PART IV.

MEDITATION, PRAYER, AND PRAISE.

HOLY BAPTISM.

J. KEBLE. CHRISTIAN YEAR.

WHERE is it mothers learn their love?
In every church a fountain springs,
O'er which the Eternal Dove
Hovers on softest wings.

What sparkles in that lucid flood
Is water by gross mortals eyed:
But seen by faith, 't is blood

Out of a dear Friend's side.

A few calm words of faith and prayer,
A few bright drops of holy dew,
Shall work a wonder there,

Earth's charmers never knew.

O happy arms, where cradled lies,
And ready for the Lord's embrace,
That precious sacrifice,

The darling of his grace!

Blest eyes, that see the smiling gleam
Upon the slumbering features glow,
When the life-giving stream
Touches the tender brow!

Or when the holy cross is signed,
And the young soldier duly sworn
With true and fearless mind

To serve the Virgin-born.

But happiest ye, who sealed and blest
Back to your arms your treasure take,
With Jesus' mark impressed,

To nurse for Jesus' sake:

To whom

as if in hallowed air

Ye knelt before some awful shrine

His innocent gestures wear
A meaning half divine:

By whom Love's daily touch is seen
In strengthening form and freshening hue,
In the fixed brow serene,

The deep yet eager view.

BABY CARL.

Who taught thy pure and even breath
To come and go with such sweet grace?
Whence thy reposing faith,

Though in our frail embrace?

O tender gem, and full of heaven!
Not in the twilight stars on high,
Not in moist flowers at even,
See we our God so nigh.

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Sweet one, make haste and know Him too, Thine own adopting Father love,

That like thine earliest dew

Thy dying sweets may prove.

BABY CARL.

MRS. S. F. CLAPP.

OUT from clouds of fear and darkness,
Clothed in sunbeams, thou didst fall,
Filling all the house with brightness
At thy coming,
Baby Carl!

Light mysterious lingers with thee,
From beyond the prison wall

That our hands of clay have builded

Round thy spirit,

Baby Carl!

When thou smilest, art thou hearing
Some mysterious angel call?

Or do bright celestial visions

Float about thee,

Baby Carl?

By thy beauty and thy sweetness
Thou dost hold all hearts in thrall;
Willing hands obey the mandates
Of imperious
Baby Carl.

Underneath thy folded eyelids.
Creep no phantoms to appall;
Smile-wreathed dreams betray no glimpses
Of life's battle,

Baby Carl.

Time shall bear the conflict to thee;

Late or soon, it comes to all;
Veiled a while in love paternal

From thy vision,

Baby Carl!

Clouds of care shall close about thee,
Fear shall make thy heart to quail;
Powerless is our love to shield thee
From the combat,
Baby Carl.

WEST'S PICTURE OF THE INFANT SAMUEL. 115

Ere thy innocence forsakes thee,
Or the angel-watches fail,

May the Father's love recall thee
Back to heaven,

Baby Carl!

WEST'S PICTURE OF THE INFANT SAMUEL.

EPHRAIM PEABODY.

In childhood's spring, ah, blessed spring!-
(As flowers closed up at even
Unfold in morning's earliest beam,)

The heart unfolds to Heaven.
Ah, blessed child! that trustingly
Adores, and loves, and fears,
And to a Father's voice replies,
Speak, Lord! thy servant hears.

When youth shall come,-ah, blessed youth!
If still the pure heart glows,
And in the world and word of God

Its Maker's language knows;

If in the night and in the day,
'Midst youthful joys or fears,

The trusting heart can answer still,
Speak, Lord! thy servant hears.