Part 3 (1/2)
NATURE AND ITS LORD.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Letter T.]
There's not a leaf within the bower, There's not a bird upon the tree, There's not a dew-drop on the flower, But bears the impress, Lord, of Thee!
Thy hand the varied leaf design'd, And gave the bird its thrilling tone; Thy power the dew-drops' tints combined, Till like a diamond's blaze they shone!
Yes, dew-drops, leaves, and buds, and all-- The smallest, like the greatest things-- The sea's vast s.p.a.ce, the earth's wide ball, Alike proclaim thee King of Kings.
But man alone to bounteous heaven Thanksgiving's conscious strains can raise; To favour'd man alone 'tis given, To join the angelic choir in praise!
THE STEPPING-STONES.
The struggling rill insensibly is grown Into a brook of loud and stately march, Cross'd ever and anon by plank or arch; And for like use, lo! what might seem a zone Chosen for ornament--stone match'd with stone In studied symmetry, with inters.p.a.ce
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For the clear waters to pursue their race Without restraint. How swiftly have they flown-- Succeeding, still succeeding! Here the child Puts, when the high-swoll'n flood runs fierce and wild, His budding courage to the proof; and here Declining manhood learns to note the sly And sure encroachments of infirmity-- Thinking how fast time runs--life's end how near.
WORDSWORTH.
HUMANITY.
During the retreat of the famous King Alfred at Athelney, in Somersets.h.i.+re, after the defeat of his forces by the Danes, the following circ.u.mstance happened, which shows the extremities to which that great man was reduced, and gives a striking proof of his pious and benevolent disposition:--A beggar came to his little castle, and requested alms. His Queen informed him that they had only one small loaf remaining, which was insufficient for themselves and their friends, who were gone abroad in quest of food, though with little hopes of success.
But the King replied, ”Give the poor Christian the one half of the loaf.
He that could feed live thousand with five loaves and two fishes, can certainly make that half of the loaf suffice for more than our necessities.” Accordingly the poor man was relieved; and this n.o.ble act of charity was soon recompensed by a providential store of fresh provisions, with which his people returned.
Sir Philip Sydney, at the battle near Zutphen, displayed the most undaunted courage. He had two horses killed under him; and, whilst mounting a third, was wounded by a musket-shot out of the trenches, which broke the bone of his thigh. He returned about mile and a half on horseback to the camp; and being faint with the loss of blood, and parched with thirst from the heat of the weather, he called for drink.
It was presently brought him; but, as he was putting the vessel to his mouth, a poor wounded soldier, who happened to be carried along at that instant, looked up to it with wistful eyes. The gallant and generous Sydney took the flagon from his lips, just when he was going to drink, and delivered it to the soldier, saying, ”Thy necessity is greater than mine.”
Frederick, King of Prussia, one day rang his bell and n.o.body answered; on which he opened the door and found his page fast asleep in an elbow-chair. He advanced toward him, and was going to awaken, him, when he perceived a letter hanging out of his pocket. His curiosity prompting him to know what it was, he took it out and read it. It was a letter from the young man's mother, in which she thanked him for having sent her part of his wages to relieve her in her misery, and finished with telling; him that G.o.d would reward him for his dutiful affection. The King, after having read it, went back softly into his chamber, took a bag full of ducats, and slipped it with the letter into the page's pocket. Returning to his chamber, he rang the bell so violently that he awakened the page, who instantly made his appearance. ”You have had a sound sleep,” said the King. The page was at a loss how to excuse himself and, putting his hand into his pocket by chance, to his utter astonishment he there found a purse of ducats. He took it out, turned pale, and looking at the bag, burst into tears without being able to utter a single word. ”What is that?” said the King; ”what is the matter?” ”Ah, sire!” said the young man, throwing himself on his knees, ”somebody seeks my ruin! I know nothing of this money which I have just found in my pocket!” ”My young friend,” replied Frederick, ”G.o.d often does great things for us even in our sleep. Send that to your mother, salute her on my part, and a.s.sure her that I will take care of both her and you.”
_Beauties of History_.