Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]
[merged small][graphic]

FEBRUARY, 1847.

A CHILD EMBRACING ITS MOTHER.

LOVE thy mother, little one!

Kiss and clasp her neck again :
Hereafter she may have a son

Will kiss and clasp her neck in vain.
Love thy mother, little one!

Gaze upon her living eyes,

And mirror back her love for thee:
Hereafter thou may'st shudder sighs
To meet them when they cannot see.
Gaze upon her living eyes!

Press her lips the while they glow

With love that they have often told:
Hereafter thou may'st press in woe,

And kiss them till thine own are cold.
Press her lips the while they glow !

T. HOOD.

GAZA.

THIS city is situated near the sea-coast, and lies on the road leading to Hebron. It is a very ancient place, as we find it mentioned in Gen. x. 19, when it is given as one of the border-cities of the Canaanites. You will also find it spoken of in 1 Sam. vi. 17, as one of the five Philistine cities

which gave each a golden emerod as a trespassoffering to the Lord.

Gaza is celebrated for the exploits recorded of Samson, who "took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of a hill that is before Hebron." The Philistines then took Samson, and put out his eyes, and brought him to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass. He, however, pulled down the temple of Dagon, god of the Philistines; and by this means slew, together with himself, all the lords of the Philistines. (Judges xvi.)

It was also on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza that Philip baptized the eunuch "of great authority under Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians." (Acts viii. 26, &c.)

THE PILOT'S BIBLE.

VISITING, a short time since, the pier of which extends a considerable distance into the sea, we entered a small house, built at its commencement, for the shelter and accommodation of pilots, when awaiting the approach of vessels. Glancing around the simple apartment, we observed, in one corner, a small space curtained off, and on advancing towards it, discovered a large Bible, securely fastened to a neat reading-desk. The inscription told it was presented by "a lady, for the use of pilots:" thus placing in their way a guide to pilot them to that fair celestial land,

66

where "there shall be no more sea." None, it is admitted, witness scenes more grand and terrific than the "sons of the ocean.' ." The Psalmist himself says, They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, and go down again to the depths." It was a lovely thought to give those the opportunity of reading the blessed word of God, whom none beside thought of; that when, afar from the crowded cities of earth, alone by the unmeasured ocean, the waves dashing beneath and the deafening breakers bounding by, they might be reading about the Saviour, whom even winds and waves obey, which in olden time forgot in one instant their turbulence, as the few words, Peace, be still," came from their Master's lips. And how sweet the thought, that still that power is undiminished, and the care of a heavenly Father is over all that he hath made! The benevolent lady who set forth this beacon to guide the wandering aright, may perhaps never, whilst on earth, learn that one soul found the way to heaven by searching the Scriptures in the lonely house on the pier; but it may be as bread cast on the waters, to be "found after many days ;" and the records of eternity may tell of feelings and emotions experienced there which, at length, led to the knowing their God as a Saviour and Friend.

66

CLEORA.

« PreviousContinue »