7.

ENACTING HOLY RITES.

"Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."

THEY talk of wells in caverns deep,

Whose waters run a wondrous race

Far underground, and issuing keep

Our floating tokens, bright or base.
So in the Child's light play we read
The portion to the man decreed;
His future self he hastes to prove
In art in toil, in warfare, or in love.

Those waves emerging far away,

True to their fount, the likeness bear

Of fancies nurtur'd many a day,

How in the end their course they wear

Into the light of Manhood free:

The hidden soul breaks out, and we

In careless mien, in careworn face,

The long-forgotten Infant wondering trace.

Oh, many a joyous mother's brow

Is sadden'd o'er when sports are rife, And watching by, she seems e'en now

The tale to read of coming strife. Through lawless camp, o'er ocean wild, Her prophet eye pursues her child,

Scans mournfully her Poet's strain,

Fears, for her Merchant, loss alike and gain.

But if a holier task engage

His busy dream,-if clad in white.
She see him turn some hallow'd page,
Dimly enact some awful rite,-

Then high beyond the loftiest Heaven
The flight that to her hopes is given,

And darker than the gloomiest deep

The fears that in her boding bosom creep.

She sees in heart an empty Throne,

And falling, falling far away,

Him whom the Lord had placed thereon:

She hears the dread Proclaimer say,

"Cast ye the lot, in trembling cast ;*
The Traitor to his place hath past.”-
Strive ye with Prayer and Fast to guide
The dangerous Glory where it shall abide

Guide it towards some serious brow,
In love and patience lowly bent,
Some youthful Athanase,† e'en now
Upon his future task intent;

His Creed rehearsing to the roar
Of billows on the lonely shore,

Or with a child's deep earnestness

Showing his mates how Saints baptize and bless.

* Acts i.

"Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, on a certain day being in his own house, cast his eyes towards the sea. And seeing afar off boys playing on the shore, and enacting a Bishop and the customs of the Church, as long as he saw nothing too adventurous in their play, was pleased with what he saw, and amused himself with their doings. But when they touched even upon the Mysteries, he was troubled, and summoning the Clergy, made them observe the boys: whoin having caused to be brought before him, he interrogated about their play, and the kind of things said and done therein; .. and they informed him that Athanasius was their Bishop and director, and that he had baptized some of the lads who were unchristened. Of these Alexander made careful inquiry, what had been asked of them, or done to them, by him who was Priest in their game, and what they answered, and were taught to say. And finding that all the order of the Church had been accurately ob

She hears: one glance,-how brief and keen !—

As with a lightning touch reveals

Her Saint upon his path serene ;

With all her heart his vow she seals,
With all her heart the prayer prolongs,
That round him still the Watchers' songs
Echoing may purge the hallow'd air,

And from his soul the dreams of Judas scare.

Ever in hope and agony

She prays-in hope when most he fears,
In trembling when his hopes mount high.
Far, far away she feels, not hears

A deep chord thrill, an answering note
Go forth in Heaven, and earthward float.

Her Guardian Angel wafts it nigh,

But more it breathes than Angel sympathy.

served in their case, he deemed, on consulting with the Priests about him, that there was no need to rebaptize such as had once for all received the grace of God in simplicity. Only he performed for them the other ceremonies, which the Priests alone may lawfully minister in the Sacraments. Moreover. Athanasius and the other boys, who in their sport were Priests and Deacons, he commended to their respective kinsmen, calling God to witness; to be nurtured for the Church, and trained to that which they had enacted." Sozomen. Eccl. Hist. i. 17.

Yea, gloom was on the Source of light,*
A trouble at Joy's very heart,
When with the Traitor in His sight

His secret sad He told apart.

And when He spake of treasures seal'd
To proud wise men, to babes reveal'd,†
From His celestial aspect fell

A lightning as in Heaven, a bliss ineffable.

These are Thy signs, Thou Shepherd good,
To Daring and to Meekness given ;
To babes of mild, self-chastening mood,

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Whispering their part in chants of Heaven. 'Else," warning Love cries out, "Beware

Of Chancel screen and Altar stair."

Love interceeding kneels in fear,

Lest to the Pure th' unholy draw too near.

*St. John xiii. 21.

† St. Matt. xi. 25.