There is prayer

dence of things not seen.
and communion, the soul's pinions, on which
it soars to the bright presence of the spirits it
here loved, the Saviour whom it trusts, the
Father in whom it dwells. From the region
and shadow of death, light is sprung up. It
is the light of God's countenance, and it irra-
diates the features, the souls with which we
have long been familiar, with which we may
now live for ever.

"Is not the dream of heaven more sweet,
Bright with those living forms of love?

Does not each trial that we meet,

Raise our wrapt spirits more above?

"Yes: death, that pales our curdling cheek,
Tells of an angel's opening bliss ;
Again we view the form we seek,

Bright with immortal happiness."

E. B. H.

The Spirit's Song of Consolation.*

DEAR parents, grieve no more for me,

My parents, grieve no more!
Believe that I am happier far

Than even with you before.

I've left a world where wo and sin
Swell onward as a river,

And gained a world where I shall rest
In peace and joy for ever.

Our Father bade me come to him,
He gently bade me come,

And he has made his heavenly house
My dwelling-place and home ;
On that best day of all the seven,
Which saw the Saviour rise,

I heard the voice you could not hear,
Which called me to the skies.

I saw too, what you could not see,
Two beauteous angels stand;
They smiling stood and looked at me,
And beckoned with their hand;

* This song, first written for the Youth's Keepsake, is supposed to be addressed by the departed spirit of a boy to his parents, who had lost two other children before him.

They said they were my sisters dear,
And they were sent to bear

My spirit to their blest abode,
To live for ever there.

Then think not of the mournful time
When I resigned my breath,
Nor of the place where I was laid,
The gloomy house of death:
But think of that high world, where I
No more shall suffer pain;

And of the time when all of us

In heaven shall meet again.

17

F. W. P. G.

APPENDIX.