THE WIFE'S ADIEU.

REV. T. DALE.

I SOAR to the realms of the bright and the blest,
Where the mourner is still, and the weary at rest ;
I rise to my glories, whilst thou must remain
In the dark vale of tears, to reproach and to pain.

And hence, though my heart throbs exultant to die,
And visions of glory unfold to mine eye,
The bosom that struggles and pants to be free
Still cleaves to the dust with affection for thee.

I dread not another, more fond and more fair,
When I am forgotten, thy fortunes should share ;
Oh! find but a bosom devoted as mine,

And my

heart's choicest blessing for ever be thine!

I fear lest the stroke which now rends us apart,
From the faith of the Saviour should sever thy heart;
Lest seeking in anguish relief from despair,

The vain world should lure thee to look for it there.

F

But oh! should it tempt thee awhile to resign
A treasure so precious, a life so divine—

Should the light of His glory be hidden from thee,
In the hour of thy darkness, oh, think upon me!

Remember the hope that enlivens me now,

Though the damps of the conflict are cold on my brow~ The faith that has nerved me in transport to see

The hour of my doom, though it tears me from thee!

VICTORIA'S TEARS.

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.

"O MAIDEN, heir of kings,

A king has left his place;

The majesty of death has swept

All other from his face.

And thou, upon thy mother's breast,

No longer lean adown,

But take the glory for the rest,

And rule the land that loves thee best."

The maiden wept ;

She wept to wear a crown!

They deck'd her courtly halls

They rein'd her hundred steeds—

They shouted at her palace gate,

"A noble Queen succeeds!”

Her name has stirr'd the mountains' sleep, Her praise has fill'd the town:

And mourners, God had stricken deep, Look'd hearkening up, and did not weep. Alone she wept,

Who wept to wear a crown!

She saw no purple shine,

For tears had dimm'd her eyes:

She only knew her childhood's flowers
Were happier pageantries.

And while the heralds play'd their part

For million shouts to drown

"God save the Queen!" from hill to mart— She heard through all her beating heart,

And turn'd and wept ;

She wept to wear a crown.

God save thee, weeping Queen!
Thou shalt be well beloved;
The tyrant's sceptre cannot move
As those pure tears have moved
The nature in thine eyes we see
Which tyrants cannot own-
The love that guardeth liberties :
Strange blessing on the nation lies,
Whose sovereign wept-

Yea wept to wear its crown.

God bless thee, weeping Queen!

With blessing more divine;

And fill with better love than earth's
That tender heart of thine;

That when the thrones of earth shall be

As low as graves, brought down,

A pierced hand may give to thee

A crown which angels shout to sec:

Thou wilt not weep

To wear that heavenly crown!

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS.

MRS ABDY.

SAVIOUR Of

peace, of mercy, and affection! Great was thy might to succour and to save, When Bethany's sad sisters in dejection

Led thee to weep upon their brother's grave. Thy word was spoken: they beheld in wonder That blessed word reverse the spoiler's doom; Thy presence broke the bands of death asunder, Thy voice restored the tenant of the tomb.

Lord, though to serve thee humbly we endeavour,
We may not hope such bounties to attain ;
We lay our loved ones in the grave for ever,
Nor shall they rise to mortal life again ;—
Yet may we each recall, in heavy sadness,

Some friends for whom our secret tears are shed;
O Lord, convert our sorrow into gladness—
Raise, we implore, the spiritually dead!

The boon of life they seemingly inherit,

And in the crowd they bear an active part;

But frozen is the dull and joyless spirit,

Grace has not touch'd the cold and languid heart.