Death's Final Conquest. JAMES SHIRLEY.-Music by Edward Coleman. HE glories of our birth and state THE Are shadows, not substantial things; There is no armour against fate : Death lays his icy hands on kings. Sceptre and crown Must tumble down, And in the dust be equal made With the poor crooked scythe and spade. Some men with swords may reap the field, They stoop to fate, And must give up their murmuring breath, When they, pale captives, creep to death. The garlands wither on your brow-- Then boast no more your mighty deeds; Upon death's purple altar now, See where the victor-victim bleeds: All heads must come To the cold tomb; Only the actions of the just Smell sweet and blossom in the dust. Christian Courage. 31 ·G Seeds of Light. J. R. LOWELL. OD scatters love on every side Freely among His children all, And always hearts are lying open wide Wherein some grains may fall. There is no wind but soweth seeds Which burst, unlook'd for, into high-soul'd deeds, We find within these souls of ours Some wild germs of a higher birth, Which in the poet's tropic heart bear flowers Whose fragrance fills the earth. Within the hearts of all men lie Those promises of wider bliss, Which blossom into hopes that cannot die, Christian Courage. REV. JOHN KEBLE. OH, shame upon thee, listless heart, So sad a sigh to heave; As if thy Saviour had no part In thoughts that make thee grieve. As if along His lonesome way He had not borne for thee Sad languors through the summer day, Thou shalt have joy in sadness soon ; Fear Not, but Trust in Providence. THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY.-Music by S. Nelson. H, pilot ! 'tis a fearful night, "AF There's danger on the deep; I'll come and pace the deck with thee, I do not dare to sleep." "Go down!" the sailor cried, "go down ' This is no place for thee; Fear not, but trust in Providence, "Ah, pilot! dangers often met, We all are apt to slight; And thou hast known the raging waves But to subdue their might." "It is not apathy," he cried, "That gives this strength to me; Fear not, but trust in Providence, Wherever thou mayst be. What are the Wild Waves Saying? "In such a night, the sea ingulf'd My father's lifeless form; My only brother's boat went down, And such, perhaps, may be my fate— But still I say to thee, Fear not, but trust in Providence, 33 What are the Wild Waves Saying? DUET. "I want to know what it says,-the sea. What is it that it keeps on saying?" -CHARLES DICKENS. J. E. CARPENTER.-Music by Stephen Glover. PAUL. HAT are the wild waves saying, WHAT Sister, the whole day long, That ever, amid our playing, I hear but their low lone song? There it sounds wild and free; But at night, when 'tis dark and lonely, FLORENCE. Brother, I hear no singing; 'Tis but the rolling wave, Ever its lone course winging Over some ocean cave; с 'Tis but the noise of water Dashing against the shore, And the wind from some bleaker quarter Mingling with its roar. DUET. No! it is something greater That speaks to the heart alone; The voice of the great Creator PAUL. Yes! but the waves seem ever Or a warning that calls away? FLORENCE. Brother, the inland mountain, Hath it not voice and sound? Curtain'd, and closed, and warm; Do not our voices mingle With those of the distant storm? DUET. Yes! but there's something greater That speaks to the heart alone; The voice of the great Creator Dwells in that mighty tone! |