THE OLD ARM CHAIR.

I've treasured it long as a holy prize;

89

I've bedewed it with tears and embalmed it with

sighs;

'Tis bound by a thousand bands to my heart;
Not a tie will break, not a link will start.
Would ye learn the spell? A mother sat there,
And a sacred thing is that old arm chair.

In childhood's hour I've lingered near The hallowed seat, with listening ear, And gentle words that mother would give, To fit me to die, and teach me to live. She told me shame would never betide, With truth for my creed, and God for my guide; She taught me to lisp my earliest prayer, As I knelt beside that old arm chair.

I sat and watched her many a day,

When her eye grew dim, and her locks were gray,
And I almost worshipped her when she smiled
And turned from the Bible to bless her child.
Years rolled on, but the last one sped-
My idol was shattered, my earth star fled:
I learned how much the heart could bear,
When I saw her die in that old arm chair.

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THE CHRISTIAN VOYAGER.

'Tis past! 'tis past! but I gaze on it now With a quivering lip, and a throbbing brow. 'Twas there she nursed me, 'twas there she died, And memory flows with lava tide:

Say it is folly, and deem me weak,

While the scalding drops start down my cheek:
But I love it, I love it, and cannot tear
My soul from a mother's old arm chair.

Che Christian Voyager.

LAUNCH thy bark, mariner! Christian, God speed

thee!

Let loose the rudder bands-good angels lead thee! Set thy sails warily, tempests will come;

Steer thy course steadily, Christian, steer home!

Look to the weather-bow! breakers are round thee;

Let fall the plummet now, shallows may ground

thee;

Reef in the foresail, there! Hold the helm fast!

So-let the vessel wear-there swept the blast.

GOD IS NIGH.

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"What of the night, watchman, what of the night?" "Cloudy-all quiet-no land yet―all's right." Be wakeful, be vigilant-danger may be At an hour when all seemeth securest to thee.

How! gains the leak so fast! Clear out the hold-
Hoist up thy merchandise, heave out thy gold;-
There-let the ingots go-now the ship rights;
Hurra! the harbour's near-lo, the red lights!

Slacken not sail yet, at inlet or island;
Straight for the beacon steer, straight for the high-

land;

Crowd all thy canvass on, cut through the foam Christian! cast anchor now-Heaven is thy home!

God is Nigh.

HEAR'ST thou the awful thunder roll?

See'st thou the lightning fly?
Does the dark storm appal thy soul?
Remember, God is nigh!

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TRUE FRIENDSHIP.

Ah! fear not then the dread alarm-
His ever watchful eye

Will keep thee ever safe from harm-
Remember, God is nigh!

And should the storms of life assail
Thy breast, thy faith to try,
Oh! let them not, my friend, prevail-
Remember, God is nigh!

Cheerless has been my chequered day :
I've known no azure sky;

This hope, alone, my only stay,-
I know that God is nigh!

True Friendship.

BY DONNOHU.

IF scandal or censure be raised 'gainst a friend, Be the last to believe it, the first to defend;

THE GERMAN WATCHMAN'S SONG. 93

Say to-morrow will come, and then time will unfold,

That "one story's good till another is told!"

A friend's like a ship, when with music and song
The tide of good fortune still speeds him along;
But see him when tempest hath made him a wreck,
And any mean billow can batter his deck;
But give me the heart that true sympathy shows,
And clings to a messmate whatever wind blows,
And says, when aspersion unanswered grows bold,
Wait-"One story's good till another is told !"

The German Watchman's
Song.

[The watchmen in Germany amuse themselves during the night by singing their national songs, as well as those of a more devotional character, of which the following is a specimen.]

Hark ye, neighbours, and hear me tell,
Ten now strikes on the belfry bell!
Ten are the holy commandments given
To man below-from God in heaven.