"WE READ OUR OWN IMAGINATIONS FOND FOR THE TRUE FIGURES OF THE LIFE BEYOND;-(GERALD MASSEY)

And white-winged angels nurture her;

With heaven's white radiance robed and crowned,

And all Love's purple glory round,

She summers on the Hills of Myrrh.

Through childhood's morning-land, serene

She walked betwixt us twain, like Love;

While, in a robe of light above,

Her better angel walked unseen,

Till Life's highway grew bleak and wild;
Then, lest her starry garments trail
In mire, heart bleed, and courage fail,
The angel's arms caught up the child.

FROM ONE BRIEF LIFE ETERNAL SUFFERING."-MASSEY.

WE MODEL FROM THE HUMAN LIFE, AND SO FEATURE THE FUTURE FROM THE FACE WE KNOW."-MASSEY.

"TIS ALWAYS SUNLESS ONE SIDE OF OUR GLOBE, AND THUS WE FASHION THE ETERNAL'S ROBE:

"TIS HARD TO READ THE HANDWRITING DIVINE;-(MASSEY)

ENGLAND GOES TO BATTLE.

Her wave of life hath backward rolled

To the Great Ocean; on whose shore
We wander up and down, to store
Some treasures of the times of old:

And aye we seek and hunger on

For precious pearls and relics rare,
Strewn on the sands for us to wear
At heart, for love of her that's gone.

Oh weep no more! there yet is balm
In Gilead! Love doth ever shed
Rich healing where it nestles-spread
O'er desert pillows, some green palm.

Strange glory streams through Life's wild rents,
And through the open door of Death

We see the heaven that beckoneth
To the Beloved going hence.

God's ichor fills the hearts that bleed;

The best fruit loads the broken bough;
And in the wounds our sufferings plough,
Immortal Love sows sovereign seed.

[From "The Ballad of Babe Christabel."]

ENGLAND GOES TO BATTLE.

OW, glory to our England,

As she rises, calm and grand,
With the ancient spirit in her eyes,——

The good sword in her hand!

THE VANISHING UPSTROKES SO INVISIBLY FINE!"-MASSEY.

295

GOD MADE MAN IN HIS IMAGE, BUT OUR PLAN'S TO MAKE GOD'S IMAGE IN THE MAN'S."-MASSEY.

"WHY SHOULD THEY WEEP WHO HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND IN DEATH; ANOTHER THREAD TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH

296

BELOW, ARE ALSO WORTHIEST ABOVE."-GERALD MASSEY.

LIFE'S MAZE; ANOTHER TIE TO DRAW THEM HOME, A FIRMER FOOTHOLD IN THE INFINITE!"-GERALD MASSEY.

"THE SWEETEST FLOWERS WOULD NEVER BLOOM AT ALL IF NO LEAST RAIN OF TEARS DID EVER FALL."-MASSEY.

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WE WOULD NOT PRAY THAT SORROW NE'ER MAY SHED-(MASSEY)

THE KINGLIEST KINGS.

Now, fair befall our England,

On her proud and perilous road :

And woe and wail to those who make
Her footprints red with blood.
Up with our red-cross banner--roll
A thunder-peal of drums !
Fight on there, every valiant soul,
And, courage! England comes !
Now, fair befall our England,

On her proud and perilous road :
And woe and wail to those who make
Her footprints red with blood!

Now, victory to our England!

And where'er she lifts her hand

In Freedom's fight, to rescue Right,
God bless the dear old land!
And when the storm has passed away,
In glory and in calm

May she sit down i' the green o' the day,
And sing her peaceful psalm!
Now, victory to our England!

And where'er she lifts her hand
In Freedom's fight, to rescue Right,

God bless the dear old land!

[This was written at the time of the war with Russia, 1854-55.]

THE KINGLIEST KINGS.

JO! ye who in the noble work

Win scorn, as flames draw air,

And in the way where lions lurk,
God's image bravely bear;

HER DEWS ALONG THE PATHWAY WE MUST TREAD."-MASSEY.

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"IN JOY THE SOUL IS BEARING HUMAN FRUIT; IN GRIEF IT MAY BE TAKING DIVINE ROOT."-GERALD MASSEY.

"ALTHOUGH THE BEST BE LOST IN LIGHT OF UNIMAGINED BLISS,-(GERALD MASSEY)

BUT IT SHALL BE FULFILLED ABOVE."-GERALD MASSEY.

WE HAVE SHADOWY REVEALINGS OF THE BETTER WORLD IN THIS."-GERALD MASSEY.