the boy grew on In beauty, day by day; The mother felt her faithful son Would all her care repay.

And manhood came, with daring high, And brought a sweet relief; Plenty for want, and ease for toil, And joy for all her grief.

Picture No. III.

CONTENTS

Again it was the Noon of Night, The full orb'd moon her car rolled high, And fringed with gems of silver light The azure curtains of the sky.

And all the glittering host of stars, Stood marshall'd in their bright array, While, far across the concave blue, Lay stretched the spangled milky way.

And earth all beautiful and fair, Lay tranquil as a sleeping child Beneath a watchful parent's care; While guardian Heav'n looked down and smiled.

The trees all bathed in tears of Night, Seemed deck'd with gems of Ophir's gold, And lilies, in pure vestal white Their spotless fragrant leaves unfold.

In gentlest breath the night-winds sigh, While fleecy clouds like Angel's wings, Light sailing o'er the azure sky, Their shadows cast o'er earthly things.

O who could deem that aught so fair, So filled with beauty and perfume: Was but a mighty sepulchre, A vast, capacious mould'ring tomb?

Or who could deem that mis'ry dwelt Within a paradise so fair, That want and pain and woe and guilt Mingled as sad companions there?

But see where yonder moonbeams creep In that lone crevice, low and small, And throws a struggling, sickly beam Upon the cold, damp dungeon's wall.

See by that feeble, glimm'ring ray, Low seated on the damp chill ground A mother sits, whose tearful eye Is cast in gloomy sadness round.

Beside her lies her only son: Her lap the pillow for his head. That son must meet the convict's doom, When the brief hours of night have fled.

The mother speaks: "Oh see, my son, Light breaks upon your dungeon wall! It is a messenger to thee; Methinks it is thy Saviour's call.

"Dost thou not feel it on thy soul? And wilt thou not His call obey? His blood alone can cleanse from sin, And wash thy guilty stains away."

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