Hymn to the Night. And they, who with their Leader For ever and for ever Are clad in robes of white. 5 I Hymn to the Night. LONGFELLOW.-Music by S. Glover. HEARD the trailing garments of the night I saw her sable skirts all fringed with light I felt her presence, by its spell of might, The calm majestic presence of the night, I heard the sounds of sorrow and delight, That fill the haunted chambers of the night, From the cool cisterns of the midnight air The fountain of perpetual peace flows there, O holy night! from thee I learn to bear Thou lay'st thy finger on the lips of care, And they complain no more. Peace! peace! Orestes-like I breathe this prayer! The welcome, the thrice pray'd for, the most fair, The Lost Day. MRS L. H. SIGOURNEY. LOST! lost! lost! A gem of countless price, Cut from the living rock, And graved in Paradise : Set round with three times eight Large diamonds, clear and bright, And each with sixty smaller ones, All changeful as the light. Lost-where the thoughtless throng A golden harp to buy, Such as the white-robed choir attune To deathless minstrelsy. Lost lost! lost! I feel all search is vain ; That gem of countless cost Can ne'er be mine again : I offer no reward For till these heartstrings sever, I know that Heaven's entrusted gift Is reft away for ever. But when the sea and land, Like burning scroll have fled, I'll see it in His hand, Who judgeth quick and dead, Passing Away. And when of scathe and loss 7 I Passing Away. MRS HEMANS.-Music by John Blockley. T is written on the rose, in its glory's full array,— Read what those buds disclose,-"Passing away!" It is written in the skies of the soft blue summer day; It is traced in sunset dyes,-" Passing away!" It is written on the trees, as their young leaves glittering play, And on brighter things than these,-" Passing away!" It is written on the heart,-alas! that there decay Should claim from love a part,-" Passing away!" Friends-friends! oh, shall we meet in a land of purer day, Where lovely things and sweet pass not away? Shall we know each other's eyes, and the thoughts that in them lay, When we mingle sympathies,-" Passing away?" Oh, if this may be so, speed, speed their closing day! MY To a Child. REV. CHARLES KINGSLEY. Y fairest child, I have no song to give you; No lark could pipe to skies so dull and gray; Yet, ere we part, one lesson I can leave you For every day. Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; Too Late! ALFRED TENNYSON.-Music by John Blockley. LATE, late, so late! and dark the night, and chill ; Late, late, so late! but we can enter still. Too late, too late! ye cannot enter now. No light had we, for that we do repent; No light, so late, and dark and chill the night; Too late, too late! ye cannot enter now. Have we not heard the Bridegroom is so sweet? Church Music. As Down in the Sunless Retreats. As T. MOORE.-Air, Haydn. S down in the sunless retreats of the ocean, Sweet flowers are springing no mortal can see; So deep in my soul the still prayer of devotion, Unheard by the world, rises silent to Thee,My God! silent to Thee! Pure, warm, silent to Thee! As still to the star of its worship, though clouded, True, fond, trembling to Thee! Church Music. JOHN MILTON. UT let my due feet never fail BU To walk the studious cloisters pale, And love the high embowèd roof As may with sweetness, through mine ear, And bring all heaven before mine eyes. |