A LIGHT.

[Earnest and vigorous.]

Suppose I were lost in a desolate land,

With no one to comfort or guide me at hand,
A child in the darkness of night;

How glad should I be of some friend at my side,
Who a lamp for my footsteps should kindly provide,
To lend me its merciful light.

Tis thus that we wander unsafe and forlorn,
With dangers all round from the time we were born,
Besetting the path we must go;

How many like us have their journey begun,
And when a few steps they had thoughtlessly run,
Have perished in folly and woe!

But yet in the darkness a light is bestowed,
THAT SHINES LIKE A SUN on the dangerous road—
The road from this world to the sky-

THAT LIGHT IS THE BIBLE; it shows us our way,
And beams like a steady, calm, beautiful day,
To gladden the wanderer's eye.

O THOU; who hast given THY WORD FOR OUR LIGHT,
I pray thee to make it the lamp of my night,

Till life and its dangers are past:

The star of my darkness, the sun of my day,

MAY IT CHEER WITH ITS SHINING EACH STEP OF MY WAY, AND GUIDE ME TO HEAVEN AT LAST.

THE FAMILY BIBLE.

[Bold and earnest.]

How painfully pleasing the fond recollection,
Of youthful connections and innocent joy,
When blessed with parental advice and affection,
Surrounded with mercies, with peace from on high.
I still view the chair of my sire and my mother,

The seats of their offspring as ranged on each hand, And that richest of books, which excelled every otherThat FAMILY BIBLE that lay on the stand:

The OLD-FASHIONED BIBLE, THE DEAR, BLESSED BIBLE, THE FAMILY BIBLE that lay on the stand.

That BIBLE, the volume of deep inspiration,

At morn and at evening, could yield us delight; And the prayer of our sire was a sweet invocation, For mercy by day, and for safety through night;

Our hymns of thanksgiving with harmony swelling,
All warm from the heart of a family band,

Half raises us from earth to that rapturous dwelling,
Described in the Bible, that lay on the stand:

That RICHEST OF BOOKS, WHICH EXCELLED EVERY OTHER—
The FAMILY BIBLE that lay on the stand.

Ye scenes of tranquility, long have we parted,
My hopes almost gone, and my parents no more,
In sorrow and sadness I live broken-hearted,

And wander unknown on a far distant shore:
Yet how can I doubt a kind Saviour's protection,
Forgetful of gifts from His bountiful hand,
Oh! let me with patience, receive his correction,
And THINK of the BIBLE that lay on the stand:
The RICHEST OF BOOKS, WHICH EXCELLED EVERY OTHER-
THE FAMILY BIBLE, THAT LAY ON THE STAND.

MY MOTHER'S BIBLE.

BY GEORGE P. MORRIS.

[With vigour and energy.]

This book is all that's left me now
Tears will unbidden start-
With faltering lip and throbbing brow,
I press it to my heart.

For many generations past,

Here is our family tree;

My mothers's hands this Bible clasped ;

She, dying, gave it me.

Ah! well do I remember those

Whose names these records bear,

Who round the hearth-stone used to close

After the evening prayer,

And speak of what these pages said,
In tones my heart would thrill !
Though they are with the silent dead,
HERE are they living still.

My father read this holy book
To brothers, sisters dear;

How calm was my poor mother's look,
Who loved God's word to hear!

Her angel face-I see it yet!

What thronging memories come;

Again that little group is met

WITHIN THE HALLS OF HOME!

THOU TRUEST FRIEND MAN EVER KNEW,
THY CONSTANCY I'VE TRIED ;

Where all was false I found THEE true,
MY COUNSELLOR AND GUIDE.
The mines of earth no treasure give
That could this volume buy:

IN TEACHING ME THE WAY TO LIVE,
IT TAUGHT ME HOW TO DIE.

THE WORD OF GOD.

BY HANNAH MORE.

[Earnest and bold.]

Here the first history of mankind,
From its first origin we find ;
God is its author, truth its name,
Salvation all its end and aim:

Here we are shown "the good old way,"
First to believe, and then obey.
God's Spirit dictates; men proclaim
The doctrines as from Him they came;
And not by miracles alone,

By prophecy, the truth is shown.
Tho'tis no scheme for dry dispute,
No scene to wrangle and confute;
Not an arena for debate,

A field for harsh polemic hate;

Yet strict inquiry may be mov'd,

The more 'tis search'd the more 'tis prov'd.

