MY MOTHER'S BIBLE

Τ'

George Pope Morris

HIS book is all that's left me now!
Tears will unbidden start,-

With faltering lip and throbbing brow
I press it to my heart.

For many generations past,

Here is our family tree;

My mother's hands this Bible clasped,

She, dying, gave it me.

Ah, well do I remember those

Whose names these records bear;

Who round the hearth-stone used to close
After the evening prayer,

And speak of what these pages said,
In tones my heart would thrill!
Though they are with the silent dead,
Here they are living still.

My father read this holy book
To brothers, sisters, dear;

How calm was my poor mother's look
Who leaned God's word to hear!

My Mothers's Bible

Her angel face-I see it yet!

What vivid memories come!

Again that little group is met
Within the halls of home!

Thou truest friend man ever knew,

Thy constancy I've tried;

Where all were false I found thee true,

My counsellor and guide.

The mines of earth no treasures give
That could this volume buy;

In teaching me the way to live,
It taught me how to die

PARAPHRASE OF LUTHER'S

A

HYMN

Frederick Henry Hedge

MIGHTY fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;

Our helper he amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great,

And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,—
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is He,

Lord Saboath His name,

From age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,

Should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed

His truth to triumph through us.

Paraphrase of Luther's Hymn

The Prince of Darkness grim,—

We tremble not for him.

His rage we can endure,

For lo, his doom is sure!

One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,

No thanks to them, abideth;

The spirit and the gift are ours
Through Him Who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;

The body they may kill,

God's truth abideth still,

His Kingdom is forever.

Ο

NEARER HOME

Phoebe Cary

NE sweetly solemn thought

Comes to me o'er and o'er:

I am nearer home to-day

Than I have ever been before;

Nearer my Father's house,

Where the many mansions be;

Nearer the great white throne,
Nearer the crystal sea;

Nearer the bound of life,

Where we lay our burdens down;

Nearer leaving the cross,

Nearer gaining the crown!

But lying darkly between,

Winding down through the night,

Is the silent, unknown stream
That leads at last to the light.

Closer and closer my steps

Come to the dread abysm,

Closer Death to my lips

Presses the awful chrism!