It soon began to cling and crawl Straight up with strong endeavour, Up, up it ran, not a second it staid, Till it fell still lower, and there delayed, Its head grew steady—again it went, Again it fell and swung below, Till up and down, now fast, now slow, Nine brave attempts were counted. "Sure," cried the king, "that foolish thing Will strive no more to climb, When it toils so hard to reach and cling, But up the insect went once more, Ah me! 'tis an anxious minute; He's only a foot from his cobweb door, THE KING AND THE SPIDER. Steadily, steadily, inch by inch, And a bold little run at the very last pinch "Bravo, bravo!" the king cried out, "All honour to those who try; The spider up there defied despair, He conquer'd, and why shouldn't I?" And Bruce of Scotland braced his mind, That he tried once more as he tried before, Pay goodly heed, all ye who read, Whenever you find your heart despair Con over this strain, try bravely again, ELIZA COOK. 23 THE ORPHAN. UPON my father's new-closed grave Green now the grass waves o'er his head, And tall the tomb-weeds grow. Along life's road no parent's hand No mother's arm in sickness soothed, But other hearts, Lord! thou hast warm'd The tear of pity shine. The stranger's hand by Thee is moved To be the orphan's stay; And, better far, the stranger's voice Hath taught us how to pray. Thou putt'st a new song in our mouth, Oh! may we not our lips alone— But hearts-in praise employ. THE CHRISTIAN'S CONFidence. 25 To Him who little children took, And, blessing them with looks of love, To Him, while flowers bloom on the bank, While larks with morning hymns ascend, To Him let every creature join GRAHAME. THE CHRISTIAN'S CONFIDENCE. WHY should I fear the darkest hour, Though hot the fight, why quit the field? D When creature-comforts fade and die, I know not what may soon betide, Though sin would fill me with distress, Though faint my prayers, and cold my love, Against me earth and hell combine, But on my side is power divine; JESUS is all, and He is mine. SPIRITUAL POETRY. THE LITTLE CHILD AND THE THE New Year's morning was gray and still, |