Though dark may be earth's vale, and damp,
A thousand stars shine sweetly o'er us,
And immortality's pure lamp

Gladdens and gilds our path before us.

And in the silence of the scene

Sweet tones from heaven are softly speaking, Celestial music breathes between,

The slumbering soul of bliss awaking.

Short is the darkest night, whose shade
Wraps nature's breast in clouds of sadness;
And joy's sweet flowers, that seem to fade,
Shall bloom anew in kindling gladness.

Death's darkness is more bright to him
Who looks beyond in visions holy,
Than passion's fires, or splendor's dream,
Or all the glare of sin and folly.

The silent tear, the deep-fetch'd sigh,
Which virtue heaves in hours of quiet,
Are dearer than pomp's revelry,
Or the mad laugh of frenzied riot;

Smiles from a conscience purified,
Far lovelier than the fleeting glory
Conferr'd in all a monarch's pride,
Embalm'd in all the light of story.

This joy be ours-our weeks shall roll-
And let them roll-our bark is driven
Safe to its harbor-and our soul

Awaking, shall awake in heaven.

THE FOLLY OF ATHEISM.

DULL Atheist! could a giddy dance
Of atoms lawless hurl'd,
Construct so wonderful, so wise,
So harmonized a world?

Why do not Arabe's driving sands,
The sport of every storm,

Fair freighted fleets, the child of chance,
Or gorgeous temples form?

Presumptuous wretch, thyself survey,

That lesser fabric scan;

Tell me from whence the immortal dust, The god, the reptile man?

Where wast thou when this populous earth
From chaos burst its way,

When stars exulting sang the morn,
And hail'd the new-born day?

What, when the embryo speck of life,
The miniature of man,

Nursed in the womb, its slender form
To stretch and swell began?

Say, didst thou warp the fibre woof,
Or mould the sentient brain?
Thy fingers stretch the living nerve,
Or fill the purple vein?

Didst thou then bid the bounding heart
Its endless toil begin?

Or clothe in flesh the hardening bone,
Or weave the silken skin?

Who bids the babe, to catch the breeze,
Expand its panting breast;

And with impatient hands, untaught,
The milky rill arrest?

Or who, with unextinguish'd love,
The mother's bosom warms,
Along the rugged paths of life
To bear it in her arms?

A God! a God! the wide earth shouts!
A God! the heavens reply;

He moulded in his palm the world,
And hung it in the sky.

“Let us make man!"—With beauty clad,
And health in every vein,
And reason throned upon his brow,
Stepp'd forth majestic man.

Around he turns his wandering eyes,
All Nature's works surveys !
Admires the earth, the skies, himself!
And tries his tongue in praise.

Ye hills and vales, ye meads and woods,
Bright sun, and glittering star,

Fair creatures, tell me, if you can,
From whence and what ye are.

What parent power, all great and good,
Do these around me own?
Tell me, creation, tell me how
To adore the vast Unknown!

SABBATH HYMN.

SLEEP, sleep to-day, tormenting cares, Of earth and folly born!

Ye shall not dim the light that streams From this celestial morn.

To-morrow will be time enough
To feel your harsh control;
Ye shall not violate this day,
The Sabbath of my soul.

Sleep, sleep for ever, guilty thoughts!
Let fires of vengeance die;

And, purged from sin, may I behold
A God of purity!

PUBLIC WORSHIP.

PRAISE waits in Zion, Lord, for thee;
Thy saints adore thy holy name;
Thy creatures bend the obedient knee,
And humbly thy protection claim.

Thy hand has raised us from the dust;
The breath of life thy Spirit gave;
Where, but in thee, can mortals trust?
Who, but our God, has power to save?

Eternal Source of truth and light!

To thee we look, on thee we call: Lord, we are nothing in thy sight; But thou to us art all in all.

Still may thy children, in thy word,
Their common trust and refuge see:
O bind us to each other, Lord,

By one great tie-the love of thee!

Here, at the portal of thy house,

We leave our mortal hopes and fears: Accept our prayers, and bless our vows, And dry our penitential tears.

So shall our suns of hope arise

With brighter still and brighter ray; Till thou shalt bless our longing eyes With beams of everlasting day.