A Leaf from the Old Forest
The Devil is out unfettered; His dens lie deep in hell; His power is scarcely bettered; Who can his cunning tell?

He roams in raving hunger; The world is his course; He’s dreadful more than thunder Where’er he has recourse.

Destruction wanders with him, And death is in his hand; A mighty host is with him; Well arméd is his band.

He lies in ambush for thee; He hovers near thy path; He follows ever by thee; An aim on thee he hath.

p. 173Then haste thee, haste thee; surely Ye soon will feel his power. Be watchful, be not weary; Let not thy spirit cower.

p. 173

The path is steep and narrow;  ’Tis rugged, rough, and torn; A harsh, a testing harrow, Beset with many a thorn.

There yawns a mighty chasm; The fearful pit is deep; ’Tis terror but to see them; It makes the spirit creep.

No guide but One is able To lead thee safely through; All others are unstable, Unfit, untried, untrue.

Fly to the rock for safety—  The rock he cannot climb! Fly! fly! nor think it hasty; And trust not fickle time.

p. 174FRIENDSHIP.

p. 174

And friendship is the sacred name—  The name I love to hear; Gives to my heart a sacred flame, And music to my ear.

Yes, friendship is a joy indeed, A peaceful, fragrant bower; To which doth many a soul recede In tribulation’s hour;

And there its load of sorrow lays, Feels conscious of relief, Soothed by the balm which it displays For healing wounds of grief.

Its paths are pleasant and serene; They lie in pleasure’s way; It is true pleasure—there is seen No base, no false array.

p. 175’Tis there true joy is to be found, And anger lays her down Amid the placid scenes around, To bask away her frown.

p. 175

And there that childhood oft is seen To spread its purest glee, And hold its dimpled arms in ween To friendship pure and 
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