BRIDAL SONG.

SHE.

WHERE thou goest I will go,
Gladly following e'en till death:
Nought shall sever us below

From first kiss to latest breath;
From the altar's holy 'yes'
To the 'farewell's' bitterness,
But one path on earth we'll know.

HE.

Where thou stayest, I will stay,
There, till life shall end, abide;
Step by step, along its way

Be thy shelter, friend, and guide.
I for joy was wont to roam,
Now my world shall be my home,
Sunshine ever by my side!

SHE.

All thy people shall be mine.
To thy parents lead-that they
Hands of blessing, love's sweet sign,
On their children's heads may lay :
To thy child the world seems cold,
Be my staff-my hero bold,

All along life's winding way.

HE.

Thy God my God now shall be ;
Lead me, pious soul, above:

Bid my stormy spirit see,

'Mid earth's brawls, that rest of love :

Star of peace and blessing, dear,

Be my guardian angel near,

'Mong men's sinful company!

SHE.

Thy joy, mine; oh! let me share;
Care I but to live for thee?
O that I an angel were,

With white wings thy shield to be! Roses should thy path adorn,

From rough stone and wounding thorn Evermore I'd keep it free!

HE.

Thy woe, my woe—in our grief,
As in joy, we will not part;
For thy slightest pang's relief,
Lay thy head upon my heart!
Joy that's shared is double joy,
Sorrow shared we half destroy;
Of all balsams love is chief.

SHE.

Thy grave, my grave evermore,
Let them lay me by thy side;
With thy death my life is o'er,
Nor can longer joy abide !

Both within one tomb's still breast

Close together we will rest,

When we leave life's troubled shore !

HE.

So thy heaven my heaven shall be ; Painful 'tis earth's bands to break; Yet look up, beloved, for me,

When thou weepest for my sake : Whom God joins no death can sever, They shall rise to light for ever, And to heavenly bridals wake!

BOTH.

Father great, as Love adored,

Hear thy loving creatures' prayer!
King of hearts, O Christ our Lord,
Do Thou in our union share!
Spirit of all peace, descend!
O'er our home in mercy bend,
Dove-like, with the peace of God!

'Palm Leaves'-KARL GEROK.

THE WEDDING MORNING.

Two hands together clasped to-day
In holy place shall meet,
In faithful union shall they
Confirm their pledges sweet;
Yet, to ensure this loving band,
There needs must be another hand :
God's hand must be in blessing laid

On these two hands which one are made!

Two tongues shall with one voice to-day
Pronounce a holy 'Yes ;'

A little word-oh! that it may

A life-long thought express!

Yet that a blessing crown the word,
Another also must be heard :

God's mouth your solemn vow must bless,
And add thereto His sacred' Yes!'

Two hearts to-day with gladness burn
In one love's holy flame;
Hereafter each to each to turn,

In joy and grief the same :

Yet that you may for ever be

Bound heart to heart, take heed that ye
Unto the Father's heart above

For ever raise your human love!

Two names this morning into one
For ever shall unite ;

The bride the bridegroom's name hath won
Yielding her separate right:
Yet that a blessing may attend,
Another name therewith must blend :
Unto the solemn service, then,
Do ye, in God's name, say, Amen !
Two houses watch with loving gaze
A third house newly dressed;
The parents' tender care doth raise
For these two hearts a nest,
All fair and fresh yet, would ye well
Within this beauteous mansion dwell,

Let not the church bells vainly call
Unto God's house, who giveth all.

Go to God's temple then, O twain !
With loving friends to guide;
Made one by Him, return again,
While He, too, walks beside :
Pass gladly to your door--may ye
One in true love for ever be ;

God's voice amid your voices heard,
God in your home the blessed Third!

"Palm Leaves'-KARL GEROK.

THE HOMES OF ENGLAND.

THE stately homes of England!
How beautiful they stand,
Amidst their tall ancestral trees
O'er all the pleasant land!

The deer across their greensward bound,
Through shade and sunny gleam;

And the swan glides past them with the sound
Of some rejoicing stream.

The merry homes of England!

Around their hearths by night,

What gladsome looks of household love
Meet in the ruddy light!

There woman's voice flows forth in song,

Or childhood's tale is told,
Or lips move tunefully along
Some glorious page of old.

The blessed homes of England!
How softly on their bowers
Is laid the holy quietness

That breathes from sabbath hours!
Solemn, yet sweet, the church-bell chime
Floats through their woods at morn :
All other sounds in that still time

Of breeze and leaf are born.

The cottage homes of England!
By thousands on her plains,

They are smiling o'er the silvery brooks,
And round the hamlet fanes.
Through glowing orchards forth they peep,
Each from its nook of leaves;
And fearless there the lowly sleep
As the bird beneath their eaves.

The free fair homes of England!
Long, long, in hut and hall,
May hearts of native proof be reared
To guard each hallowed wall!

And green for ever be the groves,

And bright the flowery sod,

Where first the child's glad spirit loves

Its country and its God.

MRS. HEMANS.

HOME.

Two birds within one nest;

Two hearts within one breast;

Two spirits in one fair

Firm league of love and prayer,

Together bound for aye, together blest.

An ear that waits to catch

A hand upon the latch;