"THE FRIGATE BIRD.”

"It soars high above the wide ocean-but is never known to repose on the water; in its unlimited flight it seems to be an inhabitant of the air rather than of the earth, to which it only resorts for the duties of its nest. It can repose in the upper regions without effort, through the power of its strong wings, high above the wildest storm."-Knight's Natural History.

THE simple story of a bird
Known for its mighty wings,

Methinks that many a heart might read,
And learn of wondrous things.

'Tis not what men call beautiful,
No plumage gay or rare,

But it can rise above the storm,
Reposing in the air.

It seems no creature of the earth,
Rests on no treacherous sea,
But in the cloudless blue above,
Untrammelled, joyous, free.
Its wondrous wings can soar and float
O'er ocean's widest breadth;

Beneath, may be the tempests roar,
Danger, and wreck, and death;
But to the upper tranquil calm,
No storm or clouds can rise;
O happy bird! that knows and seeks
Such bright and peaceful skies.

"Tis written that in Christ for man
Is just such cloudless bliss ;
And I have heard of some who rise
Above earth's woes like this;

Yea, 'mid the tumult, sorrow, sin,
While weary feet still tread;
Like winged bird, the soul can rise
That's of the Spirit led.

The sunshine of God's fellowship,
The calm abiding there;

O happy soul! borne on such wings

To breathe such blessed air.

ORA ROWAN.

ONLY TRUST ME.

"Be not afraid, only believe."-MARK V. 36.

ONLY trust Me. Do the shadows
Darkly o'er thy pathway lie?
Was there ever earthly shadow

That could hide thee from Mine eye?
Dost thou shrink, and fear, and waver-
Look upon Mine outstretched hand;
Waiting through those shades to lead thee
Onwards to a better land.

Thou art weeping o'er thy sorrows,
Dost thou ever think of Mine?
How I toiled, and how I suffered,
Bore each sin and grief of thine ;
Toiled to win a rest for thee,

Died to give thee endless life;
Yet thou faintest, yet thou fearest,
When I call thee to the strife.

There's a place within My temple
For long ages kept for thee;
I must fashion thee to shine there
Through a bright eternity.
From the quarry I have hewn thee,
Rugged, hard, and sin-defiled;

I must change, and I must cleanse thee,
Wouldst thou stay the work, my child?
Ask it not 'twill soon be over,

Then thou'lt thank Me for the pain ;
See how every pang was needed,
Not one stroke bestowed in vain ;
Tools of earth, sharp axe and chisel,
Will have ceased their work at last,
Perfect to thy place I'll bring thee,
Every tear and trial past.

Only trust Me till that hour,
Then the need for trust is o'er ;
Never weary days to fret thee,
Never sin to harm thee more.
Never change or pain to grieve thee,
Friend's neglect to wring thy heart,
But the Friend who loved thee always
From thy side no more to part.

I will give thee all the power,
If the will to trust be thine;
Fain I now would hear thee tell Me,
"Saviour, do Thy will, not mine;
Not my will, though storms be raging,
Not my will, though billows swell;
On to heaven those billows bear me,
I can trust Thee. All is well.”

So on earth my peace will keep thee,
So thou'lt patient watch and wait,
Till I summon thee to enter

At the golden city's gate.

There the crown, and there the glory,
There thou'lt thank me for the road,
Through whose roughest paths I led thee
To the mansions of thy God.

THE LOVE OF GOD.

ALL things that are on earth shall wholly pass away, Except the love of God, which shall live and last for

aye.

The forms of men shall be as they had never been;

The blasted groves shall lose their fresh and tender green;

The birds of the thicket shall end their pleasant song, And the nightingale shall cease to chaunt the evening

long;

The kine of the pasture shall feel the dart that kills,
And all the fair white flocks shall perish from the hills,
The goat and antlered stag, the wolf and the fox,
The wild boar of the wood, and the chamois of the

rocks,

And the strong and fearless bear, in the trodden dust shall lie,

And the dolphin of the sea, and the mighty whale shall die.

And realms shall be dissolved, and empires be no more, And they shall bow to death, who ruled from shore to

shore ;

And the great globe itself (so the holy writings tell), With the rolling firmament, where the starry armies dwell,

Shall melt with fervent heat, they shall all pass away, Except the love of God, which shall live and last for

aye.

From the Provençal.—Translated by BRYANT.

FINISH THY WORK.

FINISH thy work, the time is short,
The sun is in the west;

The night is coming down, till then
Think not of rest.

Yes, finish all thy work, then rest;
Till then, till then, rest never;
The rest prepared for thee by God
Is rest for ever.

Finish thy work, then wipe thy brow,
Ungird thee from thy toil;

Take breath, and from each weary limb
Shake off the soil.

Finish thy work, then sit thee down
On some celestial hill,
And of its strength-reviving air

Take thou thy fill.

Finish thy work, then go in peace,
Life's battle fought and won;

Hear from the throne the Master's voice,

"Well done, well done."