STANZAS. E. L. SHORTRIDGE. WHEN friends who love are forced to sever, Without a hope to soothe their pain— Since in this world they part for ever, Oh! may their loss be turned to gain! For God withdraws our earthly treasure, To wean our hearts from things below, And bids us seek for lasting pleasure Where streams of joy for ever flow. He points to One who condescended To be on earth the sinner's friendTo Him who, though to Heaven ascended, Will love his own unto the end. Then welcome pain, and welcome sadness, If God appoint it to be thus ; And may we give our hearts with gladness To Him who lived and died for us. THE CROSS OF CONSTANTINE. LADY FLORA HASTINGS. "CONQUER in this!"-Not unto thee alone "Conquer in this!"-Ay, when the rebel heart "Conquer in this!"-When fairest visions come Strong in His strength who burst the bonds of sin, "Conquer in this!"-Though powers of earth and hell 66 Faint not, O wearied one! faint not for thee And plenteous unction, is upon thee shed. Conquer in this!"-When, by thy fever'd bed, Thou see'st the dark-wing'd angel take his stand, "Conquer in this!"-Strong in thy Saviour's might, When bursts the morning of a brighter day, Rise, Christian victor, in the glorious fight, Arise, rejoicing, from thy cell of clay! The Cross which led thee scatheless thro' the gloom, Shall in that hour, heav'n's royal banner be; THE WORTH OF HOURS. R. MONCKTON MILNES, ESQ., M.P. BELIEVE not that your inner eye For every man's weak self, alas! But if in earnest care you would Those surely are not fairly spent In sad unrest and ill-content: And more, though free from seeming harm, You rest from toil of mind or arm, Or slow retire from Pleasure's charm ; If then a painful sense comes on, C Of something from your being's chain Upon your heart this truth may rise, So should we live, that every hour May die as dies the natural flower,— A self-reviving thing of power; deed That every tnought and every Esteeming sorrow, whose employ |