In winter, when the ground is white, Well, well! a brief space more and we (Copyright—contributed.) THE LABOURER. WILLIAM D. GALLAGHER. STAND up-erect! Thou hast the form, And likeness of thy God!—who more? A soul as dauntless mid the storm Of daily life, a heart as warm And pure, as breast e'er wore. What then?-Thou art as true a man As moves the human mass among; As much a part of the great plan Who is thine enemy? the high In station, or in wealth the chief? The great, who coldly pass thee by, With proud step and averted eye: Nay! nurse not such belief. If true unto thyself thou wast, What were the proud one's scorn to thee? A feather, which thou mightest cast Aside, as idly as the blast The light leaf from the tree. No:-uncurb'd passions, low desires, These are thine enemies-thy worst; Thy labour and thy life accursed. Thou art thyself thine enemy! The great!—what better they than thou? As theirs, is not thy will as free? Has God with equal favours thee Neglected to endow ? True, wealth thou hast not-'tis but dust! Of both a noble mind. With this, and passions under ban, True faith, and holy trust in God, Thou art the peer of any man. BE KIND TO THE AGED. ANONYMOUS. Be kind unto the agèd Their many years respect; As kindness you'd expect, A gentle word, a loving act, Be kind to grandpa,-there he sits Be kind to poor old granny there But granny's eyes are growing dim Be kind to father, mother too, They bravely toiled through life's rough path Repay them now with grateful acts And kind, and tender words; Pierce not their ever yearning hearts With bitter, poison'd swords. Be kind unto the agèd, Their sun is going down; Be kind unto the agèd, Yourself may yet grow old, How sad to think that friendship then Be kind, and kindness you shall meet, When that you most require; EXCELLENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES. EDWARDS. In what other writings can we descry those excellences which we find in the Bible? None of them can equal it in antiquity: for the first penman of the sacred Scriptures hath the start of all philosophers, poets, and historians, and is, without the least shadow of doubt, the most ancient writer extant in the world. No writings are equal to those of the Bible, if we mention only the stock of human learning contained in them. Here linguists and philologists may find that which is to be found nowhere else. Here rhetoricians and orators may be entertained with a more lofty eloquence, with a choicer composure of words, and with a greater variety of style, than any other writers can afford them. Here is a book, where more is understood than expressed, where words are few, but the sense is full and redundant. No book equals this in authority, because it is the word of God himself, and dictated by an unerring Spirit. It excels all other writings in the excellency of its matter, which is the highest, noblest, and worthiest; and of the greatest concern to all mankind. Lastly, the Scriptures transcend all other writings in their power and efficacy. Wherefore, with great seriousness and importunity, I request the reader that he entertain such thoughts and persuasions as these:-that Bible-learning is the highest accomplishment, that this book is the most valuable upon earth, that there is a library in one single volume, that this alone is sufficient for us, though all the libraries in the world were destroyed. 66 WHAT IS THAT, MOTHER?" GEORGE W. DOANE, WHAT is that, Mother?—The lark, my child !— Ever, my child, be thy morn's first lays Tuned, like the lark's, to thy Maker's praise. What is that, Mother?—The dove, my son !— Ever, my son, be thou like the dove, In friendship as faithful, as constant in love. |