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ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS.

SORE was the famine throughout all the bounds

Of Israel, when ELIJAH, by command

Of God, journeyed to Cherith's failing brook.
No rain-drops fall, no dew-fraught cloud, at morn,
Or closing eve, creeps slowly up the vale;
The withering herbage dies; among the palms,
The shrivelled leaves send to the summer gale
An Autumn rustle; no sweet songster's lay
Is warbled from the branches; scarce is heard
The rill's faint brawl. The prophet looks around,
And trusts in GOD, and lays his silvered head
Upon the flowerless bank; serene he sleeps,
Nor wakes till dawning: Then, with hands enclasped,
And heavenward face, and eyelids closed, he prays
To Him who manna on the desart showered,
To Him who from the rock made fountains gush :

Entranced the man of God remains; till roused By sound of wheeling wings, with grateful heart, He sees the ravens fearless by his side

Alight, and leave the heaven-provided food.

THE

BIRTH OF JESUS ANNOUNCED.

DEEP

EEP was the midnight silence in the fields

Of Bethlehem; hushed the folds; save that, at times Was heard the lamb's faint bleat: the shepherds, stretched

On the green sward, surveyed the starry vault:
The heavens declare the glory of the Lord,

The firmament shews forth thy handy work;

Thus they, their hearts attuned to the Most High;-
When, suddenly, a splendid cloud appeared,
As if a portion of the milky way

Descended slowly in a spiral course.

Near, and more near it draws; then, hovering, floats, High as the soar of eagle, shedding bright,

Upon the folded flocks, a heavenly radiance,

From whence was uttered loud, yet sweet, a voice,

Fear not, I bring good tidings of great joy;
For unto you is born this day a Saviour!
And this shall be a sign to you,—the babe,
Laid lowly in a manger, ye shall find.
The angel spake; when, lo! upon the cloud,
A multitude of Seraphim, enthroned,
Sang praises, saying,-Glory to the Lord
On high; on earth be peace, good will to men.
With sweet response harmoniously they choired,
And while, with heavenly harmony, the song
Arose to God, more bright the buoyant throne
Illumed the land: The prowling lion stops,
Awe-struck, with mane upreared, and flattened head;
And, without turning, backward on his steps
Recoils, aghast, into the desart gloom.

A trembling joy the astonished shepherds prove,
As heavenward re-ascends the vocal blaze
Triumphantly; while, by degrees, the strain
Dies on the ear, that self-deluded listens,-
As if a sound so sweet could never die.

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BEHOLD

MY MOTHER AND MY BRETHREN.

Who is my mother, or my brethren ?—

He spake, and looked on them who sat around,
With a meek smile, of pity blent with love,
More melting than e'er gleamed from human face,-
As when a sun-beam, through a summer shower,
Shines mildly on a little hill-side flock;

And with that look of love, he said, Behold
My mother, and my brethren: for I say,
That whosoe'er shall do the will of God,

He is my brother, sister, mother, all.

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