She too, in earlier purer days, Had watch'd Thee gleaming faint and far— Their richest, sweetest, purest store, Who sacrifice the blind and lamet― No weepings of the incense tree No odorous myrrh of Araby Blends with our offering. But still our love would bring its best, By fierce affliction's fiery test, And seven times purified: The fragrant graces of the mind, To give their perfume out, will find * The Patriarchal Church. Rev. William Croswell.] ↑ Malachi, i. 8. ["What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" St. Matthew, xxvi. 40. FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY." THE NIGHTINGALE. They shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses. Isaiah, xliv. 4. [First Morning Lesson.] [O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.] * LESSONS sweet of spring returning,* ["When we write of the dawn of the year, of the new races of birds and of blossoms that are all around us springing into life, our utmost efforts can give but one enjoyment to the reader. But he who goes out to observe, has pleasure in every way that it can come, and health along with it. The beauty of the flowers and their fragrance, the elegant forms and varied tints of the birds, their bustling activity and sprightly conduct, and the music of their songs; the sportive gambols of the young animals, and the tender solicitude that is shown for them by the old, and all that is, and all that occurs in the earth, the waters and the air, is a constant creation,-a daily, nay, an hourly springing up of new worlds: and he who lives one spring in the open air, may watch the whole progress of a hundred generations. Nature is then ' voice all over,' and whether she speaks to one of the senses, or to them all, she always speaks instruction." Mudie's British Naturalist.] Touch'd by light, with heavenly warning Every wave in every brook, Needs no show of mountain hoary, Teaches truth to wandering men: See the soft green willow springing *["Come quietly away with me, and we will walk up and down the narrow path, by the sweet-brier hedge; and we will listen to the low song of the blackbird, and the fresh air will cool our aching brows, and we shall find comfort. To these things, fresh air, and the bird's song, and the fragrance of the lowly flowers, God has given a blessing; like sleep, they are his medicines, balm of sweet minds!' We will walk to and fro under the shade of these elms, and we will be calm; bitter recollections shall be made sweet by the thought of his mercies; and in the midst of the sorrows we have in our hearts, his comforts shall refresh our souls; and our minds shall be stored with many thoughts, sweet, like the perfume of these flowers."-Scenes in our Parish.. Though the rudest hand assail her, But when showers and breezes hail her, If, the quiet brooklet leaving, Where the thickest boughs are twining 飄 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. THE SECRET OF PERPETUAL YOUTH. Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. St. John ii. 10. [Gospel for the Day.] [Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.] THE heart of childhood is all mirth: We frolic to and fro As free and blithe, as if on earth But if indeed with reckless faith Too surely, every setting day, Some lost delight we mourn, The flowers all die along our way, Such is the world's gay garish feast, And cheats th' unstable soul. And still, as loud the revel swells, Unlike the feast of heavenly love |