LOSS. GRIEVE not much for loss of wealth, Answer, hast thou lost the shame In blooming childhood's transient grace? In seldom missing what is lost. Thou hast lost To-day, To-morrow,- (It pray thou canst) for poignant sorrow. W. ALLINGHAM. LOST DAYS. THE lost days of my life until to-day, Where were they, could I see them on the street Lie as they fell? Would they be ears of wheat Sown once for food, but trodden into clay? Or golden coins squandered but still to pay? Or drops of blood dabbling the guilty feet? Or such spilt water as in dreams must cheat The throats of men in hell who thirst alway? I do not see them here; but after death God knows I know the faces I shall see, Each one a murdered self, with last low breath. "I am thyself-what hast thou done to me?" “And I—and I-thyself," (lo! each one saith) "And thou thyself to all eternity." DANTE G. ROSSETTI. "MAY BE THE LORD WILL LOOK UPON MY TEARS." DROP, drop slow tears! And bathe those beauteous feet, Which brought from heaven The news and Prince of Peace. K Cease not, wet eyes, For mercy to entreat To cry for vengeance Sin doth never cease. In your deep floods. Drown all my faults and fears, Nor let His eye See sin but through my tears. PHINEAS FLETCHER. Tudicium miki adhuc superest Prayer and Aspiration. BLEST BE THY LOV LEST be Thy Love, dear Lord, That taught us this sweet way, Only to love Thee for Thyself, And for that love obey. O Thou, our souls' chief hope! Where'er we are, Thou canst protect, Whate'er we need, supply. Whether we sleep or wake, Whether we live or die, In death we live, as well as life, If Thine in death we be. JOHN AUSTIN. (1668.) STRENGTH IN PRAYER. LORD, what a change within us one short hour That we are ever overborne with care, And joy and strength and courage are with Thee? TRENCH. READINESS FOR PRAYER. IF we with earnest effort could succeed |