Go with the name of Jesus to the dying, And speak that Name in all its living power; Why should thy fainting heart grow chill and weary? One little hour!—and then the glorious crowning- Eternity's long, deep, thanksgiving psalm! C. P. PROVIDENCE OF GOD EXEMPLIFIED. "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed."-PSALM XXXvii. 3. It was a cold and bleak evening in a most severe winter. The snow, driven by the furious north wind, was piled into broad and deep banks along the street. Few dared or were willing to venture abroad. It was a night which the poor will not soon forget. In a most miserable and shattered tenement, somewhat remote from any other habitation, there then resided an aged widow, all alone, and yet not alone. During the weary day, in her excessive weakness, she had been unable to step beyond her door-stone, or to . communicate her wants to any friend. Her last morsel of bread had been long since consumed, and none heeded her destitution. She sat at evening by her small fire, half famished. with hunger,—from exhaustion unable to sleep—preparing to meet that dreadful fate from which she knew not how she should be spared. She had prayed that morning in full faith, "Give me this day my daily bread," but the shadows of evening had descended upon her, and her faithful prayer had not been answered. While such thoughts were passing through her weary mind, she heard the door suddenly open, and as suddenly shut again, and found deposited in her entry, by an unknown hand, a basket crowded with all those articles of comfortable food which had all the sweetness of manna to her. What were her feelings on that night, God only knows! but they were such as arise up to Him-the great deliverer and provider-from ten thousand hearts every day. Many days elapsed before the widow learnt through what messenger God had sent to her that timely aid. It was at the impulse of a little child, who on that dismal night, seated at the cheerful fire-side of her home, was led to express the generous wish, that that poor widow, whom she had sometimes visited, could have some of her numerous comforts and good cheer. The parents followed out the benevolent suggestion; and a servant was soon despatched to her mean abode with a plentiful supply. What a beautiful glimpse of the chain of causes, all fastened at the throne of God! An angel with noiseless wing, came down, and stirred the peaceful breast of a pure-hearted child, and with no pomp or circumstance of the outward miracle, the widow's prayer answered. "Happy the man whose hopes rely On Israel's God: He made the sky, His truth for ever stands secure; He saves th' oppressed, He feeds the poor; was THE WATER AND THE FLOWER. ONE quiet eve, in years gone by, whilst lingering by a stile That stood across the wayside path, to watch the clouds awhile, Ere thought had lifted from my heart the shadow of her wing, I saw a child-a little girl-returning from the spring. Her well-filled pitcher lightly pressed her curls of silken hair, Supported by a tiny hand, and she was very fair ; With something in her sunny face, pure as the sky above, And something in her gentle eye that guardian angels. love. A little flower, blossoming a step or two aside, This happy child of innocence with sudden joy espied; Then letting down her pitcher, with the same sweet joyous song, She watered it half laughingly, and gaily tripped along. The flower seemed to raise its head, bowed by a sum mer's sun, And smiled beneath the act which she unconsciously had done; While wandering on with fairy tread, as merry as before, I saw her pass the garden gate, and close the cottage door. Oh! often when this little scene has crossed my thoughts again, I've wondered if, with all the love that warmed her spirit then, This little girl has tripped through life as joyous to the last, Refreshing all the weary hearts that met her as she passed; If, with unconscious tenderness, her heart has paused to bless The poor amid their poverty, the sad in their distress; Still following up God's teaching, day by day and hour by hour, Foreshadowed in that simple scene-the water and the flower; If, with a song as pure and sweet, the voice has hushed to rest The troubles of an aching heart, a sorrow-laden breast; If, to the wayside wanderer, where'er her steps have led, The pitcher hath been lowered ever kindly from her head. Oh! holy, happy Charity! how many pleasures, lost By those who have not known thee, had been worthy of the cost; How many heads a blessing from a better world had borne, Whilst lowering the pitcher to the weary and the worn. Thou who hast stood beside God's spring of blessings day by day, To fill the pitcher of thy wants and carry it away; roam, Are resting by the wayside that leads thee to thy home; O let thy heart beat ever quick in actions kind to be, Remember Him whose bounty has at all times followed thee; And deem it not a trouble, in the wayside or the town, To linger where the weary are, and let the pitcher down. CHRIST AND THE LITTLE ONES. "THE Master has come over Jordan," Said Hannah the mother one day ; For the Lord to look upon." The Father looked at her kindly, But he shook his head and smiled: "Now who but a doting mother 66 Would think of a thing so wild? If the children were tortured by demons, Like many in Israel". Nay, do not hinder me, Nathan, I feel such a burden of care, If I carry it to the Master, Perhaps I shall leave it there. "If He lay His hand on the children, My heart will be lighter, I know; For a blessing for ever and ever So over the hills of Judah, Along by the vine-rows green, With Esther asleep on her bosom, And Rachel her brothers between ; 'Mong the people who hung on His teaching, Or waited His touch and His word, Through the row of proud Pharisees listening, She pressed to the feet of the Lord. |