MOTHER'S LITANY BY THE SICK-BED OF A CHILD. SAVIOUR that of woman born, Mother-sorrow didst not scorn, Thou, with whose last anguish strove One dear thought of earthly love; Hear and aid! Low he lies, my precious child, Pain sits heavy on his brow, E'en though slumber seal it now; Aid, oh! aid. Saviour! loose the burning chain Hear and aid! Thou that said'st, "awake, arise!" Hear and aid! Yet, oh! make him thine, all thine, Hear and aid! NIGHT HYMN AT SEA. THE WORDS WRITTEN FOR A MELODY BY FELTON. NIGHT sinks on the wave, Hollow gusts are sighing, Through the gloom are flying. Stars look o'er the sea, Few, and sad, and shrouded! Faith our light must be, When all else is clouded. Thou, whose voice came thrilling, Wind and billow stilling, Speak once more! our prayer fulfilling Power dwells with Thee! FEMALE CHARACTERS OF SCRIPTURE. A SERIES OF SONNETS.1 Your tents are desolate; your stately steps, Hang round you in the spirit's pictured halls, I. INVOCATION. As the tired voyager on stormy seas Invokes the coming of bright birds from shore, To waft him tidings with the gentler breeze, Of dim sweet woods that hear no billows roar; So from the depth of days, when earth yet wore Her solemn beauty and primeval dew, I call you, gracious Forms! Oh! come, restore Awhile that holy freshness, and renew Life's morning dreams. Come with the voice, the lyre, Daughters of Judah! with the timbrel rise! Ye of the dark prophetic eastern eyes, Imperial in their visionary fire; Oh! steep my soul in that old glorious time, When God's own whisper shook the cedars of your clime! 'Suggested by the perusal of Mrs. Sandford's Woman. II. INVOCATION CONTINUED. And come, ye faithful! round Messiah seen, Ethereal cradle.-From your heart subdued All haughty dreams of power had wing'd their flight, And left high place for martyr fortitude, - True faith, long suffering love. Come to me, come! III. THE SONG OF MIRIAM. A song for Israel's God!-Spear, crest, and helm, With her lit eye, and long hair floating free, IV. RUTH. The plume-like swaying of the auburn corn, Gleam tremulous through tears, 'tis not to rue Those words, immortal in their deep Love's tone, "Thy people and thy God shall be mine own!" V. THE VIGIL OF RIZPAH. "And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven; and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night."—2 Sam. xxi. 10. Who watches on the mountain with the dead, Once proudly graceful, heavy beats the rain; 20 |