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SEASONS OF PRAYER.

His light is on all below and above,
The light of gladness, and life, and love.
Oh, then, on the breath of this early air,'
Send up the incense2 of grateful prayer.

2. To prayer!—for the glorious sun is gone,
And the gathering darkness of night comes cn.
Like a curtain from God's kind hand it flows,
To shade the couch where his children repose.
Then kneel, while the watching stars are bright,
And give your last thoughts to the Guardian3 of night.
3. To prayer!-for the day that God has bless'd
Comes tranquilly on with its welcome rest.
It speaks of creation's early bloom;

It speaks of the Prince who burst the tomb.
Then summon the spirit's exalted3 powers,
And devote to Heaven the hallow'd hours.

4. There are smiles and tears in the mother's eyes,
For her new-born infant beside her lies.

O hour of bliss!' when the heart o'erflows
With rapture a mother only knows.

Let it gush forth in words of fervent' prayer;
Let it swell up to heaven for her precious care.

5. There are smiles and tears in that gathering band,
Where the heart is pledged with the trembling hand.
What trying thoughts in her bosom swell,

As the bride bids parents and home farewell!
Kneel down by the side of the tearful fair,
And strengthen the perilous hour with prayer.

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'Air (år) — In' cense, the burning of some sweet-smelling substance, practiced in the worship of the gods of antiquity, and to the true God, under the Jewish dispensation. It is still practiced in the Romish Church, and the term is still in use to express any act of devotion.— * Guardian (går' de an), keeper; protector; here means, God. Trån'quil ly, calmly; without noise or commotion.- Exalted (egz ált' ed), very high; superior,— Hål' lowed, sacred; made holy.-' Bliss, happiness in the highest degree.—3 Råpt' ure, excessive pleasure; delight - Får' vent, earnest; warm.-10 Pledged, engaged; given.

. Kneel down by the dying sinner's side,
And pray for his soul through Him who died.
Large drops of anguish' are thick on his brow,-
Oh, what is earth and its pleasures now!
And what shall assuage' his dark despair,
But the penitent cry of humble prayer?

1. Kneel down at the couch of departing faith,
And hear the last words the believer saith.
He has bidden adieu to his earthly friends;
There is peace in his eye that upward bends;
There is peace in his calm, confiding air;

For his last thoughts are God's, his last words prayer.

8. The voice of prayer at the sable3 bier!*

A voice to sustain, to soothe, and to cheer.
It commends the spirit to God who gave;
It lifts the thoughts from the cold, dark grave;
It points to the glory where he shall reign,
Who whisper'd, "Thy brother shall rise again."'

9. The voice of prayer in the world of bliss!
But gladder, purer, than rose from this.
The ransom'd shout to their glorious King,
Where no sorrow shades the soul as they sing;
But a sinless and joyous song they raise,
And their voice of prayer is eternal praise.

10. Awake! awake! and gird up thy strength,
To join that holy band at length.

To Him who unceasing love displays,

Whom the powers of nature unceasingly praise;
To Him thy heart and thy hours be given;
For a life of prayer is a life of heaven.

1 Anguish (ång' gwish), bitter pain; sorrow. soften; lessen; soothe. Så' ble, dark; black.a frame for carrying the dead to the grave.

HENRY WARE, JR.

Assuage (as swȧj'), Bier, a carriage, or

CONFESSIONS OF A BASHFUL. MAN.

179

You

75. CONFESSIONS OF A BASHFUL MAN.

must know that in my person I am tall and thin, with a

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fair complexion,' and light flaxen hair; but of such extreine sensibility to shame, that, on the smallest subject of confusion, my blood all rushes into my cheeks. Having been sent to the university, the consciousness of my unhappy failing made me avoid society, and I became enamored3 of a college life. But from that peaceful retreat I was called by the deaths of my father and of a rich uncle, who left me a fortune of thirty thousand pounds.

2. I now purchased an estate in the country; and my company was much courted by the surrounding families, especially by such as had marriageable daughters. Though I wished to accept their offered friendship, I was forced repeatedly to excuse myself, under the pretence of not being quite settled. Often, when I have ridden or walked with full intention of returning their visits, my heart has failed me as I approached their gates, and I have returned homeward, resolving to try again the next day. Determined, however, at length to conquer my timidity, I accepted of an invitation to dine with one, whose open, easy manner left me no room to doubt a cordial welcome.

3. Sir Thomas Friendly, who lives about two miles distant, is a băronet, with an estate joining to that I purchased. He has two sons and five daughters, all grown up, and living, with their mother and a maiden sister of Sir Thomas's, at Friendly Hall. Conscious of my unpolished gait, I have, for some time past, taken private lessons of a professor, who teaches "grown gentlemen to dance;" and though I at first found wondrous difficulty in the art he taught, my knowledge of the mathematics was of prodigious use in teaching me the equilibrium' of my body, and the due adjustment of the center of gravity to the five positions."

