SOMEWHERE.

How can I cease to pray for thee? Somewhere
In God's great universe thou art to-day.
Can He not reach thee with His tender care?
Can He not hear me when for thee I pray?

What matters it to Him who holds within

The hollow of His hand all worlds, all space, That thou art done with earthly pain and sin?

Somewhere within His ken thou hast a place.

Somewhere thou livest, and hast need of Him:

Somewhere thy soul sees higher heights to climb; And somewhere still there may be valleys dim That thou must pass to reach the hills Sublime ;

Then all the more because thou canst not hear
Poor human words of blessing, will I pray—
O true, brave heart! GOD bless thee! where-
soe'er

In His great universe thou art to-day !

-JULIA C. R. Dorr.

"Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." -2 TIM. ii., I.

BE STRONG.

Be strong to hope, O Heart!
Though day is bright,
The stars can only shine

In the dark night.

Be strong, O Heart of mine,
Look towards the light!

Be strong to bear, O Heart!
Nothing is vain :

Strive not, for life is care;

And GOD sends pain;
Heaven is above, and there

Rest will remain.

Be strong to love, O Heart!
Love knows no wrong;

Didst thou love,-creatures even,

Life were not long;

Didst thou love GOD in heaven,

Thou wouldst be strong!

"I have learned in whatsoever state I am, with to be content."-PHIL. iv., 2.

there

CONTENTMENT.

Some murmur when their sky is clear
And wholly bright to view,

If one small speck of dark appear
In their bright heaven of blue:
And some with thankful love are filled,
If but one streak of light,

One ray of God's good mercy gild
The darkness of their night.

In palaces are hearts that ask,
In discontent and pride,
Why life is such a dreary task,

And all good things denied:
And hearts in lowliest huts admire
How Love has in their aid,
Love that not ever seems to tire,

Such rich provision made.

"Thou maintainest

my

lot."-Ps. xvi., 5.

RESIGNATION.

Source of my life's refreshing springs,
Whose presence in my heart sustains me,
Thy love appoints me pleasant things,
Thy mercy orders all that pains me.

If loving hearts were never lonely,
If all the wish might always be,
Accepting what they look for only,

They might be glad, but not in Thee.

Well may Thy own beloved, who see
In all their lot their Father's pleasure,
Bear loss of all they love, save Thee,
Their living, everlasting treasure.

Well may Thy happy children cease
From restless wishes prone to sin,
And, in Thy own exceeding peace,
Yield to Thy daily discipline.

We need as much the cross we bear,
As air we breathe,- -as light we see ;
It draws us to Thy side in prayer,
It binds us to our strength in Thee.

Strengthened unto all Patience.—Col. i., II.

PATIENCE.

Grant Thou this patience, Jesus, to me! Grant Thou Thy graces, my safeguard to be!

So that in all things Thy will may be

mine,

Bearing all troubles because they are Thine.