424
A
CHILD'S
TllOUGHT.—ZENA.
him; he felt happier all the week for having heard them.
No influence!
But ah! the instances that might be recorded upon the other side—for we all do harm as easily as good, and more frequently, if we are not animated by the one principle that should be the guide of life. And the consequences follow us!
A
CHILD’S
THOUGHT.
BY ELEANOR
CLAIR
UPON the Western hills, the beams
Of fading sunlight lay,
And with the dying rays a life
Was passing fast away.
And then a meaning seemed to break
Upon them from afar;
“ See, sister’s soul,” they cried, in joy,
“ is now a shining star,
'
The fourth was hasting by,
When like the early flowers, the time
Had come for her to die.
And through the night, till morning break
lier Heavenly place she’ll keep,
And new-r weary. from above
Will watch us while we sleep.”
With solemn gaze, two children looked
Upon the parting scene,
And wonder grew within their souls
To know what death might mean.
Strong, child-like Faith! were such but outs
To keep our souls serene,
With neither doubt nor rare nor fear,
God’s love and us between.
And when the last faint breath was spent
And closed the weary eyes,
The dark death-angel spread his wings
And bore away the prize.
For though the loved be distant far,
And all unknown the state
In which beyond this mortal sphere
Our coming they await;
The sister and the brother stood
If they with star-like eyes keep watch
Three Summers had beheld her bloom;
And watched how twilight shade
O‘er our uncertain feet,
O'er hill and vale, and field and wood
Or dwell serene, of earthly things
Lulled in oblivion sweet,
Its silent progress made;
And all the time, in silence deep
They thought the mystery o’er,
While the new sense of life and death
Grew stronger than before.
We know that when, on star or sun,
Till suddenly, a silver ray
Delights the upturned eye,
Where fair and clear, a lonely star
Has taken its place on high.
The parted ones are joined again,
Knowing as they are known,
And love’s fruition is complete
Before the Father’s throne.
Or where the place may be,
The Saviour calls the ransomed home
His face of light to see.
ZENA.
BY
SUMMERS
DANA.
E.
Wmma the early flowers blossom
In a Southern sunny clime,
Where the birds their plaintive warblings
Echo in the sweet Spring time,
Where the sycamore hangs proudly
Over merry laughing streams,
There a lovely, thoughtful maiden
Wanders oft and sweetly dreams.
Often will approaching nightfall
Find her pensive, sitting there,
With the violet and blue-bell
Twining in her sunny hair;
While the melody that gushes
From the streamlet rippling by,
Is not sweeter than her blushes
As a shadow meets the eye
Mirrored in the crystal waters,
Fairer than a sylvan elf.
Yet she thinks not, pensive dreamer,
That it is her own sweet self.
New her thoughts are fondly lingering
O‘er the land which gave her birth,
Vhich to every filial wanderer
Is the dearest spot of earth.
Angels watch her as she lingers,
Zephyrs fan her Parian brow
Fragrant with sweet-scented blossoms,
For her thoughts are holy now.
May there mingle in her dreaming!
Thoughts of one who at her side,
Spent life’s happiest hours so swiftly
0n the blue and restless tide.
