9. THE BOY WITH THE FIVE LOAVES. "If thou hast little, do thy diligence gladly to give of that little." WHAT time the Saviour spread His feast The abundant store supplied. Haply, the wonders to behold, A boy 'mid other boys he came, A lamb of JESUS' fold, Though now unknown by name. Or for his sweet obedient ways The Apostles brought him near, to share Their Lord's laborious days, His frugal basket bear. Or might it be his duteous heart, To the world's hidden King? The Boy with the Five Loaves. Well may I guess how glow'd his cheek, How he look'd down, half pride, half fear : Of him in JESUS' ear. "There is a lad-five loaves hath he, In order, on the fresh green hill, By tens and fifties, still As clouds when breezes sleep. Oh who can tell the trembling joy, The wondrous pledge He took ?— Keep thou, dear child, thine early word; May take some gift of thee? 251 Thou prayest without the veil as yet; Within the holiest shrine. And Prayer has might to spread and grow. Thy childish darts, right-aim'd on high, May catch Heaven's fire, and glow Far in the eternal sky: Even as He made that stripling's store Where Angels might adore, And souls for ever feed. Lessons of Grace. 253 10. THE MOURNERS FOLLOWING THE CROSS. "Weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your children." THERE is no grief that ever wasted man, While temples crash, and towers in ashes reek, Even so might seamen's wives at midnight drear In winter, soothing spells will He prepare, And for His lambs allay the bleak heart-killing air. Or if the holy Day the few brief hours Of flight abridge, for nursing-mother frail, For tender babe, Thou send'st Thine unseen powers To help or hide :-hide in the lowly vale, Help o'er the The season He bids choose, who in strong hand The wish and prayer to mould, then grant the boon :- Our lowly orisons in time and tune To Litanies on high, controlling sun and moon. And as the heart maternal evermore Must rise in prayer, so the maternal feet - |