THE GOOD SAMARITAN. "And who is my neighbor ?" - Luke x. 29. I. WHO bleeds in the desert, faint, naked and torn, Yon meteor! 'tis ended as soon as begun Who walks down the path to get tithes for his priest? It is not the Robber, who plundered and fled; 'Tis a Levite: He turns from the wretched his head. Who walks in his robes from Jerusalem's halls? Who comes to Samaria from Ilia's walls? There is pride in his step--there is hate in his eye; There is scorn on his lip as he proudly walks by. 'Tis thy Priest, thou proud city, now splendid Mount Gerazmin looks on the valleys, that spread On the foot of high Ebal, to Esdrelon's head; The torrent of Kison rolls back through the plain, And Tabor sends out its fresh floods to that main, Which, purpled with fishes, flows rich with the dyes That flash from their fins, and shine out from their eyes. How sweet are the streams, but how purer fountain the That gushes and swells from Samaria's mountain. From Galilee's city the Cuthite comes out, To pay at the altar of Gerazmin's shrine, He sees the poor Hebrew: Than to visit the holiest temple, that stands Would better be poured on the sufferer's wound; rise From the altars of earth to the throne of the skies, No libation more rich can be offered below, Than that, which is tendered to anguish and wo. Connecticut Mirror. II. THY neighbor? It is he whom thou Thy neighbor? 'T is the fainting poor, Whom hunger sends from door to door,— Thy neighbor? 'Tis that weary man Thy neighbor? "T is the heart bereft Widow and orphan, helpless left: - Thy neighbor? yonder toiling slave, Whene'er thou meet'st a human form Oh, pass not, pass not heedless by; The breaking heart from misery :- Anonymous. MARY AT THE FEET OF JESUS. "And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word."- Luke x. 39. OH! blest beyond all daughters of the earth! What were the Orient's thrones to that low seat, Where thy hush'd spirit drew celestial birth? Mary! meek listener at the Saviour's feet! No feverish cares to that divine retreat Thy woman's heart of silent worship brought, But a fresh childhood, heavenly truth to meet, With love, and wonder, and submissive thought. Oh! for the holy quiet of thy breast, 'Midst the world's eager tones and footsteps flying! Thou, whose calm soul was like a well-spring, lying So deep and still in its transparent rest, That e'en when noon tide burns upon the hills, Some one bright solemn star all its lone mirror Mrs Hemans. fills. THE PRODIGAL SON. "I will arise and go unto my father."-Luke xv. 18. I. WANDERER, amid the snares Of Time's uncertain way, Of thousand nameless fears the sport, Of countless ills the prey: A stranger 'mid the land Where thy probation lies, In peril from each adverse blast |