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THE THREE BELLS.

THE THREE BELLS.

Beneath the low-hung night cloud
That raked her splintering mast
The good ship settled slowly,
The cruel leak gained fast.

Over the awful ocean

Her signal guns pealed out.
Dear God! was that thy answer
From the horror round about?

A voice came down the wild wind,
"Ho! ship ahoy!" its cry;
"Our stout Three Bells of Glasgow
Shall lay till daylight by!”

Hour after hour crept slowly,
Yet on the heaving swells
Tossed up and down the ship-lights,
The lights of the Three Bells!

And ship to ship made signals,
Man answered back to man,
While oft, to cheer and hearten,

The Three Bells nearer ran;

And the captain from her taffrail
Sent down his hopeful cry;

"Take heart! Hold on!" he shouted, "The Three Bells shall lay by!"

A, B, C.

By Alpine lake, 'neath shady rock,
The herd-boy knelt beside his flock,
And softly told, with pious air,
His alphabet as evening prayer.

Unseen, his pastor lingered near:

"My child, what means the sound I hear?" "May I not in the worship share,

And raise to Heaven my evening prayer?

"Where'er the hills and valleys blend,

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The sounds of prayer and praise ascend."
My child, a prayer yours cannot be ·
You've only said your A, B, C."

"I have no better way to pray, All that I know to God I say: I tell the letters on my knees;

He makes the words himself to please."

POSIES FOR CHILDREN.

CHILD AND THE ANGELS.

The Sabbath's sun was setting low,
Amidst the clouds at even;

"Our Father," breathed a voice be
low,-

"Our Father, who art in heaven."

Beyond the earth, beyond the clouds,
Those infant words were given;
"Our Father," angels sang aloud
"Father, who art in heaven."

"Thy kingdom come," still from the ground, That childlike voice did pray;

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Thy kingdom come," God's hosts resound,
Far up the starry way.