HYMNS AND FIRE-SIDE VERSES.

L'ENVOI.

I HAVE indited thee with care and love,
My little book; and now I send thee forth
On a good mission like the gentle dove,
Bearing glad tidings with thee o'er the earth.

Thou was not meant for riot and for jest,
Dear little book, all simple as thou art;
But in sweet homes to be a loving guest;

And find a place in many a guileless heart.

Have not a fear! I know that thou wilt find

Thy journey pleasant as a path of flowers,
For pure and youthful hearts are ever kind,
Glad to be pleased with labor such as ours.

Sit down with little children by the way,

And tell them of sweet Marien, how she went Over the dreary world from day to day,

On Christian works of love, like thee, intent.

Tell them of Him who framed the sea, the sky;
The glorious earth and all that dwell therein;
And of that Holy One made strong to die,
Sinless himself, to save the world from sin.

And thou hast many a tale of wonder planned
With various art, to make thy spirit wise
These have I given thee that thou may'st command
Glad smiles at will, and pitying tears and sighs.

For thus, young, generous spirits would be won;
And I have gifted thee to win them best;
Now go thou forth undaunted, gentle one,
And trust thy cause to every youthful breast.

Go forth, and have thou neither fear nor shame; Many shall be thy friends, thy foes be few; And greet thou those who love thee in my name,

Yea, greet them warmly! Little book, adieu!

MARIEN'S PILGRIMAGE.

A FIRE-SIDE STORY.

CHRISTIANITY, like a child, goes wandering over the world. Fearless in its innocence, it is not abashed before princes, nor confounded by the wisdom of synods. Before it the blood-stained warrior sheathes his sword, and plucks the laurel from his brow; the midnight murderer turns from his purpose, and, like the heart-smitten disciple, goes out and weeps bitterly. It brings liberty to the captive, joy to the mourner, freedom to the slave, repentance and forgiveness to the sinner, hope to the faint-hearted, and assurance to the dying.

It enters the huts of poor men, and sits down with them and their children; it makes them contented in the midst of privations, and leaves behind an everlasting blessing. It walks through great cities, amid all their pomp and splendor, their unimaginable pride, and their unutterable misery, a purifying, ennobling, correcting, and redeeming angel.

It is alike the beautiful companion of childhood and the comfortable associate of age. It ennobles the noble; gives wisdom to the wise, and new grace to the lovely. The patriot, the priest, and the eloquent rnan, all derive their sublime power from its influence.

Thanks be to the Eternal Father, who has made us one with Him, through the benign Spirit of Christianity'

PART I.

THROUGH the wide world went Marien,

On a holy mission sent,
A little child of tender years,
Throughout the world she went.

And ever, as she went along,

Sweet flowers sprang 'neath her feet All flowers that were most beautiful, Of virtues strong and sweet.

And ever, as she went along,

The desert beasts grew tame

And man, the savage, dyed with blood, The merciful became.

Now, if you will attend to me,

I will, in order, tell

The history of this little child,

And what to her befell.

No friend at all had Marien,

And at the break of day,

In a lonesome place within the world, In quiet thought she lay.

The stars were lost in coming morn,

The moon was pale and dim,

And the golden sun was rising
Over the ocean's rim.

With upturned eye lay Marien; "And I am alone," said she,

"Though the blackbird and the nightingale Sing in the forest-tree:

"Though the weak woodland creatures

Come to me when I call,

And eat their food from out my hand;

And I am loved by all:

"Though sun, and moon, and stars come out,
And flowers of fairest grace,
And whate'er God made beautiful,
Are with me in this place:

"Yet I am all alone, alone,
Alone both night and day!
So I will forth into the world,
And do what good I may :

"For many a heart is sorrowful,
And I that heart may cheer;
And many a weary captive pines
In dungeons dark and drear;
And I the iron bonds may loose,
Then why abide I here?

"And many a spirit dark with crime

Yet longeth to repent;

And many a grievous wrong is done

To the weak and innocent;

And I may do the injured right,
May save the penitent!