Life is fleeting as a shade
Make your mark;

Marks of some kind must be made-
Make your mark;

Make it while the arm is strong,
In the golden hours of youth;
Never, never make it wrong;
Make it with the stamp of Truth·
Make your mark.

FAULTS OF OTHERS.

HAT are others' faults to me?

WH

I've not a vulture's bill

To peck at every flaw I see,
And make it wider still.

It is enough for me to know

I've follies of my own;

And on my heart the care bestow,
And let my friends alone.

THE

CASABIANCA.

THE boy stood on the burning deck
Whence all but he had fled;

The flame that lit the battle's wreck
Shone round him o'er the dead.

Yet beautiful and bright he stood,
As born to rule the storm;
A creature of heroic blood,

A brave though child-like form.

The flames rolled on- - he would not go
Without his father's word;
That father faint in death below,
His voice no longer heard.

He called aloud, "Say, father, say
If yet my task is done!"

He knew not that the chieftain lay
Unconscious of his son.

'Speak, father!" once again he cried,

"If I may yet be gone!"

And but the booming shots replied,

And fast the flames rolled on.

Upon his brow he felt their breath,

And in his waving hair,

And looked from that lone post of death

In still, yet brave despair;

And shouted but once more aloud,

"My father! must I stay?"

While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud,

The wreathing fires made way.

They wrapt the ship in splendor wild,
They caught the flag on high,
And streamed above the gallant child
Like banners in the sky.

Then came a burst of thunder-sound-
The boy-oh! where was he!
Ask of the winds that far around
With fragments strewed the sea,

With mast, and helm, and pennon fair,
That well had borne their part;
But the noblest thing that perished there
Was that young faithful heart!

THE BOOK ON NATURE.

HERE is a book, who runs may read,
which heavenly truth imparts,

And all the lore its scholars need,
Pure eyes and Christian hearts.

The works of God, above, below,
Within us and around,
Are pages in that book to show
How God himself is found.

The glorious sky, embracing all,
Is like the Maker's love,
Wherewith encompassed, great and small
In peace and order move.

The dew of heaven is like his grace,

It steals in silence down;

And where it lights, the favored place
By richest fruits is known.

Thou, who hast given me eyes to see
And love this sight so fair,
Give a heart to find out Thee,

And read Thee everywhere.

A

A LITTLE WORD.

LITTLE word, in kindness spoken,

A motion, or a tear,

Has often healed the heart that's broken,
And made a friend sincere.

A word—a look — has crushed to earth
Full many a budding flower,

Which, had a smile but owned its birth,
Would bless life's darkest hour.

Then deem it not an idle thing,
A pleasant word to speak;

The face you wear, the thoughts you bring,
A heart may heal or break.

W

WASHINGTON.

HEN General Washington was young,
About as large as I;

He never would permit his tongue

To tell a wilful lie.

Once, when he cut his father's tree,

He owned it to his face;
And then his father tenderly
Clasped him in his embrace.

He told his son it pleased him more,
For him to own the truth,
Than if his tree was bending o'er
With gold and silver fruit.

Then, like this brave and noble boy,

Whose virtues brightly shone,

If I my father's tree destroy,

The truth I'll surely own.

MAR

His fleece was white as snow;

And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school one day;
That was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.

So the teacher turned him out;
But still he lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.

And then he ran to her, and laid
His head upon her arm,

As if he said, "I'm not afraid;

You'll keep me from all harm."