| LITTLE VOICES |
What says the little brook? "I am but a little brook; Yet on me The stars as brightly gleam As on the mighty stream; I sparkle on my way To the sea." What says the little ray? "I am but a little ray, Sent to earth By the sun so great and bright, Giving food and heat and light; Yet I gladden every spot The palace and the cot Hail my birth." What says the little flower? "I am but a little flower At your feet; Yet on the path you tread, Some joy and grace I shed; So I am happy too For the little I can do When we meet." What says the little lamb? "I am but a little lamb Soft and mild; Yet in the meadows sweet I ramble and I bleat; [{428}] And soon my wool will grow, To clothe you with, you know, Darling child." What says the little bird? "I am but a little bird With my song; Come, hear me singing now, As I hop from bough to bough; For I cheer the old and sad With my voice, and I am glad All day long," What says the little child? "I am but a little child Fond of play; Yet in my heart, I know The grace of God will grow, If I try to do His will, And His law of love fulfill, And obey." |
| THE TWILIGHT FALLS, THE NIGHT IS NEAR |
The twilight falls, the night is near. I fold my work away, And kneel to One who bends to hear The story of the day. The old, old story; yet I kneel To tell it at Thy call, And cares grow lighter as I feel That Jesus knows them all. Thou knowest all: I lean my head; My weary eyelids close; Content and glad awhile to tread This path, since Jesus knows. And He has loved me: all my heart With answering love is stirred, And every anguished pain and smart Finds healing in the word. So here I lay me down to rest, As nightly shadows fall, And lean confiding on His breast Who knows and pities all. |
| SAVIOUR, BREATHE AN EVENING BLESSING |
Saviour, breathe an evening blessing Ere repose our spirits seal; Sin and want we come confessing, Thou canst bless, and Thou canst heal. Though destruction walk around us, Though the arrow past us fly, Angel-guards from Thee surround us, We are safe if Thou art nigh. Though the night be dark and dreary, Darkness cannot hide from Thee; Thou art He who, never weary, Watchest where Thy people be. |
| --James Edmeston. |
THE MADONNA OF THE HARPIES
By Andrea del Sarto (1487-1583)
One of the most famous painters of the Florentine school. He lived and worked in his native city of Florence except for a sojourn at Paris, where he was invited by Francis I. This picture is called the "Madonna of the Harpies" because of the strange figures of harpies in the border, not shown in this reproduction
