And soon amid the brightness
I saw an angel-child ;

She

gave me such a look of love, And beautifully smiled.

And then I knew 't was Emma, All clothed in robes of white; Her words, they were all music, Her form seemed made of light.

She said in tones of melody,
"Sweet sister, do not fear;
I come to you, my Mary,
To comfort and to cheer.

"To tell you words of beauty,

Of my new and glorious home, Where roses never fade or droop, Where shade can never come.

"I am ever round you, Mary,
With these celestial flowers;
I lay them in your path-way,
I hang them on your bowers.

"You cannot see their beauty now,
But they will joy impart,

And keep unkind and sinful thoughts
Away from Mary's heart.

"The brightest in my wreath is Truth,

The sweetest is called Love,

The fairest is Humility,

66

Fresh from the fields above.

O, it is dear and sweet to me,

To minister to you;

To weave you fair immortal crowns,
Of blossoms bright and true.

"To be the winged messenger
Of blessings from afar ;
To guide and aid you in all good,
Till you an angel are.

"And then to bear you up to heaven,

All glorious and bright,

And lead you to the feet of HIM,

The fountain of all light."

And saying this, she sweetly smiled, And faded from my view.

I woke, and found it was a dream;
Yet O, it must be true!

My mother, I am not alone!
I know a form of light,
A blessed guardian angel
Is round me day and night.

THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS.

In the green fields of Palestine,
By its fountains and its rills,
And by the sacred Jordan's stream,
And o'er the vine-clad hills,

Once lived and roved the fairest child

That ever blessed the earth;

The happiest, the holiest,

That e'er had human birth.

How beautiful his childhood was!
Harmless and undefiled;

O, dear to his young mother's heart
Was this pure, sinless child!
Kindly in all his deeds and words,

And gentle as the dove;

Obedient, affectionate,

O, is it not a blessed thought,

Children of human birth!

That once the Saviour was a child, And lived upon the earth.