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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.