THE FISHERS.

Silence! stir not! for a whisper

Would affright thy pretty prey;

Not a motion, little lisper,

Else the fish will glide away.

Hush! he's coming! he is swimming

Slowly round and round the bait;

Steady! though thine eye is brimming

Full of mirth that will not wait.

And thy brother near thee kneeling

Fears to hear thy ringing shout;

Gently! near and nearer stealing

Comes the brightly spotted trout.

There! thy hook has caught him surely;

Firmly hold thy slender rod;

Pull away! and then securely

Place him on the grassy sod.

'Neath the green boughs rustling o'er you,

Fish away the livelong day;

And with evening's star before you,

Wander home at twilight gray.


THE RAINBOW.

"What is the rainbow, mother dear,

With many-colored light?

Have the clouds parted just to show

The floor of heaven so bright?

"Or is it wings of angels pure

That touch along the sky?

And do they come that we may see

How fair is all on high?

"Or, mother, on that shining arch

Do spirits rise above?

And on that bended bow ascend

Where all is light and love?

"How beautiful must be that road!

Why should we call those back,

Who travel to the better land

On such a sunny track?

"Why did you weep when brother died?

Did you not know that he

On that delightful path must tread,

Ere he in heaven could be?"

"My dearest child, we cannot know,

Or trace the spirit's flight,

For sin and sorrow draw their veil

Across our mortal sight.

"If—as the rainbow takes its hues

Of beauty from the sun—

We strive to live like Christ our Lord,

The meek and holy One,—

"Then shall we dwell in Heaven's clear day,

Which knows nor night nor moon,

For, ever, from the Father's throne

Beams high and cloudless noon."