2. Whose heart is with an iron nerve put down, 'Twas now the first his path, Of the Judean autumn, and the leaves, Had put their beauty forth beneath the eye He was young, And eminently beautiful, and life Mantled in eloquent fulness on his lip And sparkled in his glance; and in his mien 3. With the soft airs of summer there had come 4. He strove with it a while, as manhood will, 5. His skin grew dry and bloodless, and white scales, And then his nails grew black, and fell away When at the altar of the The holy priest of God. Day was breaking, temple stood The incense-lamp Burn'd with a struggling light, and a low chant Like an articulate wail; and there, alone, His costly raiment for the leper's garb; And, with the sackcloth round him, and his lip : "Depart! depart, O child Of Israel, from the temple of thy God! From all thou lovest, away thy feet must flee, "Depart! and come not near The busy mart, the crowded city, more; Voices that call thee in the way; and fly "Wet not thy burning lip In streams that to a human dwelling glide; The water where the pilgrim bends to drink, "And pass thou not between The weary traveller and the cooling breeze; Nor milk the goat that browseth on the plain; "And now depart! and when Thy heart is heavy, and thine eyes are dim, 11. And he went forth,-alone! not one of all 12. Breaking within him now, to come and speak It was noon, 13. Nearer the stranger came, and, bending o'er 14. Love and awe Mingled in the regard of Helon's eye 15. His garb was simple, and his sandals worn; In the serenest noon; his hair, unshorn, 16. He look'd on Helon earnestly a while, As if his heart was moved; and, stooping down, And laid it on his brow, and said, "Be clean." LESSON CXCII. THE INFLUENCE OF WOMAN. BY J. G. CARTER. 1. THE influence of the female character is now felt and acknowledged in all relations of life. I speak not now of those distinguished women who instruct their age through the public press, nor of those whose devout strains we take upon our lips when we worship, but of a much larger class, of those whose influence is felt in the relations of neighbor, friend, daughter, wife, mother. Who waits at the couch of the sick to administer tender charities while life lingers, or to perform the last acts of kindness when death comes? Where shall we look for those examples of friendship that most adorn our nature, those abiding friendships which trust even when betrayed, and survive all changes of fortune? Where shall we find the brightest illustrations of filial piety? Have you ever seen a daughter, herself perhaps timid and helpless, watching the decline of an aged parent, and holding out with heroic fortitude, to anticipate his wishes, to administer to his wants, and to sustain his tottering steps to the very borders of the grave? 2. What constitutes the center of every home? Whither do our thoughts turn, when our feet are weary with wandering, and our hearts sick with disappointment? Where shall the truant and forgetful husband go for sympathy, unalloyed and without design, but to the bosom of her who is ever ready and willing to share in his adversity or prosperity? And, if there be a tribunal where the sins and follies of a froward child may hope for pardon and forgiveness this side heaven, that tribunal is the heart of a fond and devoted mother. She 3. In no relation does woman exercise so deep an influence, both immediately and prospectively, as in that of mother. To her is committed the immortal treasure of the infant mind. Upon her devolves the care of the first stages of that course of discipline which is to form, of a being perhaps the most frail and helpless in the world, the fearless ruler of animated creation, and the devout adorer of his great Creator. Her smiles call into exercise the first affections that spring up in our hearts. cherishes and expands the earliest germs of our intellects. lifts our little hands, and teaches our little tongues to lisp in prayer. She watches over us like a guardian angel, and protects us through all our helpless years, when we know not of her cares and anxieties on our account. She follows us into the world of men, and lives us, and blesses us, when she lives not otherwise upon the earth. 4. Finally, woman's influence is felt deeply in religion. “If Christianity should be compelled to flee from the mansions of the great, the academies of philosophers, the halls of legislators, or the throng of busy men, we should find her last and purest retreat with woman at the fireside; her last altar would be the female heart; her last audience would be the children gathered round the knees of the mother; her last sacrifice, the secret prayer escaping in silence from her lips, and heard, perhaps, only at the throne of God." in LESSON CXCIII. THE MADMAN. ANONYMOUS. 1. MANY a year hath pass'd away, Or mingled my own with another's tear: 2. Here have I watch'd in this dungeon-cell, |