The heather couch his only bed-
Yet well I ween had slumber fled
From couch of eider-down!
Through darksome night till dawn of day,
Absorbed in wakeful thought he lay
Of Scotland and her crown.

The sun rose brightly, and its gleam
Fell on that hapless bed,

And tinged with light each shapeless beam
Which roofed the lowly shed;
When looking up with wistful eye,
The Bruce beheld a spider try

His filmy thread to fling

From beam to beam of that rude cot;
And well the insect's toilsome lot
Taught Scotland's future king.

Six times his gossamery thread
The wary spider threw ;
In vain the filmy line was sped,

For powerless or untrue

Each aim appeared, and back recoiled
The patient insect, six times foiled,

And yet unconquered still;

And soon the Bruce, with eager eye,
Saw him prepare once more to try
His courage, strength, and skill,

One effort more, his seventh, and last!
The hero hailed the sign!

And on the wished-for beam hung fast
That slender, silken line.

Slight as it was, his spirit caught

The more than omen, for his thought

The lesson well could trace,

Which even "he who runs may read,"

That Perseverance gains its meed,

And Patience wins the race.-Bernard Barton.

THE NOBLE MIND.

OH! for the noble mind,

That ne'er will stoop to shame,
But strives to leave behind
A spotless name.

A soul above those sordid men
Who basely wrong will do for gain;
A soul that scorns to grovel thus,

Be this the soul for us!

Oh! for the noble mind, &c.

Oh! for the will to keep

The way we know is right;

And may that way, though steep,
Be our delight.

Give us the heart no fears can shake,
Nor pain, nor loss for Jesu's sake;
In duty bold, to conscience true,
Though dangers stand in view.

Oh! for the will to keep, &c.

Oh! for the Spirit's aid,
Our lives for Christ to spend ;
And without fear or dread,

His truth defend.

In the great cause of Jesu's love
Like martyrs firm and steadfast
prove,
Who, rather than from duty fly,
Shall bravely choose to die.

Oh! for the Spirit's aid, &c.

HOW HAPPY IS THE CHILD WHO HEARS.

How happy is the child who hears
Instruction's warning voice;
And who celestial Wisdom makes
His early, only choice.

For she has treasures greater far
Than east or west unfold;
And her rewards more precious are
Than all their stores of gold.

In her right hand she holds to view
A length of happy days;
Riches with splendid honours joined
Are what her left displays.

She guides the young with innocence,
In pleasure's paths to tread;
A crown of glory she bestows
Upon the hoary head.

According as her labours rise,

So her rewards increase;

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.

THE PIOUS WISH.

OH that mine eye might closed be
To what becomes me not to see!
That deafness might possess mine ear
To what concerns me not to hear!
That truth my tongue might closely tie
From ever speaking foolishly!

That no vain thought might ever rest,
Or be conceived within my breast!

That by each word, each deed, each thought,
Glory may to my God be brought.

Ellwood.

HOW HAPPY IS THE CHILD WHO HEARS.

How happy is the child who hears

Instruction's warning voice;

And who celestial Wisdom makes
His early, only choice.

For she has treasures greater far
Than east or west unfold;
And her rewards more precious are
Than all their stores of gold.

In her right hand she holds to view
A length of happy days;
Riches with splendid honours joined
Are what her left displays.

She guides the young with innocence,
In pleasure's paths to tread;
A crown of glory she bestows
Upon the hoary head.

According as her labours rise,
So her rewards increase;
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.

THE PIOUS WISH.

On that mine eye might closed be
To what becomes me not to see!
That deafness might possess mine ear
To what concerns me not to hear!
That truth my tongue might closel
From ever speaking foolishly!
That no vain thought might
Or be conceived with