curtain; the grass is soft to our feet, and a clear brook washes the roots of the trees. 3. The sloping' bank is covered with flowers; let us lie down upon it; let us throw our limbs on the fresh grass and sleep; for all things are still, and we are quite alone. 4. The cattle can lie down to sleep in the cool shade, but we can do what is better: we can raise our voices to heaven; we can praise the great God who made us. 5. He made the warm sun, and the cool shade; the trees that grow upwards, and the brooks that run murmuring along. All the things that we see are His work. 6. Can we raise our voices up to the high heaven? Can we make Him hear, who is above the stars? We need not raise our voices to the stars, for He heareth us when we only whisper; when we breathe out words softly with a low voice. He that filleth the heavens is here also. 7. May we, that are so young, speak to Him that always was? May we, that can hardly speak plain, speak to God? 8. We, that are so young, are but lately made alive; therefore we should not forget His forming hand who hath made us alive. We, that cannot speak plain, should lisp out praises to Him who teacheth us how to speak, and hath opened our dumb lips. 9. When we could not think of Him, He thought before we could ask Him to bless us, He had already given us many blessings. of us; 2 10. He fashioneth our tender limbs, and causeth them to grow; He maketh us strong and tall and nimble." 11. Every day we are more active than the former day; therefore every day we ought to praise Him better than the former day. 12. The buds spread into leaves, and the blossoms * swell to fruit; but they know not how they grow, nor who caused them to spring up from the bosom of the earth. 13. Ask them if they will tell thee; bid them break forth into singing, and fill the air with pleasant sounds. 14. They smell sweet, they look beautiful; but they are quite silent; no sound is in the still air, no murmur of voices amongst the green leaves. 15. The plants and the trees are made to give fruit to man; but man is made to praise God, who made him. 16. We love to praise Him, because He loveth to bless us; we thank Him for life, because it is a pleasant thing to be alive. 5 17. We love God, who hath created all beings; we love all beings, because they are the creatures of God. 18. We cannot be good, as God is good, to all persons everywhere; but we can rejoice that everywhere there is a God to do them good. 19. We will think of God when we play and when we work; when we walk out and when we come in: when we sleep and when we wake: His praise shal dwell continually upon our lips. 1 SLOPING. Slanting, inclining. 4 BLŎS'SQM. A flower. 5 CREATURE. A created being. WHAT is it that glitters so clear and serene,' Ships skimming along on its surface are seen. Sea-weeds wind about in its cavities wet, A thousand fair shells, yellow, amber, and jet, Whales lash the white foam in their frolicsome wrath, While hoarsely the winter wind roars, 5 And shoals of green mackerel stretch from the north And wander along by our shores. When tempests sweep over its bosom serene, Like mountains its billows arise; The ships now appear to be buried between, It gushes out clear from the sides of the hill, Then waters the valley, and roars through the mill, The traveller, that crosses the desert so wide, Longs often to stoop at some rivulet's side, The stately white swan glides along on its breast, And the duckling unfledged' waddles out of its nest The clouds, blown about in the chilly, blue sky, 8 Vast cisterns or water contain ; Like snowy-white feathers in winter they fly; When sunbeams so bright on the falling drops shine, And glows in the heavens, a beautiful sign 1 SE-RENE'. Calm, placid, quiet. SHOAL. A multitude, a large num- 6 MÄCK'ER-EL. A small sea-fish having a streaked or spotted back. 7 UN-FLEDGED' (un-flějd'). Without 8 CISTERN. A hollow place for hold. Makes X.-HASTE NOT-REST NOT. [CHRISTOPHER C. Cox, author of the following lines, is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1835. He is a physician by profession, and was for more than twenty years diligently and success fully engaged in practice. In October, 1861, he received the appointment of brigade surgeon, U. S. A., and in January, 1862, was made medical purveyor, U.S. A. He is now (1865) Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. He is the author of many fugitive poetical pieces which are deservedly popular.] 1. “WITHOUT haste! without rest!” Bind the motto' to thy breast; Storm or sunshine, guard it well; Heed not flowers that round thee bloom 2. Haste not! let no thoughtless' deed 5 Ponder well and know the right; 6 3. Rest not! life is sweeping by ; When these forms have passed away. 4. Haste not! rest not! calmly wait; 1 MOT'TO. Do the right whate'er betide!" Haste not! rest not! Conflicts past, A sentence to be remembered as a guide for conduct. 2 SPELL. A form of words supposed to possess magical virtues. 3 THOUGHT LESS (thâwt'les). Without thought, careless. FÖR AYE (ā). Forever. 5 PON'DER. Think, deliberate. 6 RECK LESS. Heedless, rash. thy work at last. 7 MIGHT'Y. Very great or power ful, having might or strength. 8 SUB LIME'. Lofty, noble, grand. 9 CŎN'QUER (kong ker). Overcome, 10 PO'LAR. Unvarying as the polar star, constant. 11 BE-TIDE'. Happen, come to pass 12 CRÖŴN. Invest with a crown reward, recompense. |