In future years,

From smiles and tears,

Our lives shall luster gather;
And come what may,

We'll always say,

"Thy will be done, our Father."

INNOCENT CHILDHOOD.

Sweet little violets,

Born in the wild-wood;

Purest of loveliness,

Innocent childhood;

Shy as the antelope,

Brown as a berry,

Free as the mountain air,

Romping and merry.

CHORUS.-Tra la, la, la, la, la, &c.

Blue eyes and hazel eyes
Peep from the hedges,
Shaded by sun-bonnets
Fray'd at the edges;
Up in the apple-trees,
Heedless of danger,
Manhood in embryo

Stares at the stranger.

Out in the hilly patch,

Seeking the berriesUnder the orchard trees, Feasting on cherriesTrampling the clover blooms Down 'mong the grasses, No voice to hinder them, Dear lads and lasses.

Dear little innocents!

Born in the wild-wood;

Oh, that all little ones

Had such a childhood!

Heaven's blue over them,

Earth's green beneath them,

No sweeter heritage

Could we bequeath them.

I go to see His glory,

Whom we have loved below;

I go, the blessed angels

And holy saints to know;

Our lovely ones departed,

I go to find again,

And wait for you to join us:

Good-night, good-night till then.

The two hymns following are taken from "The Joy," issued by Messrs. Church & Co., in 1873 :

THE FOUR RULERS.

"Is it safe? is it safe?" hear the timid cry!

"Who will tell me what to do?

Is it safe to wait? is it safe to try?

Ah me, if I only knew!"

Alas, said I, come tell me, pray,

What foolish man is this?

The laughing echoes seemed to say,

"His name is COWARDICE."

Will it pay? will it pay?" came a frenzied yell

From a surging, scowling crowd;

From the men of State and of Church as well

In sorrow my head I bowed.

Can man, immortal man, thought I,

So low and selfish be?

Their gilded motto streamed on high,

I read it POLICY.

"Will it please? will it please?" 'twas a soulless sound,
Floating on the perfumed air,

And again I sighed as I looked around
On the captives of fashion there.
What ho," I cried, "and whither now?

Whose worshipers are ye?"

Before their queen I saw them bow;

"Twas cruel VANITY.

CHAPTER XVI.

GOSPEL

SONGS.-" NEARER TO ME"-" WE TRUST IN THE LORD

MUCH OWEST THOU?"-"THE THREE MOUNTAINS"-GOSPEL

HOW HYMNS

AND SACRED SONGS.-"WHERE ARE THE NINE?"-" WHERE HAST THOU GLEANED TO-DAY?"-" NO OTHER NAME"-GOSPEL HYMNS NO. 2.-" IN ZION'S ROCK ABIDING"-"I'M ON THE LORD'S SIDE"-" HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR!"

N 1874, Messrs. Church & Co. published "Gospel Songs, a Choice

I of Hymus

ings, Sunday Schools, etc., by P. P. Bliss." In addition to compositions formerly published, the following were contained in that work :

NEARER TO ME.

Be near, O God, to me,
Nearer to me;

So shall I truly be

Nearer to Thee."

Thy face I cannot see,

Still be Thou near to me,

Nearer, O God, to me,

Nearer to me.

Fold me beneath Thy wing,

O Savior divine:

There may I sweetly sing,

66 'Jesus is mine."

O'er all life's stormy sea,

Still be Thou near to me,

Nearer, O God, to me,

Nearer to me.

Thy hand, in youth's wild way,

Did me uphold;

Forsake me not, I pray,

When I am old;