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T 
 
 VeiGES PR0M NATURE 
 
 poems 
 
 BY 
 
 PETER E. MeKAY, C.S, 
 
 TORONTO 
 1894 
 
 'J i ,J » .»»| i | i 
 
TT 
 
 TTT 
 
 «P 
 
 I 
 
VOICES FROM NATURE 
 
 poems 
 
 BY 
 
 PETER E. McKAY, C.S. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 TORONTO 
 
 1894 
 
 \ 
 
K21 1/6 
 
 1998 
 
 «n- th^f "^"J"!'."? to the Act of the Parliament of Canada in the vear 
 one thousand eight Tiundred and iiinetyfour, bv Pctrb K McKav 7- s 
 Toronto, in the Office ol the MiniHter of AgricukL™ OtS ' ' 
 
 A 
 
 / 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 " /^\^ making many books, there is no end." So said 
 V^ the preacher ; and in verificsation of that truthful 
 record — relative to the infinite expression of thought — the 
 Author of this little booklet of Poems entitled, " VoiOES 
 FROM Nature," subjoins his modest name. When the 
 high crest of pride lies levelled, in the dust, then the 
 uplifting might of meekness and humility enables one to 
 rise above a mortal sepulchre, up to that fair, immortal 
 Heritance, from whose " heaven kissing " eminence, am- 
 bition, fame and popularity "fell with Lucifer, never to 
 
 rise again. 
 
 " The meek shall inherit the earth." So said the 
 Darling Poet of Nature— the meek and lowly Jesus; and 
 since that Divine Interpreter of God and Man, preferred 
 to wear a crown of thorns before the wreathed laurel, then 
 how much more should a less-deserving Peter — unworthy 
 of the rose-bound Evergreen — be satisfied to take up his 
 
 Master's thorny 
 
 cross, 
 
 till 
 
 it 
 
 is 
 
 laid 
 
 upon 
 
 the 
 
 back 
 
 of 
 
 Simon the Cyrenian. 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 
 P. E. 
 
 McKAY. 
 
 
 
 
 
 ( 
 
 
 • 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Thb Ska of Galilee . 
 
 The Mountain Rose Lbttbr 
 
 The Mountain Rose . 
 
 "The Hidden Treasure" 
 
 A Lily Importuned . 
 
 The Star of Bethlehem 
 
 "Parting Makes Tender" 
 
 Marriage 
 
 The Rainbow 
 
 Florence Asleep . 
 
 Testimony of Faith . 
 
 Immortality of Life 
 
 Other Lines .... 
 
 A Lesson Learned from Nature 
 
 . 6 
 
 8 
 10 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 16 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 
\ 
 
 / 
 
 VOICIiS FROM NATURH 
 
\ 
 
 Votcea from nature 
 
 fi)a^icaCion. 
 
 3n ^oktfn ol ^flMng L'olv. 
 
 The Boat tendered to accompany The Sea of (,'afilee. m fondly 
 
 ikdicaled to the Rkv. Mary B. (1. Kin»v, um an oiidmrd 
 
 manxfext of true yralitiide, niiicerely fxprennrd, hy her 
 
 erer-deroted and united ntudentu in Truth, 
 
 THE SEA OF GALILEE. 
 
 I. 
 
 Sweet Hinile c»f Love ! bright mirror of the Soul ! 
 Hubliine reflection of the All, in All ! 
 Whose crystal compass, like the eye of Light, 
 Reveals new heavens to the wistful sight ! 
 
 II. 
 The rippling waves that dash their silver spray 
 Like dews on Hermon at the break of day. 
 With eager footsteps, kiss their native strand, 
 And bear Love's message to a foreign land. 
 
 III. 
 
 The buoyant bar<|ue, that ptmcefully doth ride 
 Upon the l)08om of the azure tide. 
 Like Truth's commission fr(»m the shores above, 
 Sails to Life's port on embassies of love. 
 
/ 
 
 Zb€ Sea of dalilee. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Her fMicivd deck, t!ie bulwark of the Soul, 
 Involves the hemisphereH from pole to pole 
 And, 'neuth the cnnopy of fadeless skieH, 
 Enjoys ptirpetual, celestial joys. 
 
 V. 
 
