ADDRESS TO THE UNCO GUID, Or your more dreaded hell to state,

OR THE RIGIDLY RIGHTEOUS.

So, without sound of music,

Or voice of them that wept,
Silently down from the mountain's crown
That grand procession swept.
Perchance the bald old eagle

On gray Beth-peor's height,
Out of his rocky eyrie,

Looked on the wondrous sight; Perchance some lion, stalking,

Still shuns the hallowed spot,

For beast and bird have seen and heard
That which man knoweth not.

But when the warrior dieth,

His comrades in the war,

With arms reversed and muffled drums,
Follow the funeral car;
They show the banners taken,

They tell his battles won,

And after him lead his masterless steed,
While peals the minute gun.

Amid the noblest of the land,

They lay the sage to rest,

And give the bard an honored place,
With costly marble dressed,
In the great minster transept,
Where lights like glories fall,

While the sweet choir sings, and the organ rings
Along the emblazoned wall.

This was the bravest warrior
That ever buckled sword;

This the most gifted poet

That ever breathed a word;
And never earth's philosopher
Traced with his golden pen,

On the deathless page, truths half so sage
As he wrote down for men.

And had he not high honor?
The hillside for his pall,

To lie in state while angels wait,
With stars for tapers tall;

The dark rock-pines, like tossing plumes,
Over his bier to wave.

And God's own hand, in that lonely land,
To lay him in his grave?

In that deep grave without a name,
Whence his uncoffined clay

Sha 1 break again-most wondrous thought-
Before the judgment day,

And stand, with glory wrapped around,
On the hills he never trod,

And speak of the strife that won our life
Through Christ the Incarnate God.

O lonely tomb in Moab's land!
O dark Beth-peor's hill!
Speak to these curious hearts of ours,
And teach them to be still!
God hath His mysteries of grace,

Ways that we cannot tell;

He hides them deep, like secret sleep
Of him He loved so well.

CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER,

W

SELF-KNOWLEDGE.

(From "The Imitation of Christ.")

HO hath a harder conflict to endure than he who labors to subdue himself? But in this we must be continually engaged, if we would be more strengthened in the INNER MAN, and make real progress toward perfection. Indeed, the highest perfection we can attain to in the present state is alloyed with much imperfection; and our best knowledge is obscured by shades of ignorance. "We see through a glass darkly.” An humble knowledge of thyself, therefore, is a more certain way of leading thee to God, than the most profound investigations of science. Science, however, or a proper knowledge of the things belonging to the present life, is so far from being blamable in itself, that it is good, and ordained of God; but purity of conscience, and holiness of life, must ever be preferred before it. And because men are more solicitous to learn much than to live well, they fall into error, and receive little or no benefit from their studies. Oh, that the same diligence were exerted to eradicate vice, and implant virtue, as are applied to the discussion of unprofitable questions, and the "vain strife of words!" So much daring wickedness would not be found among the common ranks of men, nor so much licentiousness disgrace those who live in monasteries. Assuredly, in the approaching day of judgment, it will not be inquired of us what we have read, but what we have done; not how eloquently we have spoken, but how holily we have lived. THOMAS A KEMPIS.