Of her temper 'tis a proof Frighten'd love will keep aloof. Spin, spin from morn till night: Shall twine a thread of love for you. Spin, girls, then spin ever, Spin along-spin well together...I spin. Gently go, and steadily too, You for us and we for you. We spin, my girl and I. -Swiss National Melody. CLEAR THE WAY. MEN of thought! be up, and stirring Sow the seed-withdraw the curtain Clear the way! Men of action, aid and cheer them, There's a fount about to stream, There's a light about to beam, There's a warmth about to glow, There's a flower about to blow, Men of thought and men of action, Once the welcome light has broken, What the unimagined glories What the evil that shall perish Aid the dawning, tongue and pen ; Aid it, for the hour is ripe, And our earnest must not slacken Men of thought and men of action, Lo! a cloud's about to vanish From the day; And a brazen wrong to crumble Into clay. Lo! the right's about to conquer, With the Right shall many more M With the giant Wrong shall fall Men of thought and men of action, CHARLES MACKAY, 1814 AND WHAT'S A LIFE? AND what's a life?-a weary pilgrimage, And what's a life?-the flourishing array Read on this dial, how the shades devour Behold these lilies, which Thy hands have made, To view, how soon they droop, how soon they fade! Shade not that dial, night will blind too soon; Nor do I beg this slender inch to wile My thoughts with joy: here's nothing worth a smile. FRANCIS QUARLES, 1592-1644. "WHY STAND YE HERE ALL THE DAY IDLE?" MATT. xx. 6. THE God of Glory walks His round, From day to day, from year to year, And warns us each with awful sound, "No longer stand ye idle here! "Ye whose young cheeks are rosy bright, Whose hands are strong, whose hearts are clear, Waste not of hope the morning light! Ah fools! why stand ye idle here? "Oh, as the griefs ye would assuage That wait on life's declining year, Secure a blessing for your age, And work your Maker's business here! "And ye whose locks of scanty gray "One hour remains, there is but one! O Thou, by all Thy works adored, Recall us to Thy vineyard, Lord! And grant us grace to please Thee here! BISHOP HEBER, 1783-1826. HOPE AND TRUST. OH! sigh not-weep not, if some day Of mighty sorrows bravely borne ; |