[F IF WE KNEW. F we knew what forms were fainting For the shade that we should fling, If we knew what lips were parching For the water we should bring, If we knew when friends around us We would whisper in their ears. If we knew what lives were darkened If we knew, alas! and do we In our neighbor's gardens grow? God forgive us, lest hereafter, WHAT IS MY WORK TO-DAY? O search for truth and wisdom, то To live for Christ alone; To run my race unburdened, Το To shun the world's allurements, To bear another's weakness, To soothe another's pain; To commune with the thoughtful, I think not of to-morrow, But still, with child-like spirit, THERE IS NO DEATH. HERE is no death! The stars go down THE To rise upon some fairer shore; And bright, in Heaven's jeweled crown, There is no death! The dust we tread Shall change beneath the summer showers To golden grain or mellow fruit, Or rainbow-tinted flowers. The granite rocks disorganize, And feed the hungry moss they bear; The forest leaves drink daily life, From out the viewless air. There is no death! The leaves may fall; And flowers may fade and pass away; They only wait through wintry hours, The coming of May-day. There is no death! An angel form Walks o'er the earth with silent tread; And bears our best loved things away, And then we call them " dead." He leaves our hearts all desolate, He plucks our fairest, sweetest flowers: Transplanted into bliss, they now Adorn immortal bowers. The bird-like voice, whose joyous tones Made glad these scenes of sin and strife, Sings now an everlasting song, Around the tree of life. Wherever he sees a smile too bright, Or heart too pure for taint and vice, He bears it to that world of light, Born unto that undying life, They leave us but to come again; With joy we welcome them the same, Except their sin and pain. And ever near us, though unseen, The dear immortal spirits tread; For all the boundless universe Is life-there is no dead! SIR E. BULWER LYTTON. SEA VENTURES. STOOD and watched my ships go out, The first that sailed, her name was Joy, Another sailed, her name was Hope, The next that sailed, her name was Love, The last that sailed, her name was Faith, |