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1 Complexion (kom plêk' shun), color of the face or skin. U ni vẻr'si ty, a school in which are taught all branches of learning.—3 En åm'ored, having love for.- Cor' di al, hearty; warm ; sincere.- Bår' on et, a title of honor between knight and baron.— Prodigious (pro did' jus), very great; wonderful.-' E qui lib' ri um, balancing; a condition in which all the parts balance each.-8 Center of gravity, the point around which all the parts balance.- Positions (po zish' unz), the manners of standing directed by the dancing-master, which are five in number.

4. Having acquired the art of walking without tottering, and learned to make a bow, I boldly ventured to obey the baronet's invitation to a family dinner, not doubting but my new acquirements would enable me to see the ladies with tolerable intrepidity; but, alas! how vain are all the hopes of theory, when unsupported by habitual practice!

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5. As I approached the house, a dinner-bell alarmed my fears, lěst I had spoiled the dinner by want of punctuality. Impressed with this idea, I blushed the deepest crimson, as my name was repeatedly announced by the several livery-servants,3 who ushered me into the library, hardly knowing what or whom I saw. At my first entrance, I summoned up all my fortitude, and made my new-learned bow to Lady Friendly; but, unfortunately, in bringing back my left foot to the third position, I trod upon the gouty toe of poor Sir Thomas, who had followed close at my heels, to be the no'menclator1 of the family.

6. The confusion this occasioned in me is hardly to be con ceived, since none but bashful men can judge of my distress. The baronet's politeness, by degrees, dissipated my concern; and I was astonished to see how far good-breeding could enable him to suppress his feelings, and to appear with perfect ease after so painful an accident.

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7. The cheerfulness of her ladyship, and the familiar chat of the young ladies, insensibly led me to throw off my reserve and sheepishness, till, at length, I ventured to join the conversation, and even to start fresh subjects. The library being richly furnished with books in elegant bindings, I conceived Sir Thomas to be a man of literature, and ventured to give my opinion concerning the several editions of the Greek classics, in which the băronet's opinion exactly coincided with my own.

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8. To this subject I was led by observing an edition of Xenophon' in sixteen volumes, which (as I had never before heard of

In tre pid' i ty, fearlessness; without trembling.-2 The' o ry, plan; general principles; foundation of an opinion.- Liv' er y-serv' ants, servants distinguished by their dress.-- No' men clà tor, one who an nounces names. is' si påt ed, scattered; removed.- Sup press', check; stifle; conceal.' Sheep' ish ness, awkwardness; timidity.— Clås' sics, authors or works of the first rank.-Xenophon (zèn' o fon), a celebrated Greek historian and general; writings of Xenophon

CONFESSIONS OF A BASHFUL MAN.

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such a thing) greatly excited my curiosity, and I rose up to examine what it could be. Sir Thomas saw what I was about, and, as I supposed, willing to save me trouble, rose to take down the book; which made me more eager to prevent him, and, hastily laying my hand on the first volume, I pulled it forcibly; but, lo! instead of books, a board, which, by leather and gilding, had been made to look like sixteen volumes, came tumbling down, and unluckily pitched upon a wedgwood' inkstand on the table under it.

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9. In vain did Sir Thomas assure me there was no harm; I saw the ink streaming from an inlaid table on the Turkey carpet, and, scarce knowing what did, attempted to stop its progress with my cambric handkerchief. In the height of this confusion, we were informed that dinner was served up; and I, with joy, perceived that the bell, which at first had so alarmed my fears, was only the half-hour dinner-bell.

76. CONFESSIONS OF A BASHFUL MAN-CONCLUDED.

IN walking through the hall, and suite of apartments, to the

dining-room, I had time to collect my scattered senses, and was desired to take my seat betwixt Lady Friendly and her eldest daughter at the table. Since the fall of the wooden Xenophon, my face had been continually burning like a firebrand; and I was just beginning to recover myself, and to feel comfortably cool, when an unlooked-for accident rekindled all my heat and blushes.

2. Having set my plate of soup too near the edge of the table in bowing to Miss Dinah, who politely complimented the pattern of my waistcoat, I tumbled the whole scalding contents into my lap. In spite of an immediate supply of napkins to wipe the surface of my clothes, my black silk dress was not stout enough to save me from the painful effects of this sudden fomentation;3 and for some minutes I seemed to be in a boiling caldron ; but,

1 Wedgwood, a kind of pottery, which takes its name from the inventor, Mr. Wedgwood.- Suite (swet), a set; number of things used together. Fo men tå' tion, a bathing with fluids.--* Câl' dron, a large kettle or boiler.

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