seemed to rise above earth and draw his whole flock, with all their sins, and needs, and wants, into the presencechamber of heaven. He prayed that the light of heaven might shine into the darkened spirit of their brother; that he might give himself up utterly to the will of God; that we might all do it, that we might become as little children in the kingdom of heaven. With the wise tact which distinguished his ministry he closed the meeting immediately after the prayer with one or two serious words of exhortation. He feared lest what had been gained in impression might be talked away did he hold the meeting open to the well-meant, sincere, but uninstructed efforts of the brethren to meet a case like that which had been laid open before them. After the service was over and the throng slowly dispersed, Zeph remained in his place, rigid and still. One or two approached to speak to him; there was in fact a tide of genuine sympathy and brotherly feeling that longed to express itself. He might have been caught up in this powerful current and borne into a haven of peace, had he been one to trust himself to the help of others; but he looked neither to the right nor to the left; his eyes were fixed on the floor; his brown, bony hands held his old straw hat in a crushing grasp; his whole attitude and aspect were repelling and stern to such a degree that none dared address him. The crowd slowly passed on and out. Zeph sat alone, as he thought; but the minister, his wife, and little Dolly had remained at the upper end of the room. Suddenly, as if sent by an irresistible impulse, Dolly stepped rapidly down the room and with eager gaze laid her pretty little timid hand upon his shoulder, crying, in a voice tremulous at once with fear and with intensity, “O, why do you say that you can not be a Christian? Don't you know that Christ loves you?" Christ loves you! The words thrilled through his soul with a strange, new power; he opened his eyes and looked astonished into the little earnest, pleading face. "Christ loves you," she repeated; "oh, do believe it!" "Loves me!" he said, slowly. "Why should he?" "But he does; he loves us all. He died for us. He died for you. Oh, believe it. He'll help you; he'll make you feel right. Only trust him. Please say you will!" Zeph looked at the little face earnestly, in a softened, wondering way. A tear slowly stole down his hard cheek. "Thank'e, dear child," he said. Zeph paused a moment, then rose up with a new and different expression in his face, and said, in a subdued and earnest voice, "I will." "Amen!" said the Doctor, who stood listening; and he silently grasped the old man's hand. A REFORMED MAN'S LAMENT.-ANNA LINDEN. You think my heart is stern and cold And think me feeble, worn, and old, Not time, but sorrow, stern and deep, In manhood's early prime and power They said when she was by my side I wooed and won her tender heart, I took the solemn marriage vow But bitter memories haunt my soul, And sting my heart and brain; For though I loved her, by my hand She was an angel, and she made It might have lasted, had I given We shared two years of wedded bliss, A welcome pledge of mutual love My fair young wife, without a tear, And tried to cheer and urge me on, I would not hear her words of hope, I yielded like a feeble reed, And when the tempter came, I sowed the seed that cost two lives I was unworthy of the trust Of aught so pure and sweet; And should have shunned, with manly strength, I lost what I might yet have gained Yet, fool-like, drank to drown regret I tortured my fair, gentle wife That kindled meteor rays of hope She plead with me, and prayed for me; I'd promise and forget; And heeded not the life-wrung tears And oft I gave the bitter words That made her heart-strings break; When she, the angel-hearted one, I knew that she was very frail, May God forgive the bitter wrongs DDDDD* And though she drooped beneath the weight It did not stay me in the course I made for her a living death The tender child drooped like a flower With half-unconscious brain; In cruel sorrow, want, and woe No tongue can ever tell; And knelt beside her coffined form I've kept the vow and kept the pledge An angel presence lights the path Long at the foot of Calvary's cross I prayed to be forgiven; And prayed for guiding strength on earth, I've told you of my bitter past, To warn you, ere too late, To touch not alcoholic fire, To tempt so dark a fate. By all the fair and holy things In heaven or on earth, Let temperance dwell in every heart, AN IDEAL WITH A ROMAN NOSE. Seraphina, young and lovely, with a fortune at command, For she loved a bright ideal, with a haughty Roman nose. In her waking dreams she saw him-tall, with raven locks above, While beneath his brow majestic curved the nose that she could love And all other men grew hateful, and with longing look she cried, "Come! a life's devotion waits thee! come and claim thy willing bride!" Love, with soft entreating accents, sought in vain the maiden's heart; Eyes sent out their killing glances, manly figures did their part, All in vain; her virgin fancy by the nose was captive led, And to each who came a-wooing, "No!" was all the maiden said. Sternest fate brought retribution. At a brilliant ball,one night, Seraphina met her hero-that loved nose beamed on her sight. Colonel Montague Augustus (name as high-bred as his looks), What a pity truth must spoil it by that vile cognomen, Snooks! Tall, with raven locks, and whiskers, and-most potent charm of all Roman nose, whose grand proportions held her very soul in thrall. Well, the story needs no telling: each seemed to the other drawn, Talking, walking, glancing, dancing, soon the blissful hours had gone. Colonel Montague Augustus, in the graceful role of lover, Seraphina gazing fondly at the nose that towered above her. Meeting upon meeting followed! luckless lovers one by one, Saw the fortress of her fancy yield ere siege was well begun. Ere the winter snows had vanished, ere the blossoming of spring, At her side his nose was carried, on her finger shone his ring. 'Mid the disappointed suitors who for Seraphina pined, One rash youth to schemes of vengeance had devoted heart and mind. "Words are useless," so he answered to the friends who would advise |