Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

far too often are the harmless creatures put to death at the same time, losing all that they have so toiled to lay up. With the diligent Christian this never can be the case: for thieves cannot break through nor steal the treasure which is reserved in heaven for him; and death itself is but the entrance to his eternal inheritance.

Let me hope that a bee will never cross the path of my young readers, without awakening a serious thought on the lesson which God has fitted it to teach: and may we all be found with equal diligence and steadiness, occupying the stations assigned us by His Almighty wisdom and everlasting love!

Hark to the busy hum that swells

And murmurs through the waxen cells;
The flowers are fragrant, bright the sun,
And now the mornings work's begun.

I love the active race to see;

But is there, Lord, no task for me?

No precious store for me to glean,

While passing through life's morning scene?

I wish to lay a treasure by,

In cells beyond that beauteous sky;
To call a glorious rest my own,

Before my King's eternal throne.

Taught by the Spirit, let me know,
Where piety's young blossoms blow;
From wisdom's hoard the honey win,
And shun the poisoning flowers of sin.

Then yield me, Lord, the help I need;
In paths of sweet instruction lead
My feeble steps; to me be given,
Thy grace below, thy joy in heaven!

THE SWAN.

"WHAT an ugly creature!" said Rose as she walked on the margin of the lake, and saw a large white bird hastening towards the water.

It was much larger than a goose, and had an extremely long neck, which it stretched out, as if eager to touch the liquid element: the legs were coarse and naked, the feet enormously large; it walked with an awkward, shuffling motion, its wings drooping, and the whole appearance bespeaking uneasiness and agitation.

Rose's Mamma led her towards the water's edge, the bird making great haste to get out of their way; and when pretty near the bank, it spread its wings, gave a run, and sprang forward

in such a bustle as made Rose laugh, and exclaim, "Oh! the awkward, ugly creature!"

But suddenly a new scene was displayed; the bird having safely retreated, and found itself at home again on its own blue lake, began to swell to an extraordinary size, puffing out its snow white plumage, till it looked like delicate froth: the wings rose half extended, and met, forming a most elegant arch on the back of the bird, whose neck, bending gracefully, seemed to rest upon them, while the head slowly moved from side to side, looking proudly around: and there it sailed like a thing made of the purest snow-flakes, resting on the water, which it scarcely disturbed with its soft and majestic motion. Rose did not know how to express her wonder and delight: she burst forward to gaze upon it: she clasped her hands together, and cried out, "O look, look, Mamma, did you ever see any thing like it? Oh, the elegant, beautiful creature!"

Her mamma smiled: Awkward and elegant, ugly and beautiful-what a strange mixture of ideas, Rose!

"Nay, but, Mamma, only see-how graceful, how noble, what a king of the waters!

Its

« ÎnapoiContinuă »