heart.
And man, more friendly, should call his race as gently
to the springtide of Christ's dear love. St. Paul wrote, [10]
"Rejoice in the Lord always." And why not, since man's
possibilities are infinite, bliss is eternal, and the conscious-
ness thereof is here and now?

The alders bend over the streams to shake out their
tresses in the water-mirrors; let mortals bow before the [15]
creator, and, looking through Love's transparency, behold
man in God's own image and likeness, arranging in the
beauty of holiness each budding thought. It is good to
talk with our past hours, and learn what report they
bear, and how they might have reported more spirit- [20]
ual growth. With each returning year, higher joys,
holier aims, a purer peace and diviner energy, should
freshen the fragrance of being. Nature's first and last
lessons teach man to be kind, and even pride should
sanction what our natures need. Popularity,--what is [25]
it? A mere mendicant that boasts and begs, and God
denies charity.

When gentle violet lifts its blue eye to heaven, and
crown imperial unveils its regal splendor to the sun;
when the modest grass, inhabiting the whole earth, stoops [30]
meekly before the blast; when the patient corn waits
on the elements to put forth its slender blade, construct

[Page 331.]

the stalk, instruct the ear, and crown the full corn in the [1]
ear,--then, are mortals looking up, waiting on God,
and committing their way unto Him who tosses earth's
mass of wonders into their hands? When downtrodden
like the grass, did it make them humble, loving, obedi- [5]
ent, full of good odor, and cause them to wait patiently
on God for man's rich heritage,--"dominion over all
the earth"? Thus abiding in Truth, the warmth and
sunlight of prayer and praise and understanding will
ripen the fruits of Spirit, and goodness will have its spring- [10]
tide of freedom and greatness.

When the white-winged dove feeds her callow brood,
nestles them under her wings, and, in tones tremulous
with tenderness, calls them to her breast, do mortals
remember _their_ cradle hymns, and thank God for those [15]
redemptive words from a mother's lips which taught
them the Lord's Prayer?

O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour;
Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight! [20]
Keep Thou my child on upward wing to-night.

Midst the falling leaves of old-time faiths, a