DELIVERANCE.
As some poor captive bird, too weak to fly,
Still lingers in its open cage, so I
My slavery own.
For evil makes a prison-house within;
The gloom of sin, and sorrow born of sin.
Doth weigh me down.
Ah! Christ, and wilt not thou regard my sighs,
Long wakeful hours, and lonely miseries,
And hopes forlorn?
Let not my fainting soul be thus subdued.
Nor leave thy child in darkened solitude.
All night to mourn!
He hears my prayer! the dreary night is done,
I feel the soft air and the blessed sun.
With heavenly beams.
He comes, my Lord! in raiment glistening white.
From pastures golden in the morning light
And crystal streams.
O let me come to thee!—from this dark place—
And see my gentle Shepherd face to face,
And hear his voice.
So shall these bitter tears no longer flow,
And thou shalt teach my secret heart to know
Thy sacred joys!
ORIGINAL.
WHAT CAME OF A LAUGH ON A CHRISTMAS EVE.
"Beg your pardon, sir," said I, as soon as I could compose myself sufficiently to speak; "I couldn't help it."
"Glad to hear it. Just what I want. I was debating with myself whether it was sure for a laugh. I am looking for things that will make one laugh; in short, buying up causes for laughter on a Christmas day. There can be no doubt, you think, about this being funny?"
"Not a bit of it," said I.
"Well, I'll have one for every basket, then," said the old gentleman, his eyes twinkling with delight, as he danced the toy up and down. It was one of those jointed wooden monkeys that by means of a slide performs the most comical evolutions around the top of a pole.