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MOTHER'S LITANY BY THE SICK-BED

OF A CHILD.

SAVIOUR, that of woman born,

Mother-sorrow didst not scorn,

Thou, with whose last anguish strove

One dear thought of earthly love;

Hear and aid!

Low he lies, my precious child,

With his spirit wandering wild

From its gladsome tasks and play,

And its bright thoughts far away:

Saviour, aid!

Pain sits heavy on his brow,

E'en though slumber seal it now;

Round his lip is quivering strife,

In his hand unquiet life;

Aid, oh! aid.

Saviour! loose the burning chain

From his fevered heart and brain,

Give, oh! give his young soul back,
Into its own cloudless track!

Hear and aid!

Thou that said'st, "awake, arise!”
E'en when death had quenched the eyes,

In this hour of grief's deep sighing,

When o'erwearied hope is dying!

Hear and aid!

Yet, oh! make him thine, all thine,

Saviour! whether Death's or mine!

Yet, oh! pour on human love,

Strength, trust, patience, from above!

Hear and aid!

NIGHT HYMN AT SEA.

THE WORDS WRITTEN FOR A MELODY BY FELTON.

NIGHT sinks on the wave,

Hollow gusts are sighing;

Sea birds to their cave

Through the gloom are flying.

Oh! should storms come sweeping,

Thou, in Heaven unsleeping,

O'er thy children vigil keeping,

Hear, hear, and save!

Stars look o'er the sea,

Few, and sad, and shrouded;

Faith our light must be,

When all else is clouded.

Thou, whose voice came thrilling,

Wind and billow stilling,

Speak once more! our prayer fulfilling

Power dwells with Thee!

FEMALE CHARACTERS OF SCRIPTURE.

A SERIES OF SONNETS

Your tents are desolate; your stately steps,
Of all their choral dances, have not left
One trace beside the fountains: your full cup
Of gladness and of trembling, each alike
Is broken: yet, amidst undying things,
The mind still keeps your loveliness, and still
All the fresh glories of the early world
Hang round you in the spirit's pictured halls,
Never to change!

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