THE anguish of that thought that we can never atone to our dead for the stinted affection we gave them, for the light answers we returned to their plaints or their pleadings, for the little reverence we showed to that sacred human soul that lived so close to us, and was the divinest thing God has given us to know. A CHRISTMAS HYMN. T was the calm and silent night! Seven hundred years and fifty-three Had Rome been growing up to might, And now was queen of land and sea. No sound was heard of clashing wars, Peace brooded o'er the hushed domain; Apollo, Pallas, Jove, and Mars, Held undisturbed their ancient reign Centuries ago. 'Twas in the calm and silent night, His breast with thoughts of boundless sway; What recked the Roman what befell A paltry province far away, In the solemn midnight, Within that province far away Went plodding home a weary boor: A streak of light before him lay, Fallen through a half-shut stable door Across his path. He passed, for naught Told what was going on within; LOOK ALOFT. N the tempest of life when the wave and the gale Are around and above, if thy footing should failIf thine eye should grow dim, and thy caution depart Look aloft and be firm, and be fearless of heart. If the friend, who embraced in prosperity's glow, With a smile for each joy and a tear for each woe, Should betray thee when sorrows, like clouds, are arrayed, Look aloft to the friendship which never shall fade. Should the visions, which hope spreads in light to thine eye, Like the tints of the rainbow, but brighten to fly, Then turn, and, through tears of repentant regret, Look aloft to the sun that is never to set. Should those who are dearest, the son of thy heart, The wife of thy bosom, in sorrow depart, And oh! when death comes, in terror to cast And a smile in thine eye, look aloft, and depart. FAITH. B ETTER trust all, and be deceived, And weep that trust and that deceiving, Than doubt one heart, that, if believed, Had blessed one's life with true believing. O, in this mocking world, too fast Than lose the blesséd hope of truth. FRANCES Anne Kemble. |