 L(;ewiir<l, l>ehold ! the Promised I^nd appears, 
 Cloth'd in soft ^reen, and moist with Orient tears, 
 And from the summits of its verdant hills, 
 Hee ! with what jt»y, roll down the laughing rills. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Shartm's sweet rose perfumes the mountain gales, 
 And spotlt^ss lilies graco the sylvan vales, 
 Cedar and myrtle, and the olive tree, 
 Adorn the landscapes of sweet Galilee. 
 
 vii. 
 
 There, milk-white doves on dewy wings rejoice 
 In making chorus to the cuck(K)'s voice. 
 And Paradise, the shrine of All-good-will, 
 With cordant Nature, renders " Peace, Ije still." 
 
 Toronto, August, 1802. 
 
 N<yPB. — The "boat," referred to in the Dedicatioit, was presented by 
 the Fir«t Church of Christ, .Scientist, Toronto, to accoui|>any a minia- 
 ture '*.Sea of (valilee " which mirrors the "Peace, Xm still " of Christian 
 Science, as it glassti^ and sleeps by the beautiful residence belont^ing 
 to the Aiithor of "Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures." 
 The Boat and .Sea typify that deep love conveyed in the overflowing 
 heart of grateful, loyal students, with a [)erH|)ective ho|»e and " Pleasant 
 View " [name of residence] beyond the Vale of Tears. This " presen- 
 tation iK)eu\ " accompanied the Boat. 
 
8 
 
 IDoicee from Mature. 
 
 TeR0NT0, 
 
 September 1st, 1894' 
 
 Mr. J. H. STEWART, C.S. 
 
 Bklovki) Tkacher, — Accompanying this letter, enclosed please 
 find a poem entitled "The Mountain Rose," which I thought well 
 to dedicate to yourself. Much as I love all my earlier poetical 
 compositions, yet, notwithstanding, I love this one more, for it 
 contains my constant rising prayer, and is at present my latest, 
 my dearest and best poem, which indeed merits no worthier dedi- 
 cation. As the genius of true poetry is Love, and, like the voice 
 of Nature, is expressive of the higher and more exalted tone of 
 thought, which was expressed by Mind and reflected in the ideal 
 man "when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of 
 God shouted for joy " ; and as true poetry aV>ounds where harmony 
 prevails, and by the Poet and Interpreter of Nature was discerned 
 and illustrated in the lily of the field as well as in tlie heavens, 
 the author is therefore indebted and grateful to the " Author and 
 Finisher" of all Good for the sublime phenomenon of Nature 
 which inspired him to indite the dedicated poem entitled, " The 
 Mountain Rose." The subject-story of the poem is one of singular 
 nature, whose rich and rare beauty freshens more and more into 
 loveliness, as the senses fade in the gloaming and the twilight of 
 Science unfolds. As memory fondly wakes, like the young-eyed 
 cherubim, the morning thoughts of youtiifid recollections, things 
 slumbering in the dark night of forgetfulness open their eyes, and, 
 like light-borrowing stars, reflect the radiance of their day's bright 
 sun. To relate : While wandering 'mong my native hills in Scot- 
 land, at the age of only seven, as the slanting rays of a golden sun 
 bespoke the Ides of March, and as changing scenes in shifting light 
 made white-capped summits and snow-crowned peaks tower like 
 pinnacles of fame, I was fortunate enough to espy on a lonely 
 wild, two sister blossoms of a mountain rose bloom sweetly 'mid 
 the snow. 
 
