So the wild wind spreads its perfumed caresses,
Evil and thankless the desert it blesses;

Bitter the wave that its soft pinion presses,

Never it ceaseth to whisper and sing.

What if the hard heart give thorns for thy roses ?
What if on rocks thy tired bosom reposes?
Sweetest is music with minor key'd closes,
Fairest the vine that on ruins will cling.

Almost the day of thy giving is over;

Ere from the grass dies the bee-haunted clover Thou wilt have vanished from friend and from lover:

What shall thy longing avail in the grave?

Give, as the heart gives whose fetters are breaking, Life, love, and hope, all thy dreams and thy waking, Soon heaven's river thy soul-fever slaking,

Thou shalt know God and the gift that He gave.

鲜

Forgiven.

IND hearts are here, yet would the tenderest one
Have limits to its mercy, God has none;

And man's forgiveness may be true and sweet,
And yet he stoops to give it; more complete
Is love that lays forgiveness at thy feet

And pleads with thee to raise it: only heaven
Means crowned, not vanquished, when it say

"forgiven."

Household Words.

Redeemed.

"There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."-Luke xv, 10.

Redeemed, redeemed,

The word went forth from the Father's throne
And a flood of light from His blessed Son
Upon the suppliant streamed;

And the angel-host, with one accord,
Sent forth a shout and song,

For another soul by their blessed Lord
Was promised to their throng.

Forgiven, forgiven,

The words went up as the thunder's roll,
And on the humble trembling soul

The echos fell from heaven;

And the angels touched the silver strings
Of their harps, and caught the word,
Veiled their glad faces with their wings,
And bowed before the Lord.

Rejoice, rejoice,

Great was the sound of joy above,
And brighter seemed the realms of love,
Sweeter the angels' voice,

And all because one weary heart

Had courage to be blest,

Had taken up the better part,

And bathed its wings in rest.

What no mortal ear hath heard, What on thought hath never been

In its noblest flights conferred,This hath God prepared in store For His people evermore.

When the shaded pilgrim land
Fades before my closing eye,
Then revealed on either hand
Heaven's own scenery shall lie:
Then the veil of flesh shall fall,
Now concealing, darkening all.

Heavenly landscapes, calmly bright, Life's pure river murmuring low,

Forms of loveliness and light,

Lost to earth long time ago,—

Yes, mine own, lamented long,

Shine amid the angel throng!

Many a joyful sight was given,
Many a lovely vision here,
Hill, and vale, and starry even,
Friendship's smile, affection's tear,

These were shadows sent in love,
Of realities above!

When upon my wearied ear
Earth's last echos faintly die,
Then shall angel-harps draw near,
All the chorus of the sky;
Long-hushed voices blend again,
Sweetly, in that welcome-strain.

Here were sweet and varied tones,
Bird, and breeze, and fountain's fall,

Yet creation's travail-groans

Ever sadly sighed through all; There no discord jars the air, Harmony is perfect there!

When this aching heart shall rest,
All its busy pulses o'er,
From the mortal robes undrest

Shall my spirit upward soar.

Then shall unimagined joy,

All my thoughts and powers employ.

Here devotion's healing balm

Often came to soothe my breast, Hours of deep and holy calm,

Earnests of eternal rest.

But the bliss was here unknown,

Which shall there be all my own!

Jesus reigns, the Life, the Sun,

Of that wondrous world above;

All the clouds and storms are gone,

All is light, and all is love. All the shadows melt away

In the blaze of perfect day!

Hymns from the Land of Luther.

A Voice from Heaven.

SHINE in the light of God,

His likeness stamps my brow,

Through the shadows of death my feet have trod, And I reign in glory now!

No breaking heart is here,

No keen and thrilling pain,

No wasted cheek, where the frequent tear

Hath rolled and left its stain.

I have found the joys of heaven,

I am one of the angel band;

To my head a crown of gold is given,
And a harp is in my hand!

I have learnt the song they sing

Whom Jesus hath set free;

And the glorious walls of heaven still ring

With my new-born melody.

No sin, no grief, no pain,

Safe in my happy home!

My fears all fled, my doubts all slain,

My home of triumph come!