And her kindly flower displayed
Ere her leaf can cast a shade.

Though the rudest hand assail her,
Patiently she droops awhile;

But, when showers and breezes hail her,
Wears again her willing smile.
Thus I learn contentment's power
From the slighted willow bower,
Ready to give thanks and live
On the least that Heaven may give.

If, the quiet brooklet leaving,
Up the stony vale I wind,
Haply, half in fancy grieving
For the shades I leave behind,
By the dusty wayside drear,
Nightingales with joyous cheer
Sing, my sadness to reprove,
Gladlier than in cultured grove.

Where the thickest boughs are twining
Of the greenest, darkest tree,
There they plunge, the light declining-
All may hear, but none may see.
Fearless of the passing hoof,
Hardly will they fleet aloof;

So they live in modest ways,
Trust entire, and ceaseless praise.

JOHN KEBLE.

COMPOSED DURING A STORM.

NE who was suffering tumult in his soul,
Yet failed to seek the sure relief of prayer,
Went forth his course surrendering to the care
Of the fierce wind, while mid-day lightnings prowl
Insidiously, untimely thunders growl;

While trees, dim-seen, in frenzied numbers, tear
The lingering remnant of their yellow hair,
And shivering wolves, surprised with darkness, howl
As if the sun were not. He raised his eye,
Soul-smitten; for, that instant, did appear
Large space, 'mid dreadful clouds, of purest sky,
An azure disc-shield of tranquillity;
Invisible, unlooked-for, minister
Of providential goodness ever nigh!

WORDSWORTH.

THE CONSTELLATION OF THE PLOUGH.

"YPE of celestial labour, toil divine,

TYPE

That nightly downward from the glistening skies Showerest thy light on these expectant eyes! Around thee, in their stations, ever shine Full many a radiant shape and emblemed sign; Swords, sceptres, crowns, bright tresses, galaxies Of all that soaring fancy can devise— Yet none, methinks, so truly great as thine!

On, ever on! while He who guides thee flings
His golden grain along the azure way
Do thou thy sleepless work and, toiling, say,
'O men, so sedulous in trivial things,
Why faint amid your loftier labours? Why
Forget the starry seed, and harvests of the sky?'

AUBREY DE VERE.

QUIET WORK.

NE lesson, Nature, let me learn of thee,

ONE

One lesson which in every wind is blown, One lesson of two duties kept at one,

Though the loud world proclaim their enmity—
Of toil unsevered from tranquillity;

Of labour, that in lasting fruit outgrows
Far noisier schemes, accomplished in repose-
Too great for haste, too high for rivalry.
Yes, while on earth a thousand discords ring,
Man's senseless uproar mingling with his toil,
Still do thy quiet ministers move on,
Their glorious tasks in silence perfecting!
Still working, blaming still our vain turmoil;
Labourers that shall not fail, when man is gone.
MATTHEW ARNOLD.

Symbols

THE BOOK OF NATURE.

"The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.'

HERE is a book, who runs may read,

THERE

Which heavenly truth imparts,

And all the lore its scholars need,

Pure eyes and Christian hearts.

The works of God, above, below,
Within us and around,
Are pages in that book, to show
How God Himself is found.

The glorious sky, embracing all,
Is like the Maker's love,

Wherewith encompassed, great and small
In peace and order move.

The Moon above, the Church below,
A wondrous race they run,

But all their radiance, all their glow,
Each borrows of its Sun.

The Saviour lends the light and heat
That crowns his holy hill;

The saints, like stars, around his seat,
Perform their courses still.

The saints above are stars in Heaven-
What are the saints on earth?

Like trees they stand whom God has given,
Our Eden's happy birth.

Faith is their fixed unswerving root,

Hope their unfading flower,

Fair deeds of charity their fruit,

The glory of their bower.

The dew of heaven is like thy grace,

It steals in silence down;

But where it lights, the favoured place

By richest fruits is known.

One Name above all glorious names
With its ten thousand tongues

The everlasting sea proclaims,

Echoing angelic songs.