\ 
 
 (Tbe Aountain fRoec, 
 
 9 
 
 There they were, with no companion or kindred flower to cheer 
 the hrow of care, gazing into heaven as if their perfumed eloipience 
 tohl a sweet tale to the sun ; and as I behehl them busking in the 
 gh)wing light, and kissing the golden l)eams, their smiling morning 
 faces h)oked a picture of delight. It was love at first sight, for my 
 heart was fully captured ; hut oh ! it was pure love, so pure and so 
 tender that I knelt to kiss tliem and tell them all I felt. I then 
 strove to connnuno with them, but in vain — for I had no language, 
 my terms were meaningless — I could find no tongue to express my 
 thoughts, so I spoke through loving tears : they were all I c«)uld 
 comnumd. But ah I they were precious drops shed graciously, and 
 the mf)re gracious and precious did they shine when I saw them 
 fall to gleam and glisten on their peerle-ss bosoms, like pearls o' the 
 first water gracing a virgin's breast. It was a strange and com- 
 passionate scene. I wanted to make them mine, so I ravished 
 their wedded bed. I thei-e deflowered them like ([ueens uncrowned 
 on a clirysolite throne, and as 1 lovingly though selfishly pressed 
 them with fondness to my heart, 1 st)on beiield tham melt and 
 vanish away with such unseasoned kinilness, that my mistaken 
 sense of love but proved their gieatest cruelty. Alas ! unnatural 
 and untimely theft I Tliey were robbed ami stolen from Nature's 
 clime and element. I wept afresh, but not for joy (false joys but 
 turn to sorrow), and as 1 laid them gently down to sleej> on their 
 chaste and l>ridal bed, so satred were the solemn rites and obseijuies 
 over the altar of sacrifice tliat, fnmi their bliglited though fadeless 
 lives, I turned away disconsolate. 
 
 It was my first sin-otl'ering, without either spot or blemish, and, 
 if I flrank the bitter-sweet with cliastened tears of penitence, I 
 had also feasted on thouglits of immortalit \ — such thoughts, that 
 drown a sea of sorrows in one cuj) of joy, leaving behind a tasting 
 flavor of refreshment, as sweet, as fjagrant, and enduring as flowers 
 everlasting. 
 
 
10 
 
 IDoices trom nature. 
 
 THE MOUNTAIN ROSE. 
 
 " Full many a flower is born to blush unseen. 
 And waste its sweetness on the desert air." 
 
 — Gray'n Eli'ijy. 
 
 Two rosy blossoms, l)l<)oiuin(]; 'mid the snow, 
 Adorned the prospect of my highhind home; 
 
 Where ^Flora's charm was never known to blow, 
 Nor Nature blush, in Beauty's rosy bloom. 
 
 Like twin-born virtues gracing one fair stem, 
 
 They reared their heads with sweet, celestial air, 
 
 To drink the snow-drop find the pearly gem, 
 That fell from heav'n in benediction there. 
 
 Their spotless bosoms washed in pui'ity 
 
 Shone whiter than the phraseless virgin snows. 
 
 Their maiden cheeks, stainless as chastity, 
 
 Look'd fairer far, th.an summer's crimson rose. 
 
 O ! I have seen the lily grace the dell, 
 
 The primrose gay, adorn the mountain side ! 
 
 I've seen the snow-drt)p and the white flower-bell, 
 And vernal tloriage brink the crystal tide, 
 
 But, none so like an " Angel in the Sun " 
 As those incorporate virtues, bt>rn of Love: 
 
 They bloomed supernal, solitary, lone, 
 
 To greet the morn, and woo the stars above ! 
 
 / 
 
 »In " Antiquity " The Goddess of Flowers. 
 
Zbc Aountatn Vodc. 
 
 11 
 
 Gardens of bliss ! Ye rosaries of bloom ! 
 
 Ye landscapes gay with vernant springing flowers j 
 Fair as ye seem, in banks of sweet perfume, 
 
 Yet, Nature's loveliest, blooms in lonelier bowers ! 
 
 Give me the waste and solitary wild, 
 
 Where northern gales purge every mountain tress. 
 There, place me side my pure, my undefiled ; 
 
 No Sharon blooms, like such a wilderness ! 
 
 The palm tree waves 'mid torrid, desert plains. 
 
 Oases flourish in the wilderness ! 
 Ev'n warmest fountains spring in coldest zones, 
 
 For Iceland's geysers melt the heart of ice ! 
 
 No land so waste, no plain so desolate. 
 
 Where earth worn pilgrims find not heavenly rest ; 
 No *Etham without Elim's cool retreat, 
 
 Since heav'n's bright hope smiles o'er earth's frowning 
 crest ! 
 
 Then, may not Sc.'otia's Caledonian hills 
 
 Aftbrd st)me shelter to a flowery tie ? 
 Ah, yes they may ! for oft' sweet heather bells. 
 
 All heav'n-sick, scent their orisons on high ! 
 
