THE GOOD SHIP "NEVER-FAIL."

"WHY don't you launch your boat, my boy?" I asked the other day,

As strolling idly on the beach

I saw my lads at play;

One blue-eyed rogue shook back his curls,
And held his ship to me,

"I'm giving her a name," he cried,
"Before she goes to sea;

We rigged her out so smart and taut,
With flag and snow-white sail,
And now I'll trust her to the waves,
And call her 'Never-fail.""

The little ship sailed proudly out,
Through mimic rock and shoal,
The child stood watching on the beach,
His vessel reached its goal;
The wind had risen soft at first,

But wilder soon it blew,

It strained and bent the slender mast,
That still rose straight and true :
"Yet," cried the boy, "my ship is safe,
In spite of wind and gale,

Her sails are strong, her sides are firm,
Her name is 'Never-fail.""

And presently the wind was lulled,
The little bark came home,

No wreck, although her sails were wet,
Her deck all washed with foam;
And loudly laughed my true boy then,
As at his feet she lay,

And wisely spoke my true boy then,

Although 'twas said in play—

"Papa, I thought if mast and sail And tackle all were true,

With such a name as 'Never-fail' She'd sail the wide sea through."

A MORNING HYMN.

KIND God, who watch has kept
Above me while I slept,
Who heard my evening prayer,
And took me to Thy care,
Shall my small lips be dumb
Now a new day has come?

Waking, to Thee I pray,
Guard me through this new day,
That all I do may be

Such as Thou, God, wouldst see;
Oh, hear my childish prayer!
Have me in Thy dear care!

Let me by Thee be taught
Kind act, and word, and thought!
Make me obedient, mild,
A loving, gentle child,
One in whom all may see
A heart made good by Thee.