In thoughts of childhood now! And when the well-mark'd Bible meets thine eyes, Gift of a father's love, Ere thou wert doomed to rove, How thickly crowd the accusing memories! Oh, yield thee to the grasp The fair impressions of thy youth to bind ! Urged at the throne for thee, In those past hours, a full acceptance find. Hast thou a happy hearth? Then to thy God the altar rear ! The loveliest sight on earth, Is a whole family assembled there; There swell Jehovah's praise, In those heart-stirring lays, To homes of Scotland so supremely dear! Then to a holier home Whose gather'd households ne'er divide, Thou-thou and thine shall come, And in the light of God's own face abide! There shall your voices rise In loftier harmonies, Than those which rung around your home fire-side THERE IS A TONGUE IN EVERY LEAF! CAROLINE SOUTHEY. THERE is a tongue in every leaf! A voice in every rill! A voice that speaketh everywhere, 'Tis the Great Spirit, wide diffused I see Him in the blazing sun, I hear Him in the mighty roar When winds are piping loud. I see Him, hear Him, everywhere, In all things-darkness, light, Silence, and sound; but most of all, When slumber's dusky curtains fall, At the dead hour of night. I feel Him in the silent dews, By grateful earth betrayed; I feel Him in the gentle showers, The soft south wind, the breath of flowers, The sunshine and the shade. And yet (ungrateful that I am!) From all these things, whereof He said, My sadness on the loveliest things Mine own dark spirit threw. Yet He was patient-slow to wrath, By selfish, pining discontent, And still the same rich feast was spread For my insensate heart Not always so I woke again, To join Creation's rapturous strain, "O Lord, how good Thou art!" The clouds drew up, the shadows fled, Of darkness and of doubt. SONNET. LADY EMMELINE WORTLEY. SWEET the low music of the loving rain!— It wears glad hues of promise and fair dress |