A HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. AND art Thou come, dear Saviour? Hath thy love Thus made thee stoop, and leave thy throne above, And when 'tis swept and wash'd, I then will go, And with thy leave, I'll fetch some flowers that grow In thine own garden-Faith and Love to thee. • Cratch is an old word for manger. PAUL ACCUSED BEFORE THE ROMAN THE Judge ascended to the judgment-seat: GRAHAME. TO MARY. MARY!-it is a lovely name But what Evangelists have told J. MONTGOMERY. HUMILITY. THE bird that soars on the highest wing When Mary chose the better part, She meekly sat at Jesus' feet; And Lydia's gently opened heart Was made for God's own temple meet; Fairest and best adorned is she Whose clothing is humility. The saint that wears heaven's brightest crown, In deepest adoration bends; The weight of glory bears him down The most when most his soul ascends; Nearest the throne itself must be The footstool of humility. J. MONTGOMERY. THE WAY SIDE FOUNTAIN. I ASS'D as once I journey'd on a long and lonesome way, A fountain, form'd that travellers might their fever'd thirst allay; By ancient trees t'was shadow'd o'er, and pleasantly it stood, And ever from its side did pour a cool and crystal flood. And many way-worn pilgrims, by the noon tide heat oppress'd, Had halted near the gushing stream to pass their hour of rest; Unsandall'd were their swollen feet, each scrip was laid aside, And gratefully they kneel'd to drink the renovating tide. And some were there whose feet were soil'd with travel from afar, And some whose hands were mark'd with stains, acquired in recent war; Bending beside the cleansing stream, they wash'd each stain away, And blessing him that built the fount, proceeded on their way. Beside the grateful shade apart, a widow'd mother staid, Beneath the soft and verdant turf, her only son was laid; "Fair is thy resting place," she said, as through her tears she smiled; Would I were with thee laid beneath that pleasant sod, my child. A graven tablet o'er the fount in grateful accents told Of some whose friendly hands repair'd it, when defaced of old : Defiled and choked had been the stream-the spoiler they withstood, In its defence the best of earth had pour'd their valued blood.. England!-this fountain is thy Church; for ages hath she been To thy sinning, sighing, sorrowing sons a soulrefreshing stream; Pleasant have been the hours they pass'd beneath her holy shade, And round about her hallow'd walls their best beloved are laid. Again the spoiler threatens; canst thou guiltless stand to see Polluted or impair'd the fount thy fathers left to thee ? They to their sons the sacred trust unsullied did resign; See that thou fail not to bequeath it unimpair'd to thine. E |