In yon bright sphere, far up the heavens eternal, THE INVITATION. WILL you come with me, my own love? With me, to seek yon distant grove, Oh! sweetly blooms the early rose, The deer, uprisen from his lair, Is skipping merrily; There's gladness in the perfumed air, Just o'er the hills, in the eastern sky, In rosy lines of quivering light, All Nature calls; then why delay? The grove, the spangled lea, Invite us forth, then come, my love, Come to the woods with me. MIDSUMMER-NIGHT. How beautiful the night! How lovely now In fond forgetfulness of earth, and sin, Through the deep azure, gleam Ye tranquil stars; there is a magic in Myself; uplifts my struggling soul from this The night is lovely. Far along, where the Lightly the streamers on yon distant hill. Oh! in an hour like this In a spot like this-beside me one dear REV. S. DRYDEN PHELPS, D. D. He shall live, and future ages Hear his voice sublime, Speaking wisdom unto sages Through coming time. He shall live! Our Heavenly Father. That his teachings we shall gather, DIRGE. FORESTS that once were so dear to my soul, Ye knew her, ye woodlands, my bright one ye knew, Her heart, whence all guile and all art were exiled, But warmly toward all, to her love she was true. O mourn, ye dark hills and ye deep everglades, Lament her, ye grots and ye thick-woven shades! Each mourns for the lost one, but seraphs rejoice; Cora has gone to the angelic throng; Seraphs her name, with the harp and the voice, Have added, to sweeten their wonderful song. To that fair choir does my bright one belong, Enjoying for ever the home of her choice. SPRING. All hail! thou beauteous season, hail! Our human hearts o'erflow, For well do Spring's glad smiles avail The morning breaks, the forests ring, -Spring. REV. S. DRYDEN PHELPS, D. D. S. 21 DRYDEN PHELPS, was born in Suffield, Conn., May 15, 1816. He is a direct descendant of William Phelps who came from Tewksbury, England, and was one of the first settlers of Windsor, Conn., where for many years he was a magistrate and very prominent in church and state. The parents of Dr. Phelps possessed strong characters, made sweet by loving sympathies, and were devoted Christians. Their influence left an impression on the life of their son. His preparation for college was in his native town in the Connecticut Literary Institution. Poems and numerous articles of his were published in various periodicals at that time. In 1842, when in college, his first volume, "Eloquence of Nature and Other Poems," appeared. He was graduated from Brown University, Providence, R. I., in 1844. For one year he was engaged in supplying the First Baptist Church of New Haven, Conn., while a theological student in Yale Divinity School, and became its pastor in January, 1846. This relation continued twentyeight years, closing December, 1873. In 1856 he published "Sunlight and Hearthlight; or Fidelity and Other Poems." In 1859-60 he spent a year in Europe, Egypt and Palestine, and, in 1863, brought out a book of travels, entitled "Holy Land with Glimpses of Europe and Egypt," which has passed through nine editions. In 1867 a third volume of poems called "The Poet's Song for the Heart and Home," was placed before an appreciative public. It contained many new poems, nearly all of those in the second volume and a few from the first. "Rest Days in Journeys Abroad," appeared in 1887. It consists of sermons preached during his year of foreign travels, and subsequent tours in Europe, with prefatory notes and a poem appropriate to the subject following each sermon. "Special Sermons," preached chiefly in the First Baptist Church, New Haven, were collected into a volume the same year. In May, 1874, he became pastor of the Jefferson St. Baptist Church, Providence, R. I., serving two years. In 1876 he took charge, as publisher and editor, of the "Christian Secretary," Hartford, Conn., and conducted that paper twelve years. He was married, August 26, 1847, to Miss Sophia Emilia Linsley, a daughter of Rev. James H. Linsley (Yale, 1817) who was a Baptist minister and noted naturalist, residing in Stratford, Conn., near New Haven' Mrs. Phelps has great literary ability, is a constant writer, and her character is of rare loveliness. Their children were a daughter and four sons. The second son died when nearly four years of age. The daughter, Miss Sophia Lyon Phelps, was endowed with musical, intellectual and personal attractions. She died in 1871, in her twenty-third year. A memorial pamphlet, by her parents, includes a touching poem from her father's pen. Three sons, Rev. Dryden W. Phelps, Rev. Arthur S. Phelps and Mr. William L. Phelps are living. Each inherits literary talents. The residence of Dr. Phelps is in New Haven, Conn. His poetry is characterized by deep poetic conception and religious feeling. Among a number of this author's widely known hymns "Something for Thee" has been most used in collections, in this and in foreign countries. Dr. Phelps' latest publication, "Songs for all Seasons," was issued in 1891. J. M. R. AN ITALIAN SUNSET. WHILE I stand on one of her seven hills, There are gorgeous clouds of vermillion hue, That rise and spread on the arching blue, 'Tis the setting sun in his brilliant dyes, And what matchless tints are given! They seem like the light of celestial skies O'er the jasper walls of heaven. How softly on groves of cypress and pine, Upon Alban slope and Sabine crown And they drop on the winding Tiber down Beyond this brief and enchanting sight, O City of Light, in a splendor more bright, SOMETHING FOR THEE. SAVIOR, thy dying love, Thou gavest me, Nor should I aught withhold, Dear Lord, from Thee. In love my soul would bow, O'er the blest mercy-seat Help me thy cross to bear, Give me a faithful heart- All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free, My Lord, for Thee; GOD'S PROMISES TO ABRAHAM. Fear not, Abraham, saith the Lord, I will bless thee now and ever, Promises that I have made, All the words my mouth hath said, I'll fulfill them to the letter, I from Ur, with guiding hand, Would'st thou have a certain sign |