ar maiden, come with me;
My home shall too be thine,
And with my daughters ye shall be
Another child of mine."

And then she wept for very joy;
Her tongue would not convey
The words she sought it to employ
What thanks she longed to say.

And with, a trembling step she came,
And, ere a little while,
Her joys returned, of old the same,
And came her olden smile.

And she by all was fondly loved;
She was so good and kind,
And gentle in her way, and proved
A charm of charms combined.

Years rolled away, eight happy years,
Since the memorial day;
Then in the town gay joy appears,
And merry minstrels play.

And loudly peal the merry bells;
It is her wedding-day;
It is my son who gladly tells
"I will," I love to say.

THE AIM OF LIFE.

Mark well, and do not pass in heedless haste,
Nor all your time in needless folly waste;
But, if with you a solemn thought doth dwell,
Pray lend it here, and think it may be well
Awhile to set aside the world's stern care,
And for a true, though passing, glance prepare
Upon a theme which is too often hid
By pleasure's streams and vanities which thread
The onward path which through the wide world wends,
Which chequered is, and many a snare attends.
The theme I speak of is the aim of life.
Who fails to see, amid the passing strife
Where man appears, and in a season dies,
Forgotten soon in mouldering dust he lies,
That he has strayed from the good purpose far,
That all his joys are vain, and such as mar
His hope to an unmitigated peace.
The bonds grow stronger, and his lusts increase
The while his chances are for ever lost,
And he is now before the tempest toss'd.
A thoughtful mind in question thus may dwell;
And who is found an answer fit to tell?
When man was formed, what aim was held in view
By the Creator, ever just and true,
Who all things made but for a purpose wise?
Behold, his work an ample proof supplies
What feelings stirred His breast when man was made,
And all creation to him subject laid.
Discretion lent to shew the ill from good,
Portrayed in him the Maker's image stood;
Nor was it meant that he should time employ
In foolish pleasure and licentious joy,
Less far that self should be his only theme;
A fallen state soon had he to redeem.
More thus the purpose, and the Maker's law
Held it as good, and man the duty saw--
That God, the Maker, should true worship have,
And reverence and lo