The spotless Mother, first

Of creatures: His mild eye,

O favoured!—who her travail nursed, And Thy dread infancy.

Him o'er Thee lowly bent,

Or meekly waiting nigh,

Or on some homely task intent,
Yet conscious who is by,

Or on the journey wild,

With duteous staff in hand, Guiding the Mother and the Child Across the sea of sand,

Thy Church in memory views;
Nor can her babes aright

On Bethlehem or on Nazareth muse,
But he is still in sight.

O balm to lonely hearts,

Who childless or bereft,

Yet round the cradle find their parts, Their place and portion left

In bowers of home delight :—

Yet may they draw full near,

And in the treasure claim their right, Their share of smile and tear,

Of thrilling joys and cares.—
"Father in God:"-who knows

How near it brings us, unawares,
To true parental throes ?

Mightier perchance may prove
The lore the Font imparts

To strangers, than all yearning love
In heathen Mothers' hearts.

Whom JESUS Father owned,*

Though childless to our eyes,

Doubt not, his soul was higher toned

To parents' sympathies,

And when His Octave came,

He o'er the Lord did first below

Speak the Most Holy Name.

*St. Luke ii. 48, 49

Wherefore in chorus kind

Of household jubilee,

Name thou his name with willing mind, Who spake Christ's Name o'er thee.

And when at holy tide,

Along the Church-way borne Thou seest how babes in triumph ride On arms by rude toil worn ;

Or mark'st, how well agree,

Both leading and both led,

Grey Poverty and childish Glee ;-
Leave not His lore unread:

Then of Saint Joseph think,

And of his dread Nurse-Child.

Let eyes, that day, from evil shrink,

And hearts be undefiled.

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
For thousands on the mountain's side,

One of the last and least

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

That led him sacrifice to bring
For his own simple part,

To the world's hidden King?

Well may I guess how glow'd his cheek,

How he look'd down, half pride, half fear:
Far off he saw one speak

Of him in JESUS' ear.

"There is a lad-five loaves hath he,
And fishes twain :—but what are they,
Where hungry thousands be?"—
Nay, Christ will find a way.

In order, on the fresh green hill,

The mighty Shepherd ranks His Sheep

By tens and fifties, still

As clouds when breezes sleep.

Oh who can tell the trembling joy,
Who paint that grave endearing look,
When from that favoured boy

The wondrous pledge He took ?—

Keep thou, dear child, thine early word;
Bring Him thy best: who knows but He

For His eternal board

May take some gift of thee?