 Well might my U)ves, those twin-born cherubins, 
 Donu their white robes ere earlv flower-bells ring! 
 
 'Twas Nature's wish, they bloom 'fore April rains. 
 
 That Love might wear them with the opening spring ! 
 
 *The children of Israel, while jiassing from E^ypt to the Promised Land, 
 encampeii in the desert of Ethain, where Eliin refreshed theni with seventy 
 palm trees and twelve wells of water. 
 
12 Voiced from laature. 
 
 Like virgin queens, new-crowned with sovereignty, 
 And twain espoused to Purity and Light 
 
 They sat enthroned in blameless modesty, 
 To rule themselves, unceasing, day and night. 
 
 Oh, that I learned to live that life of Love, 
 Which keeps unspotted from the world below : 
 
 Then, would pure thoughts like their chaste virtues prove 
 As prayers that rise to heaven, perpetually. 
 
 Though, now this heart deplores their earthly doom, 
 Yet, Love's sweet rose, blooms o'er Affection's grave : 
 
 Though mortal beauties perish in the tomb, 
 Immortal glories never cease to live. 
 
 k. 
 
 "THE HIDDEN TREASURE." 
 
 Extract from a Sermon ddircre.d in the Firtt Church of Chrint, 
 
 Scientist, Toronto. 
 
 In proportion as the human will yields to the Divine, 
 and " not my will, but Thine be dt)ne," do we become poor 
 in the mortality of matter and rich in the immortality of 
 Spirit. Life is the sacred jewel of Existence, hid in the 
 Mine of Wealth. To find It, we must dig deep, shuffle 
 and throw out the worthless gi'ossness of the world and 
 sell all earthly possessions, before we can buy Its price'ess 
 worth — a purchase dear as heaven : Then, and not till 
 then, need we hope to wear it in our " Crown of Re 
 joicing," and shine immortal in Its bright resplendency. 
 
a Itis JnipottuneO. 
 
 IS 
 
 %' 
 
 'P 
 
 A Prayerful Request ; 
 
 OB, 
 
 A LILY IMPORTUNED. 
 
 CompoHul while heholdimj a dew-hent lily immortalized in the 
 
 .Horfre.ifjn-ifoldtn-xmih' of a hriyhf ^fay mornimj. Both 
 
 Lily and Poem irere aj'fenvardi presented to the 
 
 Rev. Isabella M. Stewakt, C.S. D. 
 
 Pour me one dram of the celestial wine, 
 That fills to overflow thy chaliced cup ; 
 
 For I, with thee, would drink a draught divine 
 And perfumed thanks, to heaven offer up ! 
 
 Pure as the morn that gilds yon litjuid blue. 
 And bathes the earth in heavenly alchemy ! 
 
 Thy bosom white — impearled with virgin dew, 
 Shimmers like love that looks through sympathy ! 
 
 Oh, for a drop of thy soft elocjuence, 
 
 To (juick-absolve this hard compounded heart ; 
 
 And wash the stain of gross impenitence 
 That makes me feel the fouler for thine art ! 
 
 Earth hath not seen a lovelier child than thou. 
 Nor has she one more fair, more pure and sweet ; 
 
 For crystal Innocence and Beauty's bi'ow — 
 In thee disclosed, adorn Love's coronet. 
 
 Come then, chaste flower I o'er-brink thy chaliced cup 
 With tears of gratitude — Love's native wine ; 
 
 For I, with thee, would inspiration sup, 
 And drinking, quaff the beverage divine ! 
 

 14 
 
 IDO1CC0 (torn nature. 
 
 THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 
 
 Written exprennly for, and read be/ore the Toronto Chrintian 
 Scientut Asuoriation, July 2nd, 1S94. 
 
 v 
 
 " And God said, Let there l)e light: and there was light." 
 
 — Genesis i. 3. 
 
 O THOU bright Star ! whose cherub-angel smile, 
 
 First cheered the saddened night-winged Orient sky, 
 
 And rent the shade, that seemed to veil awhile 
 A world of light, in darkest mystery ! 
 
 When through the crystal window-pane of Heaven, 
 Thy rising glory shone out o'er the deep 
 
 And hailed to sight, what else were void to vision, 
 O then, was roused a cradled world from sleep ! 
 
