THE FLOWER GIRL'S PETITION,

Oh, buy my flowers, sweet lady!
Violets of richest hue;

Fair roses and forget-me-nots,

And drooping bells of blue :

They were gathered in the early morn,
And are glittering with the dew.

Many in silks and satins drest,
Are gaily thronging by ;

But from my eager looks they turn,
With cold averted eye:

They do not see my tattered garb,
Nor hear my heart-wrung sigh.

My mother, bowed with want and pain,
Lies on her wretched bed;

My little sister's cheeks are pale,

And they cry for want of bread;
And bitterly fall those burning tears,
Which o'er their griefs I shed.

With weary steps I wander on,
Midst merriment and glee;
And if one soft and gentle smile,

Is ever cast on me,

Oh, how it brightens many an hour
Of toil and misery.

Yet better days will surely come
Though sorrow is now our share,
For the little flowers men trample on,
God marks with his tender care;
He will not then forget the poor,
But kindly hear our prayer.

Oh, buy my flowers, sweet lady!
Fresh is each tinted leaf;
Yet their short and evanescent life
Warns us that ours is brief:
That treasure cannot be ill-spent,
That soothes, the mourner's grief.

MYRA.

"LOOK ALOFT."

[THE following beautiful lines were suggested by a thrilling incident which occurred on board a ship. A child, five or six years of age, by his sprightly and fearless disposition had become a universal favorite among the crew. At a time when she lay becalmed, in one of his venturesome moods he had climbed to the utmost height of a tall mast, unobserved by any one on board, till the moment he was almost at the point of falling, when he was discovered at this dizzy height by his astonished father, who with an agonized voice bid him "LOOK ALOFT!" which doubtless saved his life. With his eye upon the blue firmament, he safely descended to his father's arms, who till this moment had retained his self-possession, but, overcome with intense excitement, he at that moment fell fainting upon the deck.]

"In the tempest of life, when the wave and the gale
Are around and above, if thy footsteps should fail,
If thine eye should grow dim, and thy caution depart,
'Look aloft' and be firm, and be fearless of heart.

If the friend who embraced in prosperity's glow,
With a smile for each joy, and a tear for each woe,
Should betray thee when sorrows like clouds are array'd,
'Look aloft' to the friendship which never shall fade.

Should the visions which hope spreads in light to thine eye,
Like the tint of the rainbow but brighten to fly,
Then turn and through tears of repentant regret,
'Look aloft' to the sun which is never to set.

Should they who are dearest-the love of thy heart,
The friend of thy bosom, in sorrow depart-
'Look aloft' from the darkness and dust of the tomb,
To the home where affection is ever in bloom.'

And, oh! when death comes in wild terrors to cast
His fears on the future, his pall on the past,
In that moment of darkness with hope in thy heart,
And a smile in thine eye, look aloft' and depart."

THE AGED CHRISTIAN.

THE spring and summer-time of life have long since past away,

And golden autumn, with its leaves of sadness and decay

Has come and gone; and winter shrouds each lovely scene in gloom, And bids me mark, across my path, the shadows of the tomb.

Mine eye is growing dim with age, my step is feeble now,
And deeper lines of thought and care are graven on my brow;
But shall I murmur as I trace the rapid flight of hours,

Or grasp with trembling eagerness earth's fair yet fading flowers?

Oh, no! a bright and happy home awaiteth me above,

And my ardent spirit longs to dwell where all is joy and love;
Does the wave-tossed mariner regret when he sees the haven near,
Where his shattered bark shall safely rest, nor storm, nor danger fear!
Will the toil-worn laborer sigh because his weary task must close,
And evening's peaceful shades afford him calm and sweet repose ?
Or does the child with sorrow mark each swift revolving mile
Which bears him to his cherished home and loving Father's smile?
And shall the Christian grieve because some gentle signs are given
That he is nearer to the bliss, the perfect bliss of heaven?
That every moment closer brings that mansion fair and bright,
Prepared for him with tender care, in realms of pure delight!
Oh! with such brilliant hopes as these, how can my heart repine,
Although I feel my vigour fade, my wonted strength decline?
Rather with gladness would I hail these messages of love,
Which tell me I shall quickly join the white-robed throng above.
My pilgrimage will soon be o'er, my arduous race be run,
And the bright crown of victory triumphant faith have won;
No sorrow clouds the land of rest, hushed is the thought of pain,
Oh! if for me to live is Christ, to die, indeed, is gain!
Brighton.

H. M. W.

THE TRUE FOUNDATION.

Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (Cor. iii. 11.)

And can there those indeed be found,

Amongst the souls His hands have made;

Who cast his gospel to the ground,

And scorn the One Foundation laid?

Would there were none, who in the sand,

Their hope of heaven's bright glories build;

Who, for their own work's sakes demand
Entrance, where merit's voice is still'd.

O Lord, who hast in Zion laid,

A tried, a precious Corner Stone; So let our hope on that be stayed,

That thou wilt ne'er our souls disown.

Firm on the Everlasting Rock

Of thy salvation will we stand;

Nor heed the scorn of those who mock,
Or hide the work of thy right hand.

Call'd by the name of Christ, may we
Boldly proclaim that name around,
That from our hearts, our tongues, our lives,
Thy endless glory may resound.

And when thy final storm, O Lord,
Shall sweep the “lying refuge” down ;
When all thine anger shall be poured
On guilty souls who dared thy frown-

Upon the "Rock of Ages" then,

O may our joyful feet be stayed;

Whilst we in sight of God and men,
Proclaim the One Foundation laid!

LOOKING TO CHRIST.

STILL nigh me, O my Saviour, stand,
And guard me in temptation's hour ;
Hide in the hollow of thy hand,

Show forth in me thy saving power:

Still be thine arm my sure defence,
Nor earth nor hell shall pluck me thence.

In suffering, be thy love my peace;

In weakness be thy love my power;
And when the storms of life shall cease,
Jesus, in that important hour,
In death, as life be thou my guide,
And save me, who for me hast died.

H. D.

THE

YOUTHS' MAGAZINE;

OR,

EVANGELICAL MISCELLANY.

DECEMBER, 1845.

FORTY YEARS!

FORTY is a number frequently mentioned in the sacred Scriptures, and particularly in the Old Testament. Sometimes it designates special judgments, and remarkable events; sometimes particular epochs in the life of extraordinary characters; and sometimes the period of official duties. The dreadful judgment of Jehovah, upon the guilty inhabitants of the old world, was marked by a universal deluge of water which was poured upon the earth during forty days and forty nights, and except eight persons, who took refuge in the ark, (Gen. vii. 17), swept away the immense mass of human beings which then peopled the earth. The eventful life of Moses was divided into three epochs, each consisting of forty years. He was forty years old, the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter, when he was called to deliver Israel. Forty years he passed in comparative exile, in Midian; and forty years he was the leader and commander of Israel from Egypt to the borders of Canaan. During this period, he was in the mount forty days, receiving instructions from God, and interceding with him for his mercy towards his rebellious people. Forty years was the term of Israel's wanderings through the wilderness; Joshua, the successor of Moses,

A a