ONLY "A LITTLE WHILE."

I saw the sun arise in light at morning; My being drank the beauty, like some dream That comes when all is dark, the gloom adorning With gilding mystic—bright—a soul-world gleam

I saw the noontide flush on grove and meadow, I heard the coo of birds that seem'd at rest; And the fair radiance, all undimm'd by shadow, Was like a foretaste of the bright and blest.

I saw, when evening's mellow sunlight glinted, Far and anear, gleaming on wood and gold; Mountain and valley shone all carmine-tinted, Old Ocean's burnished breast seem'd heaving gold.

Only "a little while" since morn rose brightly, Followed by noontide calm: a little while Since sunset glory lit all Nature, lightly Blessing the earth with one sweet parting smile.

Only "a little while" a meet type, showing How brief is earth's short day—how soon 'tis o'er; Morn, noon, and night, still onward, onward going, So soon to land us on the eternal shore.

Only "a little while," poor child of sadness! The shadows must come first, the clouds and gloom; Then, the full glow of Heaven, the new born gladness, When Christ, thy risen Lord, prepares thee room.

In that fair Home, where He has passed before us, And in "a little while," shall call us in; Here, with His love's own glory shining o'er us, Strong in His strength, we run that goal to win!

Only "a little while," gay child of pleasure! The night is spent so far—the morn is near; Then think! oh, think! where hast thou hid thy treasure? In these frail, dying toys that charm thee here.

Oh! in "a little while," their borrowed radiance Shall fade, as starlight fades when dawn is nigh; And all earth's glittering show, her smiles and fragrance, In the fierce fire of wrath shall melt and die!

Only "a little while!" would we but ponder These three brief words, their length and breadth and height A solemn sign to each, a ray of wonder From the Unseen, to light the spirit's night.

"A little while"—past, present, future blending Shall be a tale soon told, and pass'd for aye; Then the eternal life, that cannot die—unending, Undying woe, or Heaven's own dazzling day.

LIFE'S PATHWAY.

We walk among labyrinths of wonder, but tread the mazes with a club; We sail in chartless seas, but behold! the Pole-star is above us—TUPPER.

Life is a pathway, stretched from morn till eve, O'er which, through shade and sunshine, we must go And, whether bright or dark this life we live, Its end must bring us unto joy or woe; Joy, that no mortal's holiest dreams can know, Or dread, unending; fearful depths of woe!

This path is fair at morning, wondrous fair; With verdant windings, hiding from the view The far-off journey, and what may be there, Hid by the Future hilltops, high and blue; And morn's glad sunlight smiles from dazzling skies, Gilding the path we tread with heaven-lent dyes.

Oh! youth is sweet! for tender hands are near, And eyes aglow with Love's own magic ray, Heart meeting heart, each to the other dear— Through hours that, ere we count them, glide away; For none can turn to seek a cherished place— One only life, whose path we can't retrace!

And soon they pass, these meteor joys of earth, That flash and gleam along the troubled way; Till wondering wanderers question if their birth Dawns from a Land that knows no sad decay; Some sinless region, from whose portals bright These fleeting rays descent in heavenly light.

Such glorious hues, in golden glory glowing, When sunrise splendour glads the morning sky; That bloom awhile, and as they bloom bestowing Beauty and light, so soon to melt and die, Leaving a yearning in the darkened heart To know more closely what we see in part.

The noonday calm, the sunny Summer hours, The wild-birds' warbled songs, the balmy air; Life's early pathway strewn with earth's sweet flowers— Can these be dying things—so bright, so fair? Or lights to lead us o'er a chequered road, And cheer the shadows to a blest abode?

Oh! spell-bound Fancy fain would wander far, If we might only break this mortal thrall; And roam, unshackled, o'er Time's broken bar, Trace these gleams whose glory lights on all! Then would we see in all below, above, The Great Creator's perfect power and love.

Yet in this path that stretched before us lies We may, as oft with weary feet we tread Through chequered ways of change, see through the mysteries The living promise from their gleamings shed, That far from mortal things, and sin, and care, There is a glorious world, unchanging, fair.

Oh! may we trace in all that lives and grows The shadows of a perfect life, unseen; As when some star that in the twilight glows In mirrored dimly in the water's sheen, And we can see, in the calm lake's cool breast, The far-off glow that lingers in the West.

Thus, as we onward go, may thoughts be ours Whose holy pureness in our souls may raise An anthem of thanksgiving, till life's hours, Ending, shall find our hearts' attuned to praise That Love which cheered us on earth's chequered way, O'er the long path that led to Cloudless Day!