 Fair dawned Life's hope, when thy bright morning glory. 
 Serenely starred the " Sun of Righteousness," 
 
 Whose sovereign light — golden with Truth's rich story, 
 Revealed on Earth, God's will and Heaven's peace ! 
 
 Star of Earth's hope ! Crown diadem of Heaven ! 
 
 Thou jewel setting, in Love's crystal sphere ! 
 As gems undimmed, thy store of beams is given, 
 
 A priceless treasure, fadeless, rich and dear ! 
 
 J 
 
 i^i 
 
tlbe Star of JBctblebem. 
 
 15 
 
 \ ) 
 
 When from afar, the ancient Magi saw 
 
 Thy golden tiesses stream across tlie night ;. 
 
 They wisely followed thy safe-guidin gray, 
 Which led from darkness into Christly light ! 
 
 Oh, many a weary pilgrim of the night, 
 
 With earnest longings for the break of day, 
 
 Have sought, and oft for thy celestial light 
 To angel-guide them, past the darksome way ! 
 
 Kv'n as of old, when from Love's jewelled throne, 
 Thy gentle presence cheered a frowning sky ; 
 
 So in this age, from Love's Empyrean Z«me, 
 The Star of Science melts obscurity. 
 
 Far as the arms of Everlasting Ij<jve, 
 
 Outstretched to save, beycmd a mortal bound ; 
 
 E'en so far, Science (ioth confineless move 
 Her sweet, translucent cherubim around. 
 
 But, time was — when like sheep without a fold. 
 We wandered shepherdless o'er mountains bare ; 
 
 Till, one by one (the young among the old), 
 
 A hundred flocked beneath the Shepherd's care. 
 
 Now led, where streams from crystal fountains flow, 
 Fast by the heavenly, verdant Hill of God ; 
 
 We rest secure, and fear no earthly ioe 
 
 Since God protects, with Lov(»'s protecting rod. 
 
 No more need night, nor want, nor grief's sad tear 
 
 Wash Love's sweet rose from off the cheek of youth ; 
 
 Nor age decline, with every passing year. 
 
 For Life's chief joy, lives blest, in Love and Truth. 
 
\ 
 
 \ 
 
 16 
 
 Voices from nature. 
 
 "PARTING MAKES TENDER." 
 
 Indited and prenented to Miss G. A. W., ax a token of endearment 
 from her ever jaithfnl friend. 
 
 '* Verily, I say unto you, before the rose of Sharon l)lo88oni8, the 
 blood of the Just shall be spilt." Jeaus to Pilate. 
 
 — Tak'in from Talmndir Iranxltitionn. 
 
 Now winter's late (Hssolviiig snows, inipearl tiie emerald lea, 
 She bids farewell to Juda's plains, and leaves the world for me; 
 Now spring-time glads the Vale of Tears; tears bathe 
 
 Mount Sion's feet 
 While Nature's mantling green, emobes the slopes of Olivet. 
 
 Now bUxmis the Lily of the Vale ; the ehaliced Fleur-de-luce, 
 And many another Hower unfolds in Beauty's loveliness ; 
 Now fades the last faint ti'ace of March, that shades the 
 
 Orient sky, 
 As April welcomes back again supernal smiles of joy ! 
 
 Now little birds anew retun* their old sweet songs and loves. 
 And cuckoos voice their fond return to milk-white turtle- 
 doves! 
 Seraphic nightingales ev'n now, imparadise the night, 
 And soon the soaring lark will sing, at Heav'n's gate of light! 
 
 The secret nn)untain solitudes, where sacred raptures dwell, 
 O, how their hallowed shrines resound, with Love's har- 
 monious swell ; 
 O, how the "young-eyed cherubim," that ever sweetly njovc, 
 Now wake my thoughts from swcH.'t repose, to sweeter strains 
 of Love I 
 
 But, as from 01iv(>:'s heav'n-most height, I view earth's low- 
 land scene — 
 
 Changing white angel-loveliness, for Nature's vernal green; 
 
 Full many a place presents its thought, of times and 
 seasons past. 
 
 When Christ's Evangel ministered, round Galilea's coast ! 
 
 
 r 
 
\ 
 
 parting} ftsakcB lender. 
 
