And in my heart of hearts would hear

What to her own she deigns to tell.

'Tis misty all, both sight and sound

I only know ’tis fair and sweet"Tis wandering on enchanted ground

With dizzy brow and tottering feet.

But patience ! there may come a time

When these dull ears shall scan aright Strains, that outring Earth's drowsy chime,

As Heaven outshines the taper's light.

These eyes, that dazzled now and weak,

At glancing motes in sunshine wink, Shall see the King'si full glory break,

Nor from the blissful vision shrink :

In fearless love and hope uncloy'd

For ever on that ocean bright Empower'd to gaze; and undestroy'd,

Deeper and deeper plunge in light.

i

Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off.

Isaiah xxxiii. 17.

Though scarcely now their laggard glance

Reach to an arrow's flight, that day They shall behold, and not in trance,

The region “ very far away.”

If Memory sometimes at our spell

Refuse to speak, or speak amiss, We shall not need her where we dwell

Ever in sight of all our bliss.

Meanwhile, if over sea or sky

Some tender lights unnotic'd fleet, Or on lov'd features dawn and die,

Unread, to us, their lesson sweet ;

Yet are there saddening sights around,

Which Heaven, in mercy, spares us too, And we see far in holy ground,

If duly purg'd our mental view.

The distant landscape draws not nigh

For all our gazing ; but the soul, That upward looks, may still descry

Nearer, each day, the brightening goal.

And thou, too curious ear, that fain

Wouldst thread the maze of Harmony, Content thee with one simple strain,

The lowlier, sure, the worthier thee;

Till thou art duly trained, and taught

The concord sweet of Love divine Then, with that inward Music fraught,

For ever rise, and sing, and shine.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God. St. Luke ii. 13.

WHAT sudden blaze of song

Spreads o'er th’ expanse of Heav'n?
In waves of light it thrills along,

Th' angelic signal given-
Glory to God !” from yonder central fire
Flows out the echoing lay beyond the starry quire;

Like circles widening round

Upon a clear blue river,
Orb after orb, the wondrous sound

Is echoed on for ever : Glory to God on high, on earth be peace, “And love towards men of lovel_salvation and release."

66

Yet stay, before thou dare

To join that festal throng ;
Listen and mark what gentle air

First stirr'd the tide of song; 'Tis not, “the Saviour born in David's home, “ To whom for power and health obedient worlds should

come :”.

'Tis not, “ the Christ the Lord :" —

With fix'd adoring look
The choir of Angels caught the word,

Nor yet their silence broke:
But when they heard the sign, where Christ should be,
In sudden light they shone and heavenly harmony.

Wrapp'd in his swaddling bands,

And in his manger laid,
The hope and glory of all lands

Is come to the world's aid: .
No peaceful home upon his cradle smild,
Guests rudely went and came, where slept the royal child.

But where Thou dwellest, Lord,

No other thought should be,
Once duly welcom'd and ador’d,

How should I part with Thee?
Bethlehem must lose Thee soon, but Thou wilt grace
The single heart to be thy sure abiding-place.

Thee, on the bosom laid

Of a pure virgin mind,
In quiet ever, and in shade,
Shepherd and sage may

find; They, who have bow'd untaught to Nature's sway, And they, who follow Truth along her star-pav'd way.

The pastoral spirits first

Approach Thee, Babe divine,
For they in lowly thoughts are nurs’d,