THE PALM TREE.

"And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees, and they encamped there by the waters."-EXODUS, XV. 27.

MAJESTIC Palm!-towering on Lebanon,

On Sinai's hallowed Mount abiding still, And beautiful, as when upon thee shone,

The lightning gleam that mark'd the sacred hill. Thy graceful branches fall o'er lonely streams, Far in the sunny vales of Palestine,― Where one of Judah's race, in musing dream,

Perchance recalls the glories of his line,—

Once more the Temple's splendours round him shine,

And Kings, and gifted seers, and Priests again,
On his remembrance rise-a shadowy train!
All holy thoughts, and memories dwell with thee,
When Angels veil'd awhile their lustre fair,
And sat beneath thy shade, fair eastern tree,
In mercy visiting a world of care!

Oh! who may tell the awe and reverence there Felt by the sacred few, before whose sight, Celestial guests appear'd in radiance bright.

Beside the water's brim, so lone and deep,

Far in the desert wild high palm-trees rose, On the parch'd ground their graceful shadows

sleep,

And there the heaven-directed host repose; Beside the fountains cool, their camels stray, And silence reigns throughout the sultry day.

Enchanted land!-in far-off elder days,

A light divine did on thy deserts gleam,Now by thy fallen pride the pilgrim strays,

To gaze and weep by Jordan's hallowed stream— Beneath some lonely palm-tree spreading fair, To muse on what has been-what now is there!

HAGAR AND ISHMAEL.

"And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.-GENESIS, XXI. 14.

SHE wandered on, beneath a fervid sky-
Where will the lonely one for shelter fly?
How will she bear the desert's parching sun?
Who will protect thee? thou deserted one!
Over the "weary land" that she must tread,
The rock's tall shadow lifts its naked head;
But no soft showers, on that wild waste descend,
No murmuring fountains with its echoes blend!
Fainter, and fainter still, the wanderer grew,
No Zephyr o'er that arid region blew,
And feebler grows her infant's wailing cry,
She sits apart-"Let me not see him die!"
Despair's wild tears are gathering in her eyes,
And in her heart hope's last faint sun-beam dies.
But hark!-what voice celestial stirs the air,
Who breaks with accents sweet, the silence there?
Heaven's messenger, in light seraphic shone,
And the worn pilgrim is no more alone.
"Hagar, why weepest thou ?-that timid cry
Is heard, and pitied, in the courts on high!—

Yes! God Himself surveys the infant's tear,
And to that feeble suppliant lends His ear.
Rise, and support him, great his destiny,
A mighty nation, shall his children be!"

The voice was hush'd, and softly died away,
As that bright seraph sought the realms of day,
And slowly faded from the wanderer's eyes;
That light divine then melted in the skies!
What grateful sound upon the desert broke?
The gurgling fountain, sleeping echo woke :-
Forth gushing from the rock in liquid light,
Over reviving verdure glancing bright.
Trembling and grateful, from the sparkling wave,
Reviving life, that weary mother gave

To the pale thirsty lips, that vigour caught,

And health and gladness from the fountain

brought.

Long in the wilderness, the desert's child,
Far from his kindred, dwelt the archer wild;
His race a great and warlike nation grew,
Fulfilling all the voice prophetic drew;
For the fierce dweller on Arabia's plains
From Ishmael his rightful lineage claims!

NOAH'S DOVE.

"And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more."-GENESIS, viii. 12.

SHE came no more, for fresh and green,

Spread the fair world in beauty drest, O'er the retiring waters seen,

By God's own promise blest,-

Calm, as if sin had never been
The curse upon her breast!

Forth sprang the Dove, on airy flight,
And lightly swept the glassy deep,
Wide spread the earth in colours bright,
And the green shadows sleep,

Where arching woods shut out the light,
And heavy dew-drops weep!

And high she soar'd, on snowy wing,
Her ark of rest left far away,

No more the olive leaf to bring:-
:-
For far and wide, beneath her lay
A woody world, where birds might sing
Their welcome to the day.