 17 
 
 ^ 
 
 <* 
 
 Thou City of Jerusalem, thut crowns the aev'n-hilled site! 
 How oft have tears l)edewed mine eyes to wash thy stains 
 
 more white ! 
 How oft beneath Love's sheltering wing, would T have 
 
 gathered thee ; 
 But thou would'st not, and now alas, woe waits Clethsemanel 
 
 Way in the far and distant north, Mount Hermon rears 
 
 his crest, 
 And glitters in transforming light, a world serenely blest ; 
 Midway as gleaming in the tear, that fell from heaven's 
 
 blue eye, 
 Sweet Sharon and Gennesaret, in earth-bound friendship lie. 
 
 There, may the budding roses bloom, and bursting, blossom 
 
 fair. 
 Yet, ere their beauties blush the plain, or fragrance scent 
 
 the air. 
 The heart's rich treasure of the Just — by envious mortals 
 
 shed — 
 Will with affection's roseate hue, shade Love's white roses red. 
 
 Incarnate things like kernels sown, in earthliness must die : 
 For Love doth crucify foul hate, and Life, morality. 
 But Good — whose seed lives in Itself, can ne'er decay or wane; 
 Immortal germs ne'er live to die, nor die to live again ! 
 
 Affection's seed in human heart — I^ijve's vital germ divine — 
 Must soon take root and grow and bud, with summer's rain 
 
 and shine ; 
 And like a vine in gardened soil, that mounts the cloister 
 
 high, 
 Will flower and fruit and crown at length the Cross of 
 
 Calvary. 
 
 Soon, soon the Christly Son of Man! The Just and Innocent, 
 
 Shall suffer and endure, to save a world malevolent ! 
 
 Fain would I shun to kiss the Cross that wins a kingly 
 
 Crown ; 
 Yet, Father, not my will, I pray, but Thine own will be done. 
 
18 
 
 Voicce from Vlaturc. 
 
 MARRIAGE. 
 
 Prenen(f.fl, with hent wiiiheM, (o Mr. J. A. M. and Miss J. !{. 
 
 iiM n frilnife, bttokenimj tore, ami rexjierf^ from 
 
 the.ir ererjalfh/idj't'u iiU. 
 
 I. life's YOUNO M0RNIN(J. 
 
 Hail, happy morn ! Thou new-born day ! 
 Shed, f)'er the earth, thy heavenly ray ! 
 Ijet Life's ghid Sun <jf Beauty rise. 
 In Truth's expanse and Love's fond skies ! 
 Shine, thou resplendent orb of light, 
 O'er the blest scene that greets thy sight, 
 And let thy beams celestial I'eign, 
 With glory, crown this golden dawn I 
 
 II. TIIK MAHRIAfiK ALTAR. 
 
 Behold ! how lovely and how fair. 
 Flush with Life's bloom, a bridal pair 
 Stand side by side, as hand in hand 
 They bind, with Love's most sacred band, 
 Their lives, their tlu)ughts, their all to be 
 As sweet notes wed in harmony. 
 
 III. heaven's APPltOVAL. 
 
 Lo ! Heaven smiles upon the scene 
 And lends her hue oi lovely green, 
 To deck the new- wed bride and groom 
 With memories of a fadeless bloom. 
 She rears her arch of Love and Truth 
 And mantles o'er their virgin youth ; 
 To guard and tend the tender vine, 
 And turn the water into wine. 
 
 " 
 
tLbc l^ainbow. 
 
 19 
 
 
 IV. LOVE, PEACE AND FELICITY. 
 
 O happy tie ! thou'rt doubly dear 
 
 When welded links like these, adhere 
 
 To swell the chain of purer thought, 
 
 \V hich Love hath stamped and virtue wrought ! 
 
 Peace, like a river clear and sweet 
 
 Must surely How, when lives thus meet, 
 
 Till earth, the same as Heaven alM)ve, 
 
 Hhall find enthroned. Life, Truth and Love ! 
 
 -i 
 
 THE RAINBOW. 
 
 Extract from a Sermon dflirered in the First Church of Christ, 
 
 Scie.utixty Toronto. 
 
