Part 6 (1/2)

Then let us pray that G.o.d may add His blessing to their toil; Then our young minds and hearts will prove A rich, productive soil.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

MAY-DAY.

All hail the bright, the rosy morn, The first of blus.h.i.+ng May, While fragrant flowers the fields adorn.

And Nature smiles so gay.

Oh, what a joyous festival To all the young and fair, Who love to rove through verdant fields And breathe the balmy air.

With rosy checks, and laughing eyes, They hie to Nature's bowers, While birds trill forth their sweetest lay, To pluck the fairest flowers.

Now some have strayed to sit beneath A grove of maples grey, To twine their flowers into a wreath, Or cull a sweet bouquet.

While one small group is seated round A florid, mossy knoll, And laughing lisp that they have found The sweetest flowers of all.

With bouquets sweet, and garlands gay, They homeward then repair, In haste to join without delay The pic-nic or the fair.

For times are not as they were wont To be in years gone by, When on the rural village green They reared the May-pole high;

While gathered round a merry group Of youths and maidens gay, To crown some rosy rustic maid The smiling Queen of May.

THE FLOWERS OF THE FIELD.

MATT. VI. 28.

Behold the lilies of the field, In thousand colors drest; They toil not, neither do they spin, Yet G.o.d the flowers hath blest.

Then toil not for the things of earth, But seek your G.o.d to please; For Solomon, in all his pride, Was not arrayed like these.

Wherefore, if G.o.d so clothe the gra.s.s And flowers, that fade and die, Will he not much more care for you, And all your wants supply?

Why will ye, O ye faithless ones, Distrust your Father's care?

Are ye not better than the flowers?

Will he not hear your prayer?

Your Father knoweth what ye need; Fear not, but watch and pray; And let your light s.h.i.+ne more and more Unto the perfect day.