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him, and always do right, and speak the truth', because the eye of God is always upon me"-it seemed as if I should sink'; and when he laid his hand on my head again', and prayed for the blessing of God the Redeemer to rest upon me, 'soon to be a fatherless orphan',' I dared not look at him', I felt so guilty. Sobbing, I rushed from his bed-side', and thought that I wished I could die. They soon told me that he could not speak. Oh, how much would I have given to go in and tell him that I had told a lie', and ask him once more to lay his hand on my head and forgive me! I crept in once more, and heard the minister pray for the dying man.' Oh, how my heart ached! I snatched my hat, and ran to the apothecary's house', and got the medicine. I ran home with all my might, rushed in', and sprang to my father's bed-side to confess my sin', crying out', O here father' but I was hushed'; and I then saw that he was pale, and that all in the room were weeping. My dear father was dead! And the last thing I ever spoke to him was to tell him a lie! I sobbed as if my heart would break'; for his kindness', his tender looks', and my own sin', all rushed upon my mind. And as I gazed upon his cold, pale face', and saw his eyes shut and his lips closed', could I help thinking of his last words', 'My little boy will see his father suffer great pain for the want of that medicine" I could not know but he died for the want of it.

"In a day or two, he was put into the ground and buried. There were several ministers at the funeral, and each spoke kindly to me', but could not comfort me. Alas! they knew not what a load of sorrow lay on my heart. They could not remove it. My father was buried', and the children all scattered abroad'; for my mother was too feeble to take care of them.

"It was twelve years after this, while in college,

THE TWIN BABES.

117

that I went alone to the grave of my father. It took me a good while to find it'; but there it was, with its humble tomb-stone'; and, as I stood over it, I seemed to be back at his bed-side', to see his pale face', and hear his voice. Oh! the thought of that sin and wickedness cut me to the heart. It seemed as though worlds would not be too much to give', could I then only have called loud enough to have him hear me ask his forgiveness. But it was too late. He had been in the grave twelve years'; and I must live and die', weeping over that ungrateful falsehood. May God forgive me.'

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LESSON LXIV.

THE TWIN BABES.

""T was summer,

and a Sabbath eve`,

And balmy was the air`;

I saw a sight which made me grieve'—
And yet the sight was fair—

Within a little coffin lay

Two lifeless babes', as sweet as May.

Like waxen dolls, which infants dress',
Their little bodies were`;

A look of placid happiness

Did on each face appear.
And in the coffin, short and wide',
They lay together', side by side.

A rose-bud, nearly closed', I found
Each little hand within',

And many a pink was strewed around',
With sprigs of jessamine';

And yet the flowers that round them lay

Were not to me more fair than they.

Their mother, as a lily pale',
Sat by them on a bed',

And, bending o'er them, told her tale',
And many a tear she shed';

Yet oft she cried, amidst her pain',
'My babes and I shall meet again. !' "

LESSON LXV.

MOTHER, WHAT IS DEATH?

MOTHER', how still the baby lies',-
I cannot hear his breath`;
I cannot see his laughing eyes
They tell me this is death.

My little work I thought to bring',
And sit down by his bed';
And pleasantly I tried to sing';-
They hushed me'-" he is dead."

They say that he again will rise',
More beautiful than now',

That God will bless him in the skies';
Oh, mother', tell me how' ?

"Daughter', do you remember, dear',
The cold, dark thing you brought',
And laid upon the casement here-
A withered worm', you thought'?

I told you that Almighty Power

Could break that withered shell', And show you, in a future hour', Something would please you well.

THE STAR.

Look at that empty shell, my love',
Which now before you lies';

And raise your wondering thoughts above'
To where yon insect flies."

Oh yes', mamma'; how very gay
Its wings of starry gold!—
And see! it lightly flies away
Beyond my eager hold.

Oh, mother', now I know full well,
If God that worm can change',
And raise it from its broken cell
On golden wings to range',

How beautiful must brother be',
Now God has given him wings
Above this lower world to flee',
And taste of heavenly things.

LESSON LXVI.

THE STAR.

EVER beaming, still I hang'
Bright as when my birth I sang',
From chaotic night',

In the boundless, azure dome
Where I've made my constant home',
Till thousand, thousand years have come
To sweep earth's things from sight!

Mortals', I unchanging view
Every change that sports with you
On your shadowy ball.
All below my native skies,

119

Here I mark how soon it dies';
How your proudest empires rise',
Flourish, shake and fall!

Wealth and splendor, pomp and pride',
I've beheld you laid aside';
Love and hate forgot'!

Fame, ambition, glory, power',
You I've seen enjoy your hour`;
Beauty withering as a flower',
While I altered not!

Him, whose scepter swayed the world',
I have seen aghast', and hurled'
From his lofty throne.

Monarch's form and vassal's clay'
Turned to dust and swept away`:
E'en to tell where once they lay',`
I am left alone!

When I've been from age to age,
Questioned by the lettered sage
What a star might be',

I've answered not; for soon, I knew',
He'd have a clearer, nobler view',
And look the world of mysteries through'
In vast eternity!

Mortals', since ye pass as dew,
Seize the promise made for you
Ere your day is o'er.

The righteous, says a page divine',
Are as the firmament to shine',

And like the stars', when I and mine

Are quenched to beam no more!

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