 The bow of heaven spans the « arth, whose arch of 
 promise in *' seven-hued harmony," kisses the prism of 
 light, and bending, softly smiles on man, through the 
 rain-drops of Divinity. 
 
 When envious shadows, like gathering clouds. 
 
 Rack the placid sky above us ; 
 
 W^hen "hope deferred," like a sorry bride. 
 
 Weeps over affection's crosses ; 
 
 When rain-fraught winds like sighs and tears 
 
 Veil the soft, blue eye t)f heaven. 
 
 Then faith should rise to loftier skies, 
 
 And trust should cling to holier ties : 
 
 Till, reaching the crystal of purity, 
 
 Light shines through their rare transparency. 
 
80 
 
 \Doicc0 from Dature. 
 
 FLORENCE ASLEEP. 
 
 Presented to Fmjrrnck Kthrl MoKav, oh n fohii 
 of f.niiearmeiit. 
 
 Hush ! let your peace Ix* \vhisf)ere{I soft and low, 
 A wayward note niij;lit wake my nluniWring Floe I 
 See, how serene, as if i'ej)ose to keep, 
 Her little eyes are closed in gentle sleep! 
 
 O smile of Innocence! sweet child of Love ! 
 Emblem more fair than Eden's milk-white dove! 
 Pure as the lily! chaste as the stainless rose 
 Whose spotless bloomsiare washed in virgin snows! 
 
 Angels of Pt;ace, who guard my infant Joy! 
 
 My heart will bi-eak, should thy spread wings annoy 
 
 In their descent, the sacred hour of bliss 
 
 A mother strove to seal with many a kiss! 
 
 Oh ! I could weep and pray to weep again. 
 If tears would keep secure from fear and pain. 
 So mild a promise, and so young a fair. 
 As blossoms 'neath (Jod's special Eye of Care! 
 
 Sleep on my babe ! No frown can e'er beguile. 
 What Love's fond seal hath stamped in that sweet smih^ 
 Nor envious storm, can ruff the heavenly sky 
 That cloudless hangs o'er Mother's darling joy ! 
 
 Heaven's gentle gales, that kiss celestial skies, 
 Like sighing loves, shall sing thy lullabies ! 
 And on their wings. My Florence, thou shalt rise, 
 (Espoused like hope,) to higher destinies ! 
 
 ' 
 
ZcBtimon^ of f aitb. 
 
 31 
 
 ' 
 
 > 
 
 TESTIMONY OF FAITH. 
 
 Poem prtMentf.d mth a hve-qfleriny which ii'om nent to help hmld 
 
 the *• Mothtr Church " or Firxt Church oj Chritf, AViVh/m/, 
 
 JioMton, hy the Firxt Church of Chrixt, Scinttixt, 
 
 Toronto, btcrinher, lti'J4, 
 
 " We (ye) also, as living hIoiics, arc hiiilt up a spiritual houae, 
 an holy prieatluHxl, tu otier up Hpiritual sacriHcus, acceptahle tu 
 (Jotl by JesuB Christ." — I Pktkr ii. '». 
 
 As living stones, hewn for Love's Edifice : 
 An holy priesthotxl, sanctified to (i<M)d ; 
 
 'Mid prayers that rise, like incense to the skies, 
 We build the temple of the living God. 
 
 Upon the altar's consecrated pile 
 
 We offer up what should be sacrificed, 
 
 And test our faith, with naught that would defile 
 The Urim-Thuramim of the Church of Christ. 
 
 Fast issuing from 'mid New Jerusalem 
 
 To crown Mount Sitm, like h'^av'n's descending dove, 
 And as a bride love-wedded to the Lamb, 
 
 Descends on earth, the holy shrine of Ix)ve. 
 
 Bright smiles the morn, and soon the rising Sun 
 Shall gild with light, the blue, cerulean sky, 
 
 And, as unfolds the fair millennial dawn. 
 
 We welcome in, the day-spring from on high. 
 
 Sweet 's the persuading influence of Ix)ve, 
 
 Which" rules the heart, where fond affections dwell : 
 
 So, grown less selfishly, we seek to prove 
 
 That " God is Love," and Love is good to all. 
 
22 
 
 Doicc0 from lUturc. 
 
