There, as in solitude and shade I wander Through the green aisles, or, stretch'd upon the sod, Awed by the silence, reverently ponder The ways of God. Your voiceless lips, O flowers! are living preachers— Floral Apostles! that in dewy splendour 'Thou wert not, Solomon, in all thy glory, In the sweet-scented pictures, Heavenly Artist, Of love to all! Not useless are ye, flowers, though made for pleasure: Ephemeral sages! what instructions hoary For such a world of thought could furnish scope? Each fading calyx a memento mori, Yet fount of hope! Posthumous glories-angel-like collection, Upraised from seed or bulb, interr'd in earth, To me ye are a type of resurrection And second birth. Were I, O Lord! in churchless lands remaining, My soul would find in flowers of Thine ordaining- HORACE SMITH. THE YOUTHS' MAGAZINE; OR, EVANGELICAL MISCELLANY. NOVEMBER, 1847. OLNEY AND COWPER. THE accompanying sketch of Olney Bridge was taken in 1830; since which time the structure has been so far modernized as to present none of its original features. Our young readers will recollect that Cowper spent a large portion of his literary life at Olney; and that the fourth book of his "Task" opens with a reference to this bridge. Hark! 'tis the twanging horn o'er yonder bridge, That with its wearisome, but needful length Sees her unwrinkled face, reflected bright. The particulars of his settlement here, with some interesting facts, not generally known, relative to his more public religious engagements, are thus stated in a sermon preached on his decease, by the Rev. Samuel Greatheed. "Having determined upon renouncing his profession of the law, he retired first to Huntingdon, where his example and conversation supplied to the family in which he resided, the deplorable want of evangelical doctrine, which had so long distinguished that place. In order to share so great a privilege, he removed, about two years afterwards, to Olney, where he indulged himself amidst U rural scenes, in those religious pleasures and occupations which experience had taught him to value far above all that the polite or the busy world could afford." "Often," continues the preacher, "have I heard described the amiable condescension with which our late excellent neighbour listened to your religious converse, the sympathy with which he soothed your distresses, and the wisdom with which he awarded to you his seasonable advice. At your stated meetings for prayer, you have heard him with benefit and delight, pour forth his heart before God, in earnest intercession, with a devotion equally simple, sublime, and fervent, adapted to the unusual combination of elevated genius, exquisite sensibility, and profound piety, that distinguished his mind. It was, I believe, only on such occasions as these, that his constitutional diffidence was felt by him as a burden, during this happy portion of his life. İ have heard him say, that when he expected to take the lead in your social worship, his mind was always greatly agitated for some hours preceding. But his trepidation wholly subsided as soon as he began to speak in prayer; and that timidity, which he invariably felt at every appearance before his fellow-creatures, gave place to an awful, yet delightful consciousness of the presence of his Saviour." Would we had many such praying poets in our own day! THE NINE BEST FRUITS. CHAP. X.-"Not Now as a Servant, but above a Servant." "I felt that I had been insulted by a person whom I despisedin the presence, too, of my visitors; and I felt myself so called upon to resent the injury, that I sent the housemaid the next morning to summon the culprit to my presence, resolving, then and there, to give her, her dischage. I was arranging my headdress in the mirror, with my back towards her, and had, in consequence, a full view of her whole figure, without compelling myself to look her in the face, which, by the bye, I was not |