THE DYING CHILD.

COME nearer to me now, mother,
Let me feel your gentle hand
Once more upon my brow,

For I know life's fleeting sand
Hath nearly fled away;

And ere this day is o'er, This tenement of clay

Shall the spirit hold no more.

My eyes are glazing fast, mother,
I shall see your face no more,
Till we meet in heaven at last,

On that bright and peaceful shore.
Throw the casement open wide,

Let me feel the summer breeze,

And hear again its whisperings

Through the trembling poplar trees.

Wafted sweetly o'er the heath, mother,
I can hear the Sabbath bells,
And many a tale of holy joys

Their chasten'd music tells.
They speak of happy hearts

Going up to worship thereOf meek and lowly spirits,

Who will meet their God in prayer.

And I hear a sweeter sound, mother,
From the angel-harps above;
They are telling of my home,
That heaven of peace and love.
I have loved earth too well,

My fond hopes centred there;
Death never made me shudder,
I was free from gloom and care.

"MY CUP RUNNETH OVER."

THE twenty-third Psalm is remarkable for the number of pastoral allusions it contains. By no one of the sacred writers do these appear to have been better understood, or more frequently and appropriately quoted, than by the author of this beautiful Psalmonce the shepherd-boy of Bethlehem. In his event

P

ful history many little incidents are mentioned, and among his recorded experiences there are many touching references, pointing to places, and scenes, and circumstances, which had been treasured amongst the memories of bygone years. These bear testimony to the trials and dangers attendant upon a shepherd's life; but they also show how valuable was the knowledge which, at a very early age, he possessed, and how great were the skill and courage with which he performed the duties of his daily, although perilous, occupation.

Young as he was, and not much assisted, or thought about, by his elder brothers, David seems to have been well instructed in the business of feeding and folding his father's sheep. On leaving home in the morning, he knew where to choose the best pasture-ground. With a practised eye, such as can only be acquired in out-of-door employments, he watched the changes of weather and of seasons; keeping near to the gentlyflowing streams, on the banks of which the herbage would always be fresh and nutritious. When the sky was cloudless, and the sun high in the heavens, shelter was necessary. He would then conduct his charge where they could lie down on the cool side of some lofty or overhanging rock. At evening, as the shadows lengthened, and darkness came on apace, by the safest and shortest route he led the way homewards; knowing nothing of fear even when passing along some of those deep and dark ravines which might easily suggest thoughts about the valley of the shadow of death.

From all we know of David, at his entrance into public life, it is reasonable to believe that, notwithstanding what some would have considered its dangers and its hardships, he enjoyed the solitude of the wilderness. There he probably cultivated his talent for music-an accomplishment in which he delighted, and in which, according to the taste and knowledge of the

age, he evidently excelled. Nor must we limit our thoughts to the lyre-attractive and elevating as were its sweet sounds, when elicited by the hand of him who has earned for himself an undying reputation. as "the sweet singer of Israel." This was not the only reason why he loved to wander far away from home, and friends, and the busy haunts of men. Touched by the Spirit of God, his young heart was moved by nobler impulses than those of personal gratification. He had learned that

"The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree;"

and, whilst seeking the guidance of his heavenly Father's hand, and listening to the whisperings of his mercy, he was girding himself for the exercise of strong faith, and for the conflicts, and sorrows, and disappointments, he had to bear much sooner than he expected.

Years passed away. The boy grew to be a man. The shepherd became a king. In the maturity of age, and most likely during a period of domestic quietness, and national prosperity, he wrote the Psalm from which we have quoted the expression of grateful acknowledgment, placed at the head of this paper. Let us ponder over it; in the hope of finding instruction suitable to the circumstances of every reader. We have abstained from referring to passages of Scripture, and marking quotations, because we think that will be a profitable occupation for our readers. They should write, for their own guidance, a detailed account of David's early history.

"MY CUP RUNNETH OVER."-Is it not a significant emblem of a plentiful supply of temporal blessings? The cup not only full but overflowing! Let us think of the numberless mercies which are new every morning, continued throughout the day, and again renewed at night. So accustomed are we to an uninterrupted

supply of these blessings, that we too often forget how greatly we need them, and how much we should miss them. What a calamity it would be, if our unwearying Benefactor were to withhold some of these needful supplies only for an hour, or even a minute! We ought to feel, and thankfully acknowledge, that one of our greatest mercies is the kindness, and forbearance, and long-suffering of God; that when we are forgetful of Him, He is never unmindful of us.

We have nothing to do with the capacity of the cup. Although one cup may be larger or smaller than another, we may be certain that the dimensions of each are accurately adjusted to the individual pos

sessor.

Nor should we inquire very particularly about the qualities of the materials with which the cup is filled. These are well chosen; exactly adapted to each case, and only require to be rightly used to yield appropriate enjoyment. It is a great, although a very common, mistake to suppose that possessing and enjoying are always proportionate to each other. There may be the means of obtaining any reasonable amount of, so-called, earthly good; but there may not be the wish, the inclination, or what is often called the heart to do so. There may be the ability to obtain, and the desire to possess; but there may not be the capacity, or capability, of enjoying. Food, and clothing, and the many other things which make a comfortable home, are in themselves unspeakably-important blessings. The means of obtaining continual and sufficient supplies of these bounties, is an additional blessing. Something more, however, is required. For the complete enjoyment, even of our every-day temporal mercies, there must be, according to age, ability, and various other circumstances, the possession of health and vigour, and the habitual exercise of physical and mental energies.

The actual quantity of what is familiarly termed