With forward footsteps, turning not aside,
For fear some hidden evil might betide;

And there in the prepared, appointed way,
Listening to hear, and ready to obey-
A cross I quickly found of plainest form,
With only words of love inscribed thereon.

With thankfulness I raised it from the rest,
And joyfully acknowledged it the best-
The only one of all the many there
That I could feel was good for me to bear.

And, while I thus my chosen one confess'd
I saw a heavenly brightness on it rest;
And, as I bent, my burden to sustain,
I recognized my own old cross again.

But oh! how different did it seem to be,
Now I had learned its preciousness to see!
No longer could I unbelieving say,
Perhaps another is the better way.

Ah, no! henceforth my own desire shall be,
That He who knows me best should choose for me,

And so, whate'er His love sees good to send,

I'll trust it's best, because he knows the end.

Patience.

ERE there no night we could not read the stars, The heavens would turn into a blinding glare; Freedom is best seen through the prison-bars, And rough seas make the haven passing fair.

We can not measure joys but by their loss,
When blessings fade away we see them then
Our richest clusters grow around the cross,
And in the night-time angels sing to men.

The seed must first lie buried deep in earth,
Before the lily opens to the sky;

So "light is sown," and gladness has its birth
In the dark deeps where we can only cry.

"Life out of death" is Heaven's unwritten law,
Nay, it is written in a myriad forms;
The victor's palm grows on the fields of war,
And strength and beauty are the fruit of storms.

Come, then, my soul, be brave to do and bear;

Thy life is bruised that it may be more sweet; The cross will soon be left, the crown we'll wearNay, we will cast it at our Savior's feet.

And up among the glories never told,

Sweeter than music of the marriage-bell,

Our hands will strike the vibrant harp of gold

To the glad song, "He doeth all things well.”

"Rock of Ages."

Seldom have we read a sweeter illustration of the thoughtless and experimental way of singing this precious hymn than that which is embodied in the following anonymous verse:

OCK of Ages, cleft for me,"

Thoughtlessly the maiden sung,

Fell the words unconsciously,
From her girlish, gleeful tongue.

Sang as little children sing;

Sang as sing the birds in June;
Fell the words like light leaves down
On the current of the tune-
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee."

"Let me hide myself in Thee,"

Felt her soul no need to hide;
Sweet the song as song could be—
And she had no thought beside;
All the words unheedingly

Fell from lips untouched by care,
Dreaming not they each might be

On some other lips a prayer—

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee."

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me"

'Twas a woman sang them now, Rose the song as storm-tossed bird Beats with weary wing the air, Every note with sorrow stirredEvery syllable a prayer"Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee."

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me"

Lips grown aged sung the hymn Trustingly and tenderly

Voice grown weak and eyes grown dim.

"Let me hide myself in Thee."

Trembling though the voice and low,

Ran the sweet strain peacefully,

Like a river in its flow,

Sung as only they can sing

Who life's thorny paths have pressed;

Sung as only they can sing

Who behold the promised rest

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee."

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me." Sang above a coffin lid; Underneath, all restfully,

All life's joys and sorrows hid.

Nevermore, O storm-tossed soul!
Nevermore from wind or tide,
Nevermore from billows' roll,
Wilt thou need to hide.
Could the sightless, sunken eyes,

Closed beneath the soft gray hair,
Could the mute and stiffened lips
Move again in pleading prayer.
Still, aye, still the words would be
"Let me hide myself in Thee."

"Waiting for Mother."

HE old man sits in his easy chair

TH

Slumbering the moments away,

Dreaming a dream that is all his own
On this gladsome, peaceful day.

His children have gathered from far and near,
His children's children beside-

And merry voices are echoing through
The "Homestead's halls" so wide.

But far away in the years long flown,
Grandfather lives again;

And his heart forgets that it ever knew
A shadow of grief and pain;