He sends the soft refreshing rain,

The gentle summer showers,
And light, and air, and falling dew,
He giveth to the flowers.

'Tis the same God who form'd the flowers
Makes my sweet child His care!
Then daily raise thine infant heart
To Him in grateful prayer."

MY POETRY BOOK.

OLD FATHER WILLIAM.

"You are old, father William," the young man cried,

"The few locks that are left you are gray; You are hale, father William, a hearty old man! Now tell me the reason, I pray."

"In the days of my youth," father William replied,

"I remembered that youth would fly fast; And abused not my health and my vigour

at first,

That I never might need them at last."

OLD FATHER WILLIAM.

89

"You are old, father William," the young

man cried,

"And pleasures with youth pass away; And yet you lament not the days that are gone!

Now tell me the reason, I pray."

"In the days of my youth," father William replied,

"I remembered that youth could not last; I thought of the future, whatever I did, That I never might grieve for the past."

"You are old, father William," the young man cried,

"And life must be hastening away;

You are cheerful, and love to converse upon death!

Now tell me the reason, I pray."

"I am cheerful, young man," father William replied,

"Let the cause thine attention engage, In the days of my youth, I remembered my God,

And He hath not forgotten my age."

SOUTHEY.

HOPE ON! HOPE EVER!

AWAY with needless sorrow;
Though trouble may befall,
A brighter day to-morrow
May shine upon us all.
We still may march together
When rain is falling fast,
And wet and windy weather
Will turn to fair at last.

We cannot tell the reason
For all the clouds we see,
Yet every time and season
Must wisely order'd be.
Let us but do our duty

In sunshine and in rain,
And Heaven all bright with beauty
Will bring us joy again.

Though evening-skies should lower,
The morning may be fine;
For He who sends the shower

Can cause His sun to shine;