BY THE BEDSIDE OF A SICK CHILD.

"David, therefore, besought God for the child."-2 Sam. xii. 16

Now all is done, that love, and care,
And skilful kindness could suggest ;
And He, who heard our anxious prayer,
Will answer as his love thinks best:
O that both hopes and fears were still,
Waiting on his mysterious will!

And yet, both hopes and fears will crowd
Around that bright and precious child;
And both will speak their thoughts aloud,
Till this distracted heart is wild:
O might they all give place to one
Heart-filling prayer, "God's will be done!"

Sometimes a dream of what may be,
Comes, like soft sunshine, o'er the heart;
I hear his prattle at my knee,

Feel his warm cheek near mine, and start To find it ah! so cold and pale,

That hope (and wellnigh faith) doth fail.

His

And then, again, the dream returns,—
Childhood and youth are safely o'er;
eye with manhood's ardor burns,
Fears hover round his path no more:
Hopes, with their buds and blossoms, all
Burst, where his bounding footsteps fall.

He seems to speak, — with anxious ear
My very heart waits breathless by;
His lips are parted, and I hear,

My precious babe, thy restless cry ;-
E'en hope, affrighted, flees away,
As if it had no heart to stay.

Come, then, my God, and take the place
Of these distracting hopes and fears;
'Stablish this trembling heart with grace,

Dry with thine hand these falling tears;
And teach me to confide in thee

The treasure thou couldst trust with me.

Happy if, rescued from the strait
Of being called on to decide,
Here with submissive soul I wait,

By thy decision to abide,

Life, with its blessings and its pain,

Or death, with its "to die is gain."

MONSELL.

FOR MY MOTHER.

"Despise not thy mother when she is old."— Prov. xxiii. 22.

O, HOW Soft that bed must be,

Made in sickness, Lord, by thee! And that rest, how calm, how sweet, Where Jesus and the sufferer meet!

It was the good Physician now

Soothed thy cheek and chafed thy brow;
Whispering, as he raised thy head,-
"It is I, be not afraid."

God of glory, God of grace,

Hear from heaven, thy dwelling-place;

Hear, in mercy, and forgive,

Bid thy child believe, and live.

Bless her, and she shall be blest,
Soothe her, and she shall have rest;

Fix her heart, her hopes, above,
Love her, Lord, for thou art love.

THE AGED.

"Now, also, when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." Ps. lxxi. 18.

WITH years oppressed, with sorrows worn,
Dejected, harassed, sick, forlorn,

To thee, O God, I pray;

To thee my withered hands arise,
To thee I lift these failing eyes,
O, cast me not away !

Thy mercy heard my infant prayer,
Thy love, with all a mother's care,
Sustained my childish days,

Thy goodness watched my ripening youth,
And formed my heart to love thy truth,
And filled my lips with praise.

O Saviour! has thy grace declined?
Can years affect the Eternal mind?
Or time its lone decay?

A thousand ages pass thy sight,
And all their long and weary flight
Is gone like yesterday.

Then, even in age

and grief, thy name

Shall still my languid heart inflame,

And bow my faltering knee. O, yet this bosom feels the fire,

This trembling hand and drooping lyre

Have yet a strain for thee.

Yes, broken, tuneless, still, O Lord,
This voice transported shall record
Thy goodness tried so long:
Till sinking slow, with calm decay,
Its feeble murmurs melt away

Into a seraph's song.

GRANT.

THE DYING FATHER.

Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me."- Jer. xlix. 11.

O THOU faithful God of love!
Gladly I thy promise plead;
Waiting for my last remove,
Hastening to the happy dead:
Lo, I cast on thee my care,
Breathe my latest breath in prayer!

Trusting in thy word alone,
I to thee my children leave;
Call my little ones thine own,

To them all thy blessings give:
Keep them while on earth they breathe,
Save their souls from endless death.

Whom I to thy grace commend,
Under thy protection take:

Be her sure, immortal friend;

Save her for my Saviour's sake:
Free from sin, from sorrow free,
Let my widow trust in thee.

Father of the fatherless,

Husband of the widow prove;