I walked in the forest-where shrouded

light

Could scarcely diffuse its ray;

Where nature seemed wedded for ever to

night,

As though tired of the beauty of day! But the solitude now, though so silent and

drear,

Seemed to speak" God is thron'd in his glory, e'en here!"

I walked in the city-where thousands of

men

Were passing to and fro;

And I felt a high impulse inspiring me then, And my heart beat with sympathy's

glow,

As I thought of the destiny all might share In their pilgrimage, chequer'd with gladness and care!

G

Yet I marked in the valley, I marked on

the hill,

In the forest, and crowded street,

That, though every scene might be shaded with ill,

There was gladness for all I could meet. Oh! I felt that mankind, in despite of earth's leaven,

Were the children of God, and the chosen of heaven!

THE STAR IN THE EAST.

BY MISS AGNES STRICKLAND.

LONG had the eastern sages waked, to

keep

Their heaven-directed vigils; on the height Of solitary cliff, or lofty tower,

Watching the courses of those radiant orbs

Of living light, whose sparkling myriads

gem

The darkly beautiful array of night,
Confused to slight observers; yet to eyes
Vers'd in celestial science, every star
Shining sublime, distinct, and differing
In brightness from the rest; and each
adorn'd

With some particular glory of its own.
From glowing sunset to the deep serene
Of sable night, the rapt Chaldeans gaz'd
On that resplendent train, 'till blushing

morn

Surpris'd them, still unwearied at their

task!

And the first planet, glimmering on the brow

Of dewy eve, beheld their silent watch Once more resumed; 'till in the azure east, With brighter beams adorn'd than ever shone

To mortal eyes 'midst that celestial choir, They saw the long-expected star arise, Portentous of an infant Saviour's birth;

Whom they, the first fruits of the Gentile world,

Impell'd by faith's resistless power to serve, While yet unknown, and dimly now

reveal'd

By that mysterious sign-in the same hour Commenc'd their long and toilsome pilgrimage

To Herod's distant court; and boldly there, E'en at the jealous tyrant's throne, inquired

For Judah's new-born King, whom they had come

From far to worship, guided by the star,
The glorious star, whose dawning in the east,
By oracles and prophecies foretold
In every age, their eyes had first beheld;
Rejoicing in the light ordain'd to chase

The shades and darkness of the heathen

world.

And when they found not Him, whose radiant type

They had pursued for many a weary day, Through pathless wilds and deserts widely spread;

They cheerfully resumed their eager quest, "Till that celestial beacon, which had kept Its course sublime through heaven's majestic arch,

To guide their footsteps on their unknown

way,

Pointed its herald beam to Bethlehem, And paused refulgent o'er the lowly roof; Beneath whose shade the new-born King was found,

Reposing on his Virgin Mother's breast. They staggered not at resting place so

mean,

For Royal Babe; but gladly entering in