Oh, who the secret powers hath traced,

That in such league mysterious bind The gentlest with the fiercest kind, The sheepfold with the howling waste? Is it, that each and all

The living sympathize with life?

That sudden movements, though in strife,
The entranced thought recall?

He whom the burning East hath bred,
Wizard or sage, in day-dreams wild,

Might say,

"Dim memories haunt the child,

Of lives in other beings led,

Other, and yet the same.

Nor less an instinct true, though blind,

Dwells in the soul of meaner kind,

Spark of past hope or shame."

Nay, call it recollection deep

Of Eden bowers,-high purity Beaming around from brow or eye Of infants, waking or asleep :

As in old time, we read, The royal lion bending low Did Una's virgin-glory know,

Her guardian prove in need.

Of homage paid in Paradise

To Adam, guileless then and pure,
The broken dream may yet endure
Within them-visions vague arise
Of a Superior Power,

Discern'd by form erect, and mien
Commanding, its calm purpose seen
In eyes that smile or lower.

Thus tender babes and beasts of prey
May silently each other mind

Of the old League: "Let man be kind

And true, so all must him obey."

Thus giants of the wood,

Wild elephant or mountain bull,
Beneath some quiet stripling's rule

Stant quailing and subdued.

Who knows but here, in mercy lent,
A gleam preventing heaven we see,
A token of Love's victory
In a sweet awful Sacrament?

Hearts fallen and sin-born,
Oh, why are ye so fondly stirr'd?
For bounding lamb or lonely bird
Why should ye joy or mourn?

Ah, you have been in Jesus' arms,
The holy Fount hath you imbued
With His all-healing kindly Blood,
And somewhat of His pastoral charms,
And care for His lost sheep,

Ye there have learn'd: in order'd tones
Gently to soothe the lesser ones,

And watch their noon-day sleep.

Lo, far and wide the Love o'erflows, The Love that to your souls He gave In the regenerating wave ;

Both man and beast His mercy knows :

Nor from His pattern swerve

His children, tending lamb or dove :—
But aye the choice of all your love
Ye for His Least reserve.

To point the way where they should go,
By word and gesture, o'er and o'er,
Teach them untir'd, all courteous lore,
Hear their first prayers, so meek and low :-
These are your arts: by these

Ye in the fold your task fulfil,

And the Good Shepherd on the hill
From far approving sees.

9.

LIFTING UP THE CROSS.

"But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able."—Matt. xx. 22.

OFT have I read of sunny realms, where skies are pure

at even,

And sight goes deep in lucid air, and earth seems nearer Heaven,

And wheresoe'er you lift your eyes, the holy Cross,

they say,

Stands guardian of your journey, by lone or crowded

way;

And I have mused how awfully its shadows and its

gleams

Might haply fall on infants' eyes, and mingle with their

dreams,

And draw them up by silent power of its o'er-shading

arm,

And deepen on the tender brow Christ's seal and saintly charm.