Emma Lazarus. 1849-1887. REMEMBER. "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth; while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." ECCL. xii., I. Remember Him, the only One, Now, ere the years flow by,- Now, ere for thee the sun have lost And earth rejoice thee not with flowers, Now, while thou lovest earth, because With daisies and with primroses, And sunlit, waving air; And not because her bosom holds Because 'mid grass they wave, And not because they bloom upon Some early shapen grave. Now, while thou lovest trembling stars, And not because they 're nearer one Now, while thou lovest music's strains, They make the tear-drops start. Before thy hope has vanished quite, Before the days draw nigh When thou shalt have no joy in them, And praying, yearn to die. Sarah Orne Jewett. 1849. DISCONTENT. Down in a field, one day in June, A robin who had soared too high, Was resting near a buttercup Who wished she were a daisy. For daisies grow so trig and tall And buttercups must always be The same old tiresome color, "Dear robin," said this sad young flower, "Perhaps you'd not mind trying To find a nice white frill for me, "You silly thing!" the robin said; I'd rather be my honest self You 're nicer in your own bright gown, The little children love you; Be the best buttercup you can, And think no flower above you. "Though swallows leave me out of sight, We'd better keep our places; Perhaps the world would all go wrong With one too many daisies. "Look bravely up into the sky, Charles Francis Richardson. 1851. LOVE. If suddenly upon the street My gracious Saviour I should meet, His eye would pierce my outward show, If on the day or in the place Madame Guyon. GOD THE FOUNTAIN OF LOVE TO HIS I love my God, but with no love of mine, I love Thee, Lord; but all the love is Thine, I am as nothing, and rejoice to be Emptied, and lost, and swallowed up in Thee. Thou, Lord, alone, art all Thy children need, And there is none beside; From Thee the streams of blessedness proceed; Fountain of life, and all-abounding grace, Unknown. TWO ANGELS. Two angels came and spoke to me; The face of one was full of beauty. The other wore a sadder look; And these their names were: Joy and Duty. I said to Joy: "I'll follow thee Wherever thou shalt go to lead me; |