COMPANIONSHIP.

Nor with the light and vain,

The man of idle feet and wanton eyes; Not with the world's gay, ever-smiling train; My lot be with the grave and wise.

Not with the trifler gay,

To whom life seems but sunshine on the wave,

Not with the empty idler of the day;

My lot be with the wise and grave.

Not with the jesting fool,

Who knows not what to sober truth is due, Whose words fly out without or aim or rule! My lot be with the wise and true.

Not with the man of dreams,

In whose bright words no truth nor wisdom lies, Dazzling the fervent youth with mystic gleams; My lot be with the simply wise.

186

THE HEAVENLY SOWING.

With them I'd walk each day,

From them time's solemn lessons would I learn; That false from true, and true from false I may

Each hour more patiently discern.

THE HEAVENLY SOWING.

SOWER divine !

Sow the good seed in me,

Seed for eternity.

'Tis a rough barren soil,

Yet by thy care and toil,

Make it a fruitful field

An hundred fold to yield.

Sower divine,

Plough up this heart of mine!

Sower divine!

Quit not this wretched field
Till thou hast made it yield;
Sow thou by day and night,
In darkness and in light.

THE HEAVENLY SOWING.

Stay not thy hand, but sow; Then shall the harvest grow. Sower divine,

Sow deep this heart of mine!

187

DISAPPOINTMENT.

"Ecce mundus turbat et amatur, quid si tranquillus esset." -AUGUSTINE.

TRUST not these seas again,
Tho' smooth and fair;
Trust not these waves again,
Shipwreck is there.

Trust not these stars again,

Tho' bright and fair;

Trust not these skies again,

Tempest is there.

Trust not that breeze again,

Gentle and fair;

Trust not these clouds again,

Lightning is there.

Trust not that isle again,

Flower-crowned and fair;

Trust not its rocks again,

Earthquake is there.