"Then to the spacious upper room

The Host will bid you onward fare, Round many a nook of deepest gloom,

Up many a broken wearying stair.

The handmaid Penance hath been there,
And swept and garnished all the place.
Haste, and with loyal hands prepare
For Me and Mine the Feast of Grace."

Thou spak'st, and we thine infants bore,
And bathed them in the Living Well
That gushes out beside the door,

Where Thou, O Lord, delight'st to dwell:
Then lowly on our knees we fell,

And prayed, that through the world's hot day
Dews from that hour, a balmy spell,

Might gently freshen all their way,

Now, trembling still as they advance
Up the far shadowing awful nave,
Full oft we bid them backward glance

Where gleaming from its heavenly cave,

The Saviour's side,-the healing wave Falls in the fount of their new birth.

The ears that hear its murmuring, crave No tinsel melodies of earth.

When to the Chancel arch they come,
"Pause here," we say, "and search with fear
If yet the pledge of your high doom
Upon the sealed brow appear.

If worn and faint, by many a tear
Renew the lines, then humbly kneel

Till He invite-till sure and near The gliding of soft wings ye feel.

"Then to the inner shrine make haste, Fall prostrate with anointed brows, Adore, and of the Adored taste.

Such bliss the Love untold allows." Of old, we read, the intrusted Spouse Her infants to the Anointing led

Straight from the Laver and the vows ;Yea, Christ was then the children's bread.

But now some mournful instinct chills

Our Mother's joy, and mars our spring: She, as of old, to the bright hills

Her eaglets' speed at once would wing: Now far and wide earth's vapours fling Their tainting dews; and she perchance Shrinks from the fall such flight may bring, Fears the debasing, downward glance.

Then in low place with lowly heart
Wait we, dear babe, both thou and I,
Bide we our time, and take such part
In the Bride's awful minstrelsy,

As she whose laws are sealed on high
Ordains and if long lingering tire,

Yet may we hope, Faith's virgin sigh The purer mounts, to meet Heaven's fire.

15.

THE OFFERTORY.

"God loveth a cheerful giver."

CHRIST before thy door is waiting; Rouse thee, slave of earthly gold. Lo, He comes, thy pomp abating, IIungry, thirsty, homeless, cold :Hungry, by whom Saints are fed With the Eternal Living Bread; Thirsty, from whose pierced side Healing waters spring and glide ; Cold and bare He comes, who never May put off His robe of light; Homeless, who must dwell for ever

In the Father's Bosom bright.

In kind ambush alway lying

He besets thy bed and path,
Fain would see thee hourly buying
Prayers against the time of wrath,
Prayers of thankful mourners here,
Prayers that in Love's might appear
With the offerings of the Blest,
At the shrine of perfect rest.
See, His undecaying treasure

Lies like dew upon the grass,
To be won and stored at pleasure :-
But its hour will quickly pass.

Christ before His Altar standing,
Priest of Priests, in His own Day,
Calls on thee, some fruit demanding
Of the week's heaven-guarded way.
See His Arm stretch'd out to bless :
Whoso nearest to Him press,
Open-handed, eagle-eyed,

They may best that Arm abide,

When, the last dread lightnings wielding,

He shall lift it, and decree,