148 EVENING PRAYER AT A GIRLS' SCHOOL.

Her lot is on you-to be found untir'd,

Watching the stars out by the bed of pain, With a pale cheek, and yet a brow inspir'd,

And a true heart of hope, though hope be vain. Meekly to bear with wrong, to cheer decay, And oh! to love through all things-therefore pray!

And take the thought of this calm vesper time,

With its low murmuring sounds and silvery light, On through the dark days fading from their prime, As a sweet dew to keep your souls from blight. Earth will forsake-oh! happy to have given Th' unbroken heart's first fragrance unto Heaven!

THE INVOCATION.

WRITTEN AFTER THE DEATH OF A SISTER-IN-LAW.

ANSWER me, burning stars of night!

Where is the spirit gone,

That

past the reach of human sight,
Even as a breeze, hath flown?
-And the stars answer'd me-

In light and power on high,
But, of the never-dying soul,

Ask things that cannot die!"

"We roll

Oh! many-ton'd and chainless wind!
Thou art a wanderer free ;
Tell me if thou its place canst find,

Far over mount and sea?

-And the wind murmur'd in reply, "The blue deep I have cross'd, And met its barks and billows high,

But not what thou hast lost! "

Ye clouds that gorgeously repose

Around the setting sun,

Answer! have ye a home for those

Whose earthly race is run?

The bright clouds answer'd-" We depart,

We vanish from the sky;

Ask what is deathless in thy heart
For that which cannot die!"

Speak, then, thou voice of God within!
Thou of the deep low tone!
Answer me through life's restless din,

Where is the spirit flown?

-And the voice answer'd-"Be thou still!

Enough to know is given;

Clouds, winds, and stars their task fulfil,

Thine is to trust in Heaven!"

THE SIEGE OF VALENCIA:

A DRAMATIC POEM.

Jndicio ha dado esta no vista hazaña
Del valor que en los siglos venideros
Tendrán los Hijos de la fuerte España,
Hijos de tal padres herederos.

Hallò sola en Numancia todo quanto
Debe con justo titulo cantarse,

Y lo que puede dar materia al canto.

Numancia de Cervantes.