The Sunbeam.

Thou art no lingerer in monarch's hall,
A joy thou art, and a wealth to all!
A bearer of hope unto land and sea :-
Sunbeam! what gift hath the world like thee?

Thou art walking the billows, and ocean smiles;
Thou hast touch'd with glory his thousand isles;
Thou hast lit up the ships and the feathery foam,
And gladden'd the sailor like words from home.

To the solemn depths of the forest-shades,

Thou art streaming on through their green arcades,
And the quivering leaves that have caught thy glow,
Like fire-flies glance to the pools below.

I look'd on the mountains,-a vapour lay
Folding their heights in its dark array;
Thou brakest forth,-and the mist became
A crown and a mantle of living flame.

I look'd on the peasant's lowly cot,—
Something of sadness had wrapt the spot ;-
But a gleam of thee on its lattice fell,

And it laugh'd into beauty at that bright spell.

Sunbeam of summer! oh! what is like thee?

Hope of the wilderness, joy of the sea!

One thing is like thee to mortals given,

The faith touching all things with hues of Heaven!

MRS. HEMANS.

The Ant and the Caterpillar.

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As an Ant, of his talents superiorly vain,
Was trotting, with consequence, over the plain,
A Worm, in his progress remarkably slow,
Cried-"Bless your good worship wherever you go;
I hope your great mightiness wont take it ill,
I pay my respects with a hearty good-will."
With a look of contempt, and impertinent pride,
"Begone you vile reptile," his antship replied;
"Go-go, and lament your contemptible state,
But first-look at me-see my limbs how complete;
I guide all my motions with freedom and ease,
Run backward and forward, and turn when I please :
Of nature (grown weary) you shocking essay
I spurn you thus from me-crawl out of my way,"
The reptile insulted, and vex'd to the soul,
Crept onwards, and hid himself close in his hole ;

But nature, determined to end his distress,

Soon sent him abroad in a Butterfly's dress.

Ere long the proud Ant, as repassing the road
(Fatigued from the harvest, and tugging his load),
The beau on a violet bank he beheld,

Whose vesture, in glory, a monarch's excell'd;
His plumage expanded-'twas rare to behold
So lovely a mixture of purple and gold.

The Ant, quite amazed at a figure so gay, Bow'd low with respect, and was trudging away. "Stop friend," says the Butterfly-" don't be surprised I once was the reptile you spurn'd and despised; But now I can mount, in the sunbeams I play, While you must for ever drudge on in your way."

CUNNINGHAM.

Christmas Hymn.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!

Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining!
Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall!

Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all!

Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odours of Edom and offerings divine;

Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation ;
Vainly with gold would his favour secure ;
Richer by far is the hearts adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!

Gelert.

HEBER.

The spearman heard the bugle sound,
And cheerly smiled the morn,

And

many a brach, and many a hound Attend Llewellyn's horn:

And still he blew a louder blast,
And gave a louder cheer;

"Come, Gelert! why art thou the last
Llewellyn's horn to hear?

"Oh, where does faithful Gelert roam ? The flower of all his race!

So true, so brave, a lamb at home

A lion in the chase!

That day Llewellyn little loved

The chase of hart or hare,

And scant and small the booty prov'd;
For Gelert was not there.

Unpleased, Llewellyn homeward hied,

When, near the portal seat, His truant Gelert he espied,

Bounding his lord to greet.

But when he gain'd the castle-door,
Aghast the chieftain stood;

The hound was smear'd with gouts of gore,
His lips and fangs ran blood!

Llewellyn gazed with wild surprise,
Unused such looks to meet :

His favourite check'd his joyful guise,
And crouch'd and lick'd his feet.

Onward in haste Llewellyn pass'd,
(And on went Gelert too),