It is a boon by mercy given,

That man gain some taste of heaven;

Best medicine for the sin-sick soul,

For guilty passions best control;

To all, its precepts are applied,

The rich man's guard, the poor man's guide;

To fill with gratitude the hearts
Where God his larger gifts imparts;
To cheer with higher hopes the poor,
To teach the suff'rer to endure;
The meek to raise, repress the bold,
To warn the young, to wean the old ;
The arms it lends are faith and prayer,
Its fruits, oblivion sweet of care.

Here are the only precepts given
For peace on earth or rest in heaven.

Sole lesson since the world began,
For fear of God and love to man:
It came with blessings in its train,
Which to recount, the attempt were vain-
It came to hinder fell despair,

The ravages of sin repair;

IT CAME TO CHEER THE CONTRITE HEART,
Redemption's wonders to impart ;

That he who sins should sin no more ;-
IT CAME A LOST WORLD TO RESTORE.

THE WORLD FOR SALE

BY RALPH HOYT.

[Earnest and bold.]

THE WORLD FOR SALE!-Hang out the sign:
Call every traveller here to me;
Who'll buy this brave estate of mine,

And set me from earth's bondage free?

'TIS GOING!-yes, I mean to fling

The bauble from my soul away;

I'll SELL it, whatsoe'er it bring;

THE WORLD'S AT AUCTION HERE TO-DAY!

It is a GLORIOUS THING TO SEE,-
Ан, it has cheated me so sore!

It is not what it seems to be:

-

FOR SALE! It shall be mine no more. Come, turn it o'er and view it well,

I would not have you purchase dear;

'Tis going! GOING !-I must sell!

WHO BIDS?—Who'll buy the splendid Tear? Here's WEALTH in glittering heaps of gold,WHO BIDS?-But let me tell you fair,

A baser lot was never sold;

Who'll buy the heavy heaps of care?
And here spread out in broad domain,
A goodly landscape all may trace;
Hall, cottage, tree, field, hill, and plain;
Who'll buy himself a burial-place!

Here's LOVE, the dreamy potent spell
That beauty flings around the heart;

I know its power, alas! too well;
'Tis GOING,-Love and I must part!

MUST PART?-What I more with LOVE?

All over the enchanter's reign;

WHO'LL BUY THE PLUMELESS, DYING DOVE?—
AN HOUR OF BLISS,—an age of pain

And FRIENDSHIP,-RAREST GEM OF EARTH,-
(Whoe'er hath found this jewel his ?)
Frail, fickle, false, and little worth,—

WHO BIDS FOR FRIENDSHIP-AS IT IS? "Tis going! GOING !-Hear the call:

Once, twice, and THRICE !-'tis very low I "Twas once my hope, my stay, my all,But now the broken staff must go!

FAME! hold the brilliant meteor high;

HOW DAZZLING EVERY GILDED NAME!

Ye millions, now's the time to buy!

HOW MUCH FOR FAME? HOW MUCH FOR FAME? Hear how it thunders !-Would you stand

On high Olympus, far renown'd,

NOW PURCHASE, and a world command !-
And be with a world's curses crown'd!

Sweet star of HOPE! with ray to shine
In every sad foreboding breast,
Save this desponding one of mine,-

Who bids for man's last friend and best!
Ан, were not mine a bankrupt life,

This treasure should my soul sustain ;

But HOPE and I are now at strife,
Nor ever may unite again.

And SONG! For sale my tuneless lute;
Sweet solace, mine no more to hold;
The chords that charm'd my soul are mute;
I cannot wake the notes of old!

Or e'en were mine a wizard shell,

Could chain a word in rapture high;
Yet now a sad FAREWELL !-FAREWELL !
MUST ON ITS LAST FAINT ECHOES DIE.

AMBITION, FASHION, SHOW, AND PRIDE,-
I PART FROM ALL for ever now;

Grief, in an overwhelming tide,

Has taught my haughty heart to bow. Poor heart! distracted, ah, so long,— And still its aching throb to bear; How broken! that was once so strong!

How heavy, once so free from care!