96 THE MORE CONVENIENT SEASON. Care struck deep root around him, and each shoot When lo! a message from the Crucified, God spake again-when age had shed its sorrows On his wan temples, and the palsied hand "A more convenient season." 66 "See my step is firm and free, My unquenched eye delights "To view this pleasant world, and life with me May last for many years. In the calm hour "Of lingering sickness I can better fit "For vast Eternity." Disease approached, And Reason fled the maniac strove with death, LAST RITES. Closed round his heart-strings-the poor clay LAST RITES. By the mighty minster's bell, Know a prince hath died. By the drum's dull muffled sound; Speak ye of a soldier gone In his manhood's pride? By the chaunting psalm that fills Learn that from his harvests done, Peasants bear a brother on To his last repose. G 97 By the pall of snowy white Through the yew trees gleaming bright, By the garlands on the bier Weep, a maiden claims thy tear, Which is tenderest rite of all? Buried virgin's coronal. Requiem o'er the monarch's head, Farewell gun for warrior dead.— Herdsman's funeral hymn? Tells not each of human woe? Each of hope and strength brought low? If one chast'ning thought it brings, Ere life's day grows dim! L. E. L. A life of inaction is a disuse of talents and a perversion of faculties for which we are responsible, it is the inlet of temptation our leisure days are the enemy's busy ones. They say there's magic in the tone But none of these have half the power Of that sad word-" Farewell." It soothes away each angry thought It is with pensive feelings fraught It hath a power tongues cannot breathe, In anguish left to feel the force Of that sad word-" Farewell." 100 RETIREMENT AND PRAYER. RETIREMENT AND PRAYER. ["And he withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed.”Luke v. 16.] If thus our Lord himself withdrew, Stealing at times away, E'en from the lov'd, the chosen few, In solitude to pray; How should his followers, frail and weak, Seldom amid the strife and din Of sublunary things, Can spirits keep their watch within, Or plume their heaven-ward wings; Not in our own spontaneous will |