Or chanced the Thorny Crown her first upseeking

glance to win,

And the deep lines of agony traced by the whole world's sin?

Oh, deeply in her bosom went the thought, "Who draw so nigh

Unto those awful Lips, and share the Lord's departing

sigh,

Who knoweth what mysterious pledge upon their souls

is bound,

To copy in their own hearts' blood each keen and bitter Wound?

If of the dying JESUS we the Kiss of Peace receive, How but in daily dying thenceforward dare we live?

"And was it meet, thou tender flower, on thy young life to lay

Such burdens, pledging thee to vows thou never canst unsay ?

What if the martyr's fire some day thy dainty limbs

devour?

What if beneath the scourge they writhe, or in dull famine cower?

What if thou bear the cross within, all aching and

decay?—

And 'twas I that laid it on thee what if thou fall

away ?"

:

Such is Love's deep misgiving, when, stronger far than Faith,

She brings her earthly darlings to the Cross for life or death.

O, be Thou present in that hour, high Comforter, to

lead

Her memory to th' eternal Law, by the great King

decreed,

What time the highly favoured one who on His bosom

lay,

And He who of the chosen twelve first trode the

martyrs' way,

Taught by their mother, crav'd the boon next to Thy throne to be,

For her dreams were of the Glory, but the Cross she could not see.

O well for that fond mother, well for her belov'd, that

they,

When th' hour His secret meaning told, did by their promise stay.

"Thy baptism and Thy cup be ours for both our hearts are strong."

Learn it, ye babes, at matin prime, repeat it all day

long.

Even as the mother's morning kiss is token of delight Through all the merry hours of day, and at fall of dewy night

Her evening kiss shall to her babe the softest slumbers

seal,

So Thy first greeting life imparts, Thy last shall cheer and heal.

Then, maiden, trust thy nursling here; thou wilt not choose amiss

For his sweet soul; here let him dwell; here is the gate of bliss.

Three Saints of old their lips upon the Incarnate Saviour laid,

And each with death or agony for the high rapture

paid.

His Mother's holy kisses of the coming sword gave

sign,

And Simeon's hymn full closely did with his last breath entwine;

And Magdalen's first tearful touch prepared her but

to greet

With homage of a broken heart his pierced and lifeless

feet.

Then courage, duteous maiden; the nails and bleeding

brows,

The pale and dying lips, are the portion of the Spouse.

11.

SICKNESS IN THE CRADLE.

"A CHRISTIAN child in pain! O sad amazing thought! A babe elect and born again,

With blood of JESUS bought,

That never yet knew dream of sin,
Nor throb of pride, nor will unclean;
Yet faint with fever see him lie,

Or in strong grasp of sinners' agony !"

O, mother fond and wild,

Stay the complaining word!

What wouldst thou have? Thy suffering child

Is as his Saviour Lord.

Or ever eight brief days have flown,

He, the unstain'd, must make His moan,

Must taste the sacrificial knife,

Must to the Cross devote the tender life.