Anecdote of Frederic the Great.

and at an early hour the royal chapel was filled with a great number of auditors.

The king arrived at the conclusion of the prayers, and at the moment when the candidate rose to preach, one of the aides-de camp of his majesty presented him a sealed paper. The preacher opened it, and found there nothing written: but in this critical moment his presence of mind did not desert him; but, turning the paper on all sides, he said, "My brethren, it contains nothing, it contains nothing from nothing God created all things;" he then delivered an admirable discourse upon the works of creation.

161

SPRING.

BY MRS. E. P. SMITH.

To him, who in the love of Nature holds Communion with her visible forms, she speaks A various language.-THANATOPSIS.

AROLS greet the sun's first beam,
Wild sweet notes, a matin hymn;
And springing grass,

Bursting leaf and budding flower,
Verdant dale and fragrant bower,
In beauty pass.

Merrily ring the bridal bell,
Bring ye flowers from the dell,
Spring is love's

Its light clouds, its witching hours,
Its green pathway strewn with flowers,
Earth's joyful pastime.

Let the dying, too, behold

Nature's beauties now unfold

To cheer and bless;

Speaking thus of endless bloom, Radiant, bright beyond the tomb, "Twill soothe to peace.

Weep ye not now for the dead,
Spring flowers bloom above their head,
Gift from above;

Visit ye the tranquil glade,

Where the cypress casts its shade
O'er those we love.

Mourning heart, by sorrow crushed,
Let thy anguish there be hushed,
List nature's voice;

The flower dies, yet springs anew;
So the dear dead, immortal, true
In heaven rejoice.

Bow* of hope from God, all hail!
Thou appearest, no seasons fail,
This the promise was;

Trust we then with confidence,

Him by whose omnipotence

All seasons pass.

*Written at the time of a shower and rainbow.

A BEAUTIFUL TRUTH.

Translated from the French,

BY E. P. S.

HE soul of man is not confined like the animal, within the limits of this terrestrial globe. It may quit the visible for the invi

sible, and, disengaging itself from matter, it may lose itself in contemplation of the Infinite. There is our superiority; there, then, only do we find the great principle of our being, the basis of our moral nature, the ultimate why, the final how of our fleeting existence. Truth shows up the immaterial world; it is the flambeau of another life, which throws its light on this.

Thus our thoughts are attracted to this unknown world by the necessities even of our terrestrial existGod has placed here the sources of truth

ence.

and of virtue, with the revelation of a better life! The study of these glorious phenomena composes what Socrates called the important science.