NOTHING BUT HALCYON DAYS.

We will have Nothing but halcyon days. Oh, we will live As happily as the bees that hive their sweets, As gaily as the summer fly, but wiser: I'll be thy servant ever; I will be

The sun o' thy life, faithful through every

season,

And thou shalt be my flower perennial,
My bud of beauty, my imperial rose,
My passion-flower; and I will wear thee here,
Here, on my heart, and thou shalt never fade.
I love thee mightily, my queen, and in
The sultry hours I'll sing thee to thy rest
With music sweeter than the wild wind's
song:

And I will swear thine eyes are like the stars, Thyself beyond the nymphs who, poets feign'd,

Dwelt long ago in woods of Arcady.
My gentle deity! I'll crown thee with
The whitest lilies, and then bow me down,
Love's own idolater, and worship thee;
For thou art now mine own, my beautiful!
How fondly will we love through life together;
And wander, heart-link'd, through the busy
world!
Barry Cornwall.

FAR ABOVE RUBIES.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ships, she bringeth her food from afar.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry, her clothing is silk and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and honour are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but

thou excellest them all.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."

Proverbs of Solomon.

sympathy which I cannot but feel towards many of those whom I meet with, makes me think how delightful it would be to have daily intercourse with those with whom I feel it

thoroughly. What people do in middle life without a wife and children to turn to I cannot imagine, for I think the affections must be sadly checked and chilled, even in the best men, by their intercourse with people, such as one usually finds them in the world. I do not mean that one does not meet with good and sensible people; but then their minds are set, and our minds are set, and they will not in mature age grow into each other; but with a home filled with those whom we entirely love and sympathise with, and with some old friends, to whom one can open one's heart fully from time to time, the world's society has rather a bracing influence to make one shake off mere dreams of delight. Dr. Arnold.

HOME'S ATTRACTIONS.

Oh, happiest they, whose early love unchanged,

Hopes undissolved, and friendship unestranged,

Tired of their wanderings, still can deign to

see

Love, hopes, and friendship, centering all in thee! O. W. Holmes.

LET LOVE MAKE HOME A GRACIOUS COURT.

Keep your modest familiar style

For strangers, but respect your friend— Her most whose matrimonial smile

Is and asks honour without end.
'Tis found, and needs it must so be,
That life from love's allegiance flags
When love forgets its majesty

In sloth's unceremonious rags.
Let love make home a gracious court;
There let the world's rude, hasty ways
Be fashion'd to a loftier port,

And learn to bow, and stand, and gaze;
And let the sweet respective sphere
Of personal worship there obtain
Circumference for moving clear,

None treading on another's train.
This makes pleasures that do not cloy,
And dignifies our mortal strife
With calmness and considerate joy,
Befitting our immortal life.

Anon.

HOME IS WHERE THERE'S ONE TO

LOVE.

Home's not merely four square walls,
Though with pictures hung and gilded ;
Home is where affection calls,

Fill'd with shrines the heart hath builded! Home! go watch the faithful dove,

Sailing 'neath the heaven above us; Home is where there's one to love! Home is where there's one to love us!

Home's not merely roof and room,
It needs something to endear it;
Home is where the heart can bloom,

Where there's some kind lip to cheer it! What is home with none to meet,

None to welcome, none to greet us? Home is sweet- and only sweet

Where there's one we love to meet us!

Charles Swain.