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But, by Thy grace, I'll cast them all aside,
Whate'er betide,

And never let that cell deserted be,

Where I may dwell alone, my God, with Thee!

The war may rage!-keep thou the citadel,
And all is well.

And when I learn the fullness of Thy love,
With Thee above-

When every heart oppressed with hidden grief
Shall gain relief-

When every weary soul shall find its rest
Amidst the blest-

Then all my heart from sin and sorrow free,
Shall be a temple meet, my God, for Thee!

IT IS MORE BLESSED.

IVE! as the morning that flows out of heaven,

GIVE

Give! as the waves when their channel is riven; Give! as the free air and sunshine are given ; Lavishly, utterly, joyfully give.

Not the waste drops of thy cup overflowing,
Not the faint sparks of thy heart ever glowing,
Not a pale bud from the June roses blowing;

Give, as He gave Thee, who gave thee to live.

Pcur out thy love, like the rush of a river
Wasting its waters, for ever and ever,

Through the burnt sands that reward not the giver;
Silent or songful, thou nearest the sea.

Scatter thy life as the summer showers pouring!
What if no bird through the pearl-rain is soaring?
What if no blossom looks upward adoring?

Look to the Life that was lavished for thee!

So the wild wind strews its perfumed caresses,
Evil and thankless the desert it blesses,
Bitter the wave that its soft pinion presses,
Never it ceaseth to whisper and sing.

What if the hard heart gives thee thorns for thy roses?
What if on hard rocks thy tired bosom reposes?
Sweetest is music with minor-keyed closes,
Fairest the vines that on ruin will cling.

Almost the day of thy giving is over;

Ere from the grass dies the bee-haunted clover,
Thou wilt have vanished from friend and from lover;
What shall thy longing avail in the grave?

Give, as the heart gives, whose fetters are breaking,
Life, love, and hope, all thy dreams and thy waking,
Soon heaven's river thy soul-fever slaking,
Thou shalt know God, and the gift that He gave.

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Like the dewdrops on the way,

Wherefore should our sorrows stay?

Let them pass!

Let them pass

If for good you've taken ill,

Let it pass!

Let it pass!

O! be kind and gentle still;

Time at last makes all things straight;

Let us not resent, but wait,

And our triumph shall be great ;

Let it pass!

Let it pass!

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W

ALWAYS LEARNING.

ASTE not your precious hours in play, Nought can recall life's morning; The seed now sown will cheer your way— The wise are always learning.

Nor think when all school days are o'er,
You've bid adieu to learning;
Life's deepest lessons are in store-

The meek are always learning.

When strong in hope, you first launch forth,

A name intent on earning,

Scorn not the voice of age or worth-
The great are always learning.

When right and wrong within you strive,
And passions fierce contending,

Oh, then you'll know, how, while you live,
The good are always learning.

"I

THE BEST THAT I CAN.

CANNOT do much," said a little star,
"To make the dark world bright!
My silvery beams cannot struggle far
Through the folding gloom of night,
But I'm only a part of God's great plan,
And I'll cheerfully do the best I can."

"What is the use," said a fleecy cloud,
"Of these few drops that I hold?
They will hardly bend the lily proud,
Though caught in her cup of gold;
Yet I am a part of God's great plan,
To my treasure I'll give as well as I can.”

A child went merrily forth to play,
But a thought, like a silver thread,
Kept winding in and out all day,

Through the happy, golden head:
Mother said," Darling, do all you can,
For you are a part of God's great plan."

She knew no more than the glancing star,
Nor the cloud with its chalice full,

How, why, and what for, all strange things were-
She was only a child at school!

But she thought, "It is part of God's great plan That even I should do all I can."

She helped a younger child along

When the road was rough to the feet, And she sang from her heart a little

song

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