Almost a seraph's frame;

To animate this form was given
A gentle spirit, sent from heaven,
And WOMAN was her name!

Hark! hark! she speaks, and silver strains,
Melodious, floating o'er the plains,

A thrilling joy impart ;

A nightingale has caught the tone,
And made that melting voice his own,

That vibrates on the heart.

Fair Nature cast her glance around
The glowing sky, the flowery ground,
The day-diffusing sun;

On woman last, her beauteous child,
She gazed, and said, with accents mild,
"Creation's work is done."

GOOD TEMPER.

SINCE trifles make the sum of human things,
And half our misery from our foibles springs;
Since life's best joys consist in peace and ease,
And though but few can serve, yet all may please;
O, let the ungentle spirit learn from hence
A small unkindness is a great offence.

LESSONS OF CONTENTMENT.

Ir happened once on a hot summer's day, says a German parable, I was standing over a well, when a little bird flew down, seeking water. There was, indeed, a large trough near the well, but it was empty, and I grieved for a moment to think that the little creature must go away thirsty; but it settled upon the edge of the trough, bent its little head forward, then raised it again, spread its wings, and soared away, singing its thirst was appeased. I walked up to the trough, and there in the stone work I saw a little hole about the size of a wren's egg. The water left there had been a source of revival and refreshment; it had found enough for the present, and desired no more. This is content

ment.

Again, I stood by a lovely, sweet-smelling flower; and there came a bee, humming and sucking, and chose the flower for its field of sweets. But the flower had no honey. This I knew, for it had no nectary. What then, thought I, will the bee do?

It came buzzing out of the cup, to take a farther flight; but it spied the stamina full of golden farina, good for making wax, and it rolled its legs against them until they looked like yellow hose, as the bee keepers say, and then, heavily laden, flew away home. Then said I, "Thou camest seeking honey, and, finding none, hast been satisfied with wax, and hast stored it for thy house, that thy labor may not be in vain. This, likewise, shall be to me a lesson of contentment."

The night is far spent-the dark night of trouble that sometimes threatened to close around us; but the day is at hand, and even in the night there are stars, and I have looked out on them and been comforted; for as one set, I could always see another rise; and each was a lamp, showing me somewhat of the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God.

THE HOMEWARD VOYAGE.

A TINY boat was launched, one morn,
Upon a blue and boundless sea,
Whose sparkling waves were pure and bright
As ocean wavelets e'er could be.

A lovely child was at the helm,
With graceful form and merry eye,
And sunny curls of golden hue,
Shading a forehead pure and high.

A joyous smile broke o'er his face,
His heart with hope was beating wild,
And angels bent from heaven above
To bless the little fairy child.

The gentle breezes fanned his brow,
Glad sunbeams nestled 'mid his hair,
Bright garlands decked his little barque,
Woven of flowerets strangely fair.

And from his rosebud mouth there broke
An infant carol wildly free;

The burden of his little lay

Was, "Life is beautiful to me."

The morn passed on, and noontide's heat
Fell from a clear and cloudless sky
Upon the youth, who swiftly sailed
With wearied frame and drooping eye.

His song had lost its merry tone,
And faintly echoed o'er the sea.
"Alas!" he said, and softly sighed,
"Life is a weariness to me."

The evening shadows darkly fell,
The bright day-god had sunk in gloom
Behind a mass of murky clouds,

And morning's rosy light was gone.

The boat had neared a glorious land,

Whose gates were pearl, whose streets were gold, Where angels bright with holy songs

Spoke volumes ne'er to mortals told.

The youth beheld the heavenly scene
With radiant eye and joyous heart,
Knowing that he had neared a shore
From whence he never should depart.

Into this peaceful port he sailed;

And now his song was full and free, As in a glad, exulting tone,

He warbled, "Heaven is won for me."