Then the angel stood silently by,

He knew not how he should lay
His icy cold hand on that radiant brow,
And take so much beauty away.

And he knew not how he should tear

The babe from its mother's breast;

And leave nought in its stead save the anguish of woe, And a spirit with sorrow oppressed.

But a voice came soft and low,

It told him to lay his hand,

And visions of bliss on the mother's soul,

Would fall from the better land.

Then he took the beautiful babe,

And bore it to heaven away;

And the angels wreathed its fair brow with bright buds, Which never would fade or decay.

And the mother wept her child,

With heart-rending agony;

For she missed her darling's bright gladdening smile, And its joyous laughing glee.

But a voice came gently down,

It spoke of a strange bright flower,

That had oped with splendour in the garden of heaven, -'Twas her bud in that glorious bower.

And it told of a "birdling" fair,

That was gifted with angel's wings;

That its plumage was glittering with heaven's own hues, -"Twas her bird that in paradise sings.

And it showed that a brilliant star,

Had appeared in the gem-sprinkled sky; That its rays with surpassing glory streamed, 'Twas her star in the world on high.

And the mother smiled through her tears,
As she thought of that land of love;

And she almost bless'd the dark Angel of Death,
Who had taken her infant above.

HEAVEN.

Он talk to me of heaven! I love

To hear about my home above!

For there doth many a loved one dwell,
In light and joy ineffable!

Oh! tell me how they shine and sing,
While every harp rings echoing;
And every glad and tearless eye
Beams, like the bright sun, gloriously;
Tell me of that victorious palm
Each hand in glory beareth;
Tell me of that celestial charm
Each face in glory weareth.

Oh! happy, happy country, where
There entereth not a sin;

And death, that keeps its portals fair,
May never once come in!

No change can turn their day to night;
The darkness of that land is light.

Sorrow and sighing God has sent
Far thence to endless banishment:
And never more may one dark tear
Bedim their burning eye;

For every one they shed while here,
In fearful agony,

Glitters a bright and dazzling gem
In their immortal diadem.

Oh, happy, happy land! in thee
Shines the unveiled Divinity!
Shedding o'er each adoring breast
A holy calm-a heavenly rest:

And those blest souls whom death did sever,
Here meet to mingle joys for ever!

O when will heaven unfold to me?
O when shall I its glories see?
And my faint, weary spirit stand
Within that happy, happy land?

CAROLINE BOWLES.

HIS MOTHER'S TEARS.

A THOUGHTLESS youth, who had long disregarded the pious advice of his parents, at length consented to accompany them to hear a minister who was to preach at the chapel which they attended. The subject of the discourse was the Heavenly State, which was described in the most glowing and attractive imagery. On returning home, the young man, after admiring the preacher's talents, said, turning to his mother, "I was surprised to observe that while the smile of joy was visible in the countenances of all around, you and my father appeared distressed, and more than once in tears. I was the more astonished, because I thought that if any one could claim an interest in the subject, you were the persons." "Ah! my son," replied the anxious mother, “I did weep, not because I feared for myself, or for your dear father, but I wept for you. It was the fear that you, my beloved child, would be for ever banished from the blessedness of heaven that caused me to give vent to my grief.' "I imagined," said the father, turning to his wife, "that those were your reflections; the same feelings and fears made we weep also." These pointed remarks pierced the hard heart of their careless son, led him to repentance and to the cross of Christ, and terminated in his saving conversion to God.

Yes the anxious solicitude of pious parents for the salvation of their children is known unto God, who is faithful in all his promises, and often surprises us by his favours, at times and by means which we did not expect.

GREAT BURMAN TEMPLE.

WE have told you of some of the wonderful buildings of India. The kingdom of Burmah is beyond India. The people are not of the same religion as those of India, but they are idolaters, and build the most splendid temples for their idols.

THE TEMPLE OF THE GOLDEN SUPREME,

Is the most famous building in the Burman empire. It boasts of high antiquity, and is raised on successive terraces in a manner similar to the religious structures of the Mexicans. It stands on an apparently artificial hill, the sides of which are sloped into two terraces, and ascended by steps of hewn

stone. On the second terrace is the pagoda, a pyramida building of brick and mortar, without excavation or aperture of any sort! It is octagonal at the base, each side measuring 162 feet, and diminishing in breadth abruptly till it becomes of a spiral form. Its entire height from the ground is 360 feet. It is surrounded by two rows of small spires, a great variety of mouldings, ornaments in stucco, &c.; the whole being crowned with the tee, a sort of ornament of open iron-work, gilt, fifty-six feet in circumference, surrounded by a number of small bells, and from the centre of which rises a rod with a gilded pennant. There are also smaller temples—miniatures of the large, at all the angles of the upper terrace-various saloons embellished with flowering and gilding, numerous sculptures, idols, flying pennants, bells, and dwellings for priests on the lower terrace. The erection of temples and images forms the grand operation to which the art and industry of the Burmans is directed. Major Symes considers the grand Kioum, or monastery, the residence of the head of the Burman idolatry, as perhaps the most magnificent structure in the world!

Fifty years ago christian missionaries went to Burmah. It was ten years before one Burman came to ask about the religion of Jesus Christ. But the missionaries persevered, and opened schools, and translated the Bible. They presented a copy of the Holy Scriptures to the King, but he refused to accept it. After this there was a war between the British and the Burmese, and the missionaries were in great peril, but God wonderfully preserved them. Since then hundreds, we believe thousands, of the people,