XXVII.

TO A WOOD ANEMONE.

I.

DELICATE blossom of the lonely wood,
Gracefully drooping by this mossy seat
Which I have chosen for its solitude,

Why art thou blooming in this still retreat?
No mortal eye save mine hath ever seen
Thy snowy whiteness, blent with gold and green;
And haply none will see ;-few care to roam

So far within these shades as thy sequestered home.

II.

Why bloom'st thou here? the stock dove brooding

nigh

With her oft told, but never wearying tale,
Ne'er bent methinks on thee a loving eye;
Nor did thy quiet beauty e'er regale

One native ranger here by night or day;
And so, when thy sweet life hath past away,
T'will be to all, fair floweret of the wood,

As thou hadst never been, to deck this solitude.

III.

Ah no! albeit that I may not scan

All that is hidden in a woodland flower,
It shall not be, I ween, as thy brief span
Of life had never been :-with gentle power

I feel the mystery that envelopes thee

Teaching my spirit now humility,

And gratitude to Him whose wisdom knows

Alike to instruct and please with lowliest flower

that blows.

IV.

And so, if I can learn that lesson well,

And bear it in my heart, and still retain, Then, simple flower, what mortal tongue shall tell How far wert thou from having bloomed in vain! Be it no eye hath gazed on thee but mineAnd now thou fade and die-thro' love divine, Thou wilt have taught a lesson unto me,

That first shall bless through time-then through eternity.

XXVIII.

CHRISTIAN COURAGE.

"Be strong and of good courage; fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee nor forsake thee."-Deut. xxxi. 6.

THE skilled in battle-fields full well have learned
How courage nerves the soldier for the fight,
And earthly laurels ever best are earned

By those who doubt not victory, in spite
Of fierce and mighty foes; but bravely stand,
With eye unflinching, and untrembling hand;
Bent on one purpose-firm resolved to win
Thro' bristling spear, and flying javelin.

II.

And he who reads of Jesse's son should know, That strength to fight is in the warrior's breast; That weakest weapons shall defeat the foe,

Hurled by the valiant that confiding rest, Not on their armour, or their skill to wield, Not on the hope the foe will quit the field, But on a righteous cause and faithful word, The cause of truth-the promise of the Lord.

III.

Courage! ye soldiers of the cross! be strong! 'Quit you like men,' and lift your banners high! Above the din of war even now the song

The listening ear may catch of victory;

The song of angel witnesses around,

And soldiers with the wreath of triumph crown'd: On, Christians, on! tho' mingled with the slain, Ye cannot lose if faithful-death were gain!