 IMMORTALITY OF LIFE. 
 
 Sfan7M,s dodnfj a paper, tnritten on ^^Li/e," which wan read 
 before the Toronto Ghrintian Scie.nti.st Annoriation, 
 
 O Life ! O Love ! Our Father, Mother God ! 
 Parent of All ! The Al^-inclusive Good ! 
 Wliere'er we look, still to be ft)und in Thee, 
 Thou vital germ of Immortality ! 
 
 Within ; without ; around and everywhere. 
 Thy omni-presence permeates the air ! 
 And far — so far, beyond earth's furthest sky, 
 Yet ever near. Thou fill'st immensity ! 
 
 I 
 
 That thought that grasps a continent so vast, 
 As stretches o'er the future and the past 
 And centers here: That Tl>ought of thoughts must be 
 Infinite Mind ! Mind through eternity ! 
 
 O boundless reach I immeasurable span 
 That comprehends the universe and man — 
 Mind's mental range ! then need man think to find 
 Aught more or less, than Life, Immortal Mind 1 
 
 " All nature teaches love to God and man : " 
 For Nature's God, is Love, and that alone ; 
 And Love Al-one, can Nature's God incline 
 To aught beside, the Heart of Love divine 1 
 
 1 
 
^tber Xincd, 23 
 
 The mountain rose, God's chaste and fairest child, 
 'Mid virgin snows, liloonis sweet upon the wild, 
 And like an angel, from Love's l)ridal bed 
 To greet Love's smile, rears her celestial head. 
 
 The nightingale, discoursing Love's sweet song, 
 Interprets heav'n the vocal vales among : 
 The skylark too, blythe heralder of day. 
 At heaven's gate, pours forth Love's melody. 
 
 But, words are vain ! expression nmst begin. 
 Not with the lips, but, in the lives of men. 
 God's w(jrk is finished I All is full expressed ! 
 And Life, the King of Heaven, reigns first and last. 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 . OTHER LINES. 
 
 Stanza vlosiinj a letter trritfen to the Rkv. Isabella M. 
 Stkwart, (IS.l). 
 
 From off the sacred tablet of the heart. 
 
 Inscribed and sculptured with immortal skill, 
 
 T strove to copy thee, with human art, 
 
 The fond inscription Love doth chisel still : 
 
 But words are vain to trace or aught define. 
 
 What angel-thoughts alone could well divine. 
 
 Written on the fly-leaf of a ropy of '■'■ Svienve anil Health'' 
 
 irhich ira-'< rereirnl J'rotn the Atithor's lidored 
 
 Teachers in Christian Science. 
 
 WiTHix the sacred secret of my love-bound heart. 
 Whose tablet wears the impression of Love's art ; 
 There angel-bride, in marriage I, thee hide, 
 Where home-l)lest, thou wilt evermore abide. 
 
24 
 
 Voices from flature. 
 
 A LESSON LEARNED FROM NATURE. 
 
 Quotations from a Sermon delivered in the Firmt Church of Chrixt, 
 
 Scientint, Toronto. 
 
 The modest flower turns naturally to the sun for light 
 and warmth, and praises God when it drinks a drop of 
 refreshing rain or dew. 
 
 Leaving all to the special care of a kind and All-wise 
 Providence, its needful portion comes in due season, while 
 the acknowledgement of such is duly sent, in a good and 
 sweet return. 
 
 Each individual consciousness, like a garden of roses, 
 blooming in the Eden of God, should cherish and enter- 
 tain only such thoughts as are natural and beautiful, to 
 bud and blossom in heart. 
 
 Thoughts, like flowers, incline to the Mind which formed 
 them, and turn as natural to that Source, as the attracted 
 heart to love. When restored to Nature's clime and 
 element, where the aroma of Love makes odorous, the 
 fading, sick and drooping beauties decay and die no 
 longer, but recovering pristine healthf ulness ; their beauty, 
 bloom and blissful breath, with fragrant perfumes scented, 
 regain Paradise, and give forth a sweet smell in gratitude 
 to God. 
 
 Thus, we may revive the faded flowers of earth with 
 the refreshing dews of Heaven, and twine them into a 
 garland and wreath for Love to wear. 
 
/ 
 
 (