waters,-away, and away!
Bright as the visions of youth, ere they part,
Passing away, like a dream of the heart!
Who as the beautiful pageant sweeps by,
Music around her, and sunshine on high-
Pauses to think amid glitter and glow,

Oh! there be hearts that are breaking below!

Night on the waves! and the moon is on high,
Hung like a gem on the brow of the sky,
Treading its steps, in the power of her might,
And turning the clouds, as they pass her, to light!