The Children's Journey.

How gay the little children sat within the rushing train,

They laughed to see the shadows flee across the dizzy plain,
How quick they passed the Scottish hill, how quick the English dale,
They saw not 'twas their earthly life went sweeping by the rail.

They laughed to see the vapours curl in white folds wreathing high,
Nor thought it was a seraph's form, whose broad wings touched the sky,
They said how brave the engine drave its black high-mettled horse,
Nor knew the angelic messenger who steered them on their course.

A spring-day journey, such it seemed, to end when night should come,
A few more miles, another hour, and they should reach their home:
So nearer, near, when suddenly the angel swerved his hand
Aside from every earthly goal, due for the eternal land.

He swerved aside, because he saw heaven's gateway arching blue,
One moment's breath and joyfully the children are let through,
Their spring-day journey at an end, its perils and alarms,
For Jesus on the threshold stood and clasped them in His arms.

Bear up, brave mother, strong in faith, bear, father, stricken sore,
Your little ones are housed and home, what could ye wish them more?
The voices ye miss silent here, are singing gladly there,

Or asking God to comfort you in some sweet childish prayer.

March 1853.

E. A. H. O.

III.

The Issue.

BEHOLD, HE TAKETH AWAY, WHO CAN HINDER HIM? WHO WILL SAY UNTO HIM, WHAT DOEST THOU?

I HAVE LENT HIM TO THE LORD; AS LONG AS HE LIVETH HE SHALL BE LENT TO THE LORD.

III.

The Issue.

BEHOLD, HE TAKETH AWAY, WHO CAN HINDER HIM? WHO WILL SAY UNTO HIM, WHAT DOEST THOU?

I HAVE LENT HIM TO THE LORD; AS LONG AS HE LIVETH HE SHALL BE LENT TO THE LORD.

It seemed as though the first strange night would never pass away. Yet dismal as its hours were, we almost clung to them, knowing that with the morning there must come the certainty as to Georgy's fate, while the silence of those around regarding him gradually diminished our hope of his being still left to us. than once his name had been whispered by us to each other. At last his papa said, "Poor Georgy!" The face of the kind friend who watched by our bed-side

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grew pale. There was silence. The LORD gave, I said; his papa added, and the LORD hath taken away; and then together we repeated that wondrous conclusion of Job's when all was gone, Blessed be the name of the LORD. Song of faith heard in the storm which rolled over the patient patriarch till it had wrenched

from him every shred of joy, how many have been its echoes from bereaved hearts since then! What will the chorus be, what the thunder-hallelujah, when every tongue that has feebly uttered it here shall, with its first speaker, and all the church triumphant, sing it yonder! Then it shall be sung in the presence of the lost riches found again in the treasure-house of paradise restored, the very loss of which first taught us to use it.

We now knew that we had two boys safe. Georgy had gone to join an infant brother. Saturday was a day of silent anguish for his loss, of great pain from bruises and injuries received; a bone had to be set, and much besides done for two crushed bodies which could not even be turned in bed for long after. The news from the infirmary regarding the nurses was painful; the ankle-bone of the one had been sawn off, and powerful opiates had been administered to both. The infant stared so wildly round her at the sight of new faces, that she was brought into our room to quiet her; but she screamed in terror, seeing us so changed. A nurse was being sought for her. About Freddy only we felt no anxiety; he was peaceful in bed, not complaining of anything. Having asked tea for break