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THE VOICE OF FRIENDSHIP.

WRITTEN AFTER RECEIVING A VISIT FROM SOME DEAR RELA

TIVES FROM GREEN PORT, L. I.; OF WHOSE EXISTENCE

I HAD BUT RECENTLY LEARNED.

WAKE! tuneful Harp, awake! My Friends demand
Thy feeble efforts;-Friends, how dearly loved!
This lonely heart to bless, no Friends survived
Methought but YE, as if alive from death,

Have come to bless these eyes, which long have sought,
And sought in vain, to find a kindred soul.

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Harp, lift thy voice on high," in hymnick praise To God, the widow's Judge-the orphan's friend!

Ye came :-and renovated life once more

Hath warmed this widowed heart!—but ah, too short

Your stay too soon, by far, ye bade adieu,

To hasten your return, and re-embrace

The nearer friends at home.

Well-go in peace;

And may the choicest benison of Heaven,
The Grace of GOD-IMMANUEL's precious Love-
Rest on you all!-While memory remains,
This unexpected meeting-this embrace-
This friendly visit-and this sad adieu,
Will thrill with joy-with pain-this feeling heart!

I envy not that heart of "sterner stuff,” Which greets a friend, and bids him then depart, Without emotion, and without a tear. -God grant we meet again on this side Heaven— Hold social converse, and recount the scenes Of by-gone days! Here, on these rugged realms If yet I dwell, may friendship guide your feet; And may I yet salute your peaceful dome On yonder sea-girt Isle; and there inhale The sea-borne breeze, the health-inspiring gale, That gently breathes your happy Island o'er.

There, in the bosom of that fertile Isle,
Reposes dust, which claimed a kindred soul.
Near kindred of my kindred! where are ye?
One generation's gone-another comes-
But yet, in lineal line, blood of my blood-
Bone of my bone-and heart, and soul allied.
O, tell me all tell how my sister pined,2
And by degrees consumed with fell disease :-

Tell where your Fathers, where your

Mothers lie:

The great, the good, the Reverend EMERSON

The Minister of God-where lies his dust?

"On Brooklyn's heights," say ye?—and yet no stone, No towering marble designates his grave!

A MAUSOLEUM his, in every heart

That knew his worth; and hearts no doubt there are
Yet warm with life, which vital food received
From him, who broke to them the bread of life.

But he is gone-and many a brother gone-
To his last audit, to receive the crown
Of righteousness, the sure reward laid up
In store for faithful Pastors.

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Then, my Friends,

Let us, their progeny, essay to walk

Their heaven-ward steps,-their virtues emulate,-
That we, at last, may join our feeble voice

With theirs, in chorus, round the ETERNAL'S Throne!

Mt. Parnassus, Con.

HYMN FOR THE NATIVITY.

I SING the exalted Saviour's birth :—
What loftier theme exists on earth,

Or wakes the song in heaven?
Let ransomed man take up the song,
And swell the chorus loud and long,—
For Death's strong bars are riven.

Infinite Mercy formed the plan,
Thus to redeem rebellious man;
For this was JESUS born;

His heavenly Father to obey,
He left the radiant realms of day,
On this auspicious morn.

Oh, could we catch the thrilling strain,
That, floating o'er Judea's plain,

Announced IMMANUEL's birth;

When the blest Star o'er Bethlehem stood,
And poured in living light its flood,

To bless the sons of earth.

Let the loud anthem pierce the sky"All glory be to God on high,

And peace pervade the earth;" Let our glad voices join the strain, Which echoed through that seraph train, Who sang the Saviour's birth.

O, may this consecrated hour

Breathe in our souls devotion's power;
And oh, thou Heavenly Dove,

Eternal Spirit! fire each heart,
To bear an humble, fervent part,
In hymning JESUS' Love!

Dec. 25.

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