NEW YEAR'S EVE.

The chilly winter morning
Breaks up in the dull skies,
On the city wrapt in vapor,

On the spot where Gretchen lies.

The night was wild and stormy,
The morn is cold and gray,
And good church-bells are ringing,
Christ's circumcision day.

And holy men were praying
In many a holy place;
And little children's angels
Sing songs before his face.

In her scant and tattered garment,
With her back against the wall,

She sitteth cold and rigid,

She answers not their call.

They have lifted her up fearfully,

They shuddered as they said,

"It was a bitter, bitter night, The child is frozen dead."

The angels sang their greeting,
For one more redeemed from sin;
Men said, "It was a bitter night,

Would no one let her in ?"

K

161

162

AN EASTERN LEGEND.

And they shuddered as they spoke of her,
And sighed they could not see,
How much of happiness there was
With so much misery.

AN EASTERN LEGEND.

ONE evening Jesus lingered in the market-place, Teaching the people parables of truth and grace, When in the square remote a crowd was seen to rise, And stop, with loathing gestures and abhorring cries.

The Master and his meek disciples went to see
What cause for this commotion and disgust could be,
And found a poor dead dog beside the gutter laid;
Revolting sight! at which each face its hate betrayed.

One held his nose, one shut his eyes, one turned away; And all among themselves began aloud to say: "Detested creature!" "He pollutes the earth and air!" "His eyes are blear!" "His ears are foul!" "His ribs are bare!"

"In his torn hide there 's not a decent shoe-string left!" "No doubt the execrable cur was hung for theft!" Then Jesus spake, and dropped on him this saving wreath,

"Even pearls are dark before the whiteness of his teeth!"

LOVE TO JESUS.

163

The pelting crowd grew silent and ashamed, like one Rebuked by sight of wisdom higher than his own; And one exclaimed, "No creature so accursed can be, But some good thing in him a loving eye will see."

ALGER'S EASTERN POETRY.

LOVE TO JESUS.

WHEN Jesus Christ was here below,
And spread his works of love abroad,
If I had lived as long ago,

I think I should have loved the Lord.

Jesus, who was so very kind,

Who came to pardon sinful men,

Who healed the sick, and cured the blind

O, must I not have loved him then?

O no! he lives in heaven above;

"And blest are they," the Saviour said,

"Who, though they have not seen me, love."

JANE TAYLOR.

III. MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS.

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL.

DEAR Angel! ever at my side,

How loving must thou be

To leave thy home in Heaven to guard
A little child like me!

Thy beautiful and shining face
I see not, though so near;
The sweetness of thy soft, low voice
I am too deaf to hear.

I cannot feel thee touch my hand
With pressure light and mild,
To check me, as my mother did
When I was but a child.

But I have felt thee in my thoughts,
Fighting with sin for me;

And when my heart loves God, I know
The sweetness is from thee.

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL.

And when, dear Spirit, I kneel down
Morning and night to prayer,
Something there is within my heart
Which tells me thou art there.

Yes! when I pray, thou prayest too-
Thy prayer is all for me;

And when I sleep, thou sleepest not,
But watchest patiently.

Ah me how lovely they must be
Whom God has glorified;

Yet one of them, O sweetest thought!
Is ever at my side.

And thou in life's last hour wilt bring
A fresh supply of grace,

And afterwards wilt let me kiss

Thy beautiful bright face.

Then for thy sake, dear Angel! now

More humble will I be :

But I am weak, and when I fall,

weary not for me;

But love me, love me, Angel dear!
And I will love thee more;

And help me when my soul is cast
Upon the eternal shore.

165

F. W. FABER.