Still falls the daily manna; the pure rock-fountains flow;
And many flowers of love and hope along the wayside grow.

Thus far the Lord hath led us; and will he now forsake
The feeble ones whom for his own it pleases him to take?
Oh, never, never! earthly friends may cold and faithless prove,
But his is changeless pity and everlasting love.

Calmly we look behind us, our joys and sorrows past,
We know that all is mercy now, and shall be well at last;
Calmly we look before us; we fear no future ill,
Enough for safety and for peace, if _Thou_ art with us still.

Yes, they that know thy name, Lord, shall put their trust in thee,
While nothing in themselves but sin and helplessness they see.
The race thou hast appointed us with patience we can run,
Thou wilt perform unto the end the work thou hast begun.

Have you found your life distasteful?
My life did and does smack sweet.
Was your youth of pleasure wasteful?
Mine I saved, and hold complete.
Do your joys with age diminish?
When mine fail me I'll complain.
Must in death your daylight finish?
My sun sets to rise again.
I find earth not gray, but rosy;
Heaven not grim, but fair of hue.
Do I stoop? I pluck a posy;
Do I stand and stare? All's blue.

--Robert Browning.

WE SHALL KNOW

In wise proportion does a fond hand mingle
The sweet and bitter in our life-cup here;
Each drop of either is by love eternal
Poured forth in wisdom for his children dear.

The loving Father, as a wise physician,
Knows what the wants of all those children are;
Knows which is needed most--the joy or sorrow,
The peace of comfort, or affliction's war.

Then, should the bitter be our daily portion,
So that we cannot any sweet discern,
Let us, in childlike faith, receive with meekness
The needed tonic, and its lessons learn.

And if we cannot even that decipher,
Let us be still, nay, thank him for his care,
Contented that we soon shall know--hereafter--
When we the fullness of his presence share.

--Charlotte Murray.

THE STEPS OF FAITH

Know well, my soul, God's hand controls
Whate'er thou fearest;
Round him in calmest music rolls
Whate'er thou hearest.

Nothing before, nothing behind;
The steps of faith
Fall on the seeming void, and fi