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wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

"But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."-2 Samuel, xii. 19-23.

10.

-From that day,

He trode serene life's onward way.-P 130.

Something like the sentiment inculcated in this little poem is that contained in the following epitaph on a child, written by one of the early Christians;-it has been kindly pointed out to me by my erudite friend, Mr William Hay:

"Parcite vos lachrymis, dulces cum conjuge natæ,
Viventemque Deo credite flere nefas."

ELEGIAC EFFUSIONS

THE BOWER OF PEACE.

I.

WHEN Hope's illusions all have waned,
And silence broods above the dead,
When Sorrow's gloomy clouds have rain'd
Full oft on man's devoted head,—

The time-taught spirit loves to wend
Back through the past its mazy way,

And see the early larks ascend

Up to the gates of day:

While earth, outspread to childhood's glance, Glow'd like a dream of bright romance.

II.

'Twas in the depth of dazzling May,

When bland the air and blue the skies,
When groves in blossom'd pride were gay,
And flow'rets of innumerous dyes
Gemm'd Earth's green carpet, that I stray'd,
On a salubrious morning bright,
Out to the champaign, and survey'd,
With thrillings of delight,

Landscapes around my path unfurl'd,
That made an Eden of this world.

III.

I listen'd to the blackbird's song,
That from the covert of green trees
Came like a hymn of Heaven along,

Borne on the bloom-enamour'd breeze : I listen'd to the birds that trill'd,

Each in its turn, some witching note;
With insect swarms the air was fill'd,
Their wintry sleep forgot;

Such was the summer feeling there,
God's love seem'd breathing every where.

IV.

The water-lilies in the waves

Rear'd up their crowns all freshly green, And, bursting forth as from their graves, King-cups and daffodils were seen; The lambs were frisking in the mead;

Beneath the white-flower'd chestnut tree

The ox reclin'd his stately head,

And bent his placid knee;

From brakes the linnets carol'd loud,
While larks responded from the cloud.

V.

I stood upon a high green hill,
On an oak stump mine elbow laid,
And, pondering, leant to gaze my fill
Of glade and glen, in pomp array'd.

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