244

FORGIVE THY BROTHER.

We'll call each little charming beam
A sister or a brother!

He thinks no shame to kiss us,

Although we ragged go;

For his kind looks are the only looks
Of kindness that we know.

We'll tell him all our sorrows, Tom!
We'll tell him all our care,

We'll tell him where we sleep at night,
We'll tell him how we fare;
And then - O then! — to cheer us,

How sweetly he will glow! -
For his kind looks are the only looks
Of kindness that we know.

CHOICE POEMS.

FORGIVE THY BROTHER.

FORGIVE thy brother who has erred,
And take him by the hand;
And as you speak a generous word,
Assist his feet to stand.

Joy 'll sparkle in his eye to hear
Thy words of gentle tone;
Forgiveness breathed upon his ear,
And love and kindness shown,

THE BEGGAR'S REVENGE.

Will make him rise to life again,
And shun the path he trod,
When, in the round of Folly's train,
He broke from Truth and God.

The glow of heaven has tinged his brow,
Speak, and forgive him — speak!

THE BEGGAR'S REVENGE.

245

THE king's proud favorite at a beggar threw a stone: He picked it up, as if it had for alms been thrown.

He bore it in his bosom long with bitter ache, And sought his time revenge with that same stone to take.

One day he heard a street mob's hoarse commingled cry : The favorite comes! - but draws no more the admiring

eye.

He rides an ass, from all his haughty state disgraced; And by the rabble's mocking gibes his way is traced.

The stone from out his bosom swift the beggar draws, And, flinging it away, exclaims, "A fool I was!"

246

'Tis madness to attack, when in his power, your foe, And meanness then to strike when he has fallen low. ALGER'S ORIENTAL POETRY.

SPEAK GENTLY.

SPEAK GENTLY.

SPEAK gently! it is better far
To rule by love than fear;
Speak gently! let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here.

Speak gently to the aged one;

Grieve not the care-worn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run:

Let such in peace depart.

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor,
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure
Without an unkind word!

Speak gently! He who gave his life,
To bend man's stubborn will,
When elements were in fierce strife,
Said to them, "Peace, be still! "

Speak gently! 't is a little thing,
Dropped in the heart's deep well,
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.

NO.

NO.

THERE's a word very short, but decided and plain,
And speaks to the purpose at once;

Not a child but its meaning can quickly explain,

Yet oft 't is too hard to pronounce :

What a world of vexation and trouble 't would spare, What pleasure and peace 't would bestow,

If we turned, when temptation would lure and ensnare, And firmly repulsed it with "No!"

When the idler would tempt us, with trifles and play, To waste the bright moments so dear;

When the scoffer unholy our faith would gainsay,

And mock at the word we revere ;

247

When deception and falsehood and guile would invite, And fleeting enjoyments bestow,

Never palter with truth for a transient delight,

But check the first impulse with "No!"

In the morning of life, in maturity's day,
Whatever the cares that engage,

Be the precepts of virtue our guide and our stay,
Our solace from youth unto age!

Thus the heart shall ne'er waver, no matter how tried,

But firmness and constancy show,

And when passion or folly would draw us aside,
We'd spurn the seducer with "No! "

GEORGE BENNETT.

248

THE FORSAKEN.

O THOU whose brow, serene and calm,
From earthly stain is free,

View not with scorn that lost one's fate,
She once was pure like thee.

THE FORSAKEN.

Though in thy lovely form and face
Health's rosy glow we see,

Yet shrink not from that faded form
She once was fair like thee!

Thou in thy father's home may dwell
In peace and purity;

Yet pity her, though friendless now,
She once was blest like thee.

Perchance the smiles of love are thine,
Its joyful ecstasy;

Then weep for that forsaken one,
She once was loved like thee.

And still, 'mid shame, and guilt, and woe.
One Being loves her still!

Who makes thee blest, and pours on her
The world's extremest ill.

He knows the secret lure that led
Her youthful steps astray;