The village-clocks proclaim the passing hour; The tall spires glitter to the early sun; The ploughman, whistling, quits his low-roofed bow’r, And now his peaceful labour is begun. Yet not this ocean, cheered with many a sail, Nor all these rural sounds, and pastures fair, To solace worn disease could aught avail, Or from his bosom chase the clouds of care. The merry morn no rapture could impart, Nor converse sweet of friends his hours beguile; In vain could beauty warm his aching heart, Or on his cold-wan cheek awake a smile. Yet oft we slight thy worth, O, blessed _Health_! Poor mortals as we are, till thou art flown; And thy sweet joys, more dear than fame or wealth, Touch not our hearts, but pass unfelt, unknown. The joys, without whose aid whate’er of blest, Or great, or fair, the heavens to man ordain, Is dull and tasteless to the unthankful breast, Love loveless, youth old age, and pleasure pain. _Rev. E. Hamley._ What is life?--like a flower, with the bane in its bosom, To-day, full of promise, to-morrow it dies! And _health_ like the dewdrop that hung on its blossom, Survives but a night, and exhales to the skies: How oft ’neath the bud that is brightest and fairest, The seeds of the canker in embryo lurk! How oft at the root of the flower that is rarest, Secure in its ambush the worm is at work! _Dr. W. Beattie._ Green pastures and clear streams, Freedom and quiet rest, Christ’s flock enjoy beneath his beams, Or in his shadow, blest. The mountain and the vale, Forest and field they range; The morning dew, the evening gale, Bring _health_ ev’ry change. The wounded and the weak He comforts, heals, and binds; The lost he came from heaven to seek, And saves them when he finds. _J. Montgomery._ HEARING. _Hear_ thou in heaven thy dwelling-place; and when thou _hearest_, forgive.--I. Kings, viii. 30. They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her _ear_; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.--Psalm lviii. 4, 5. He that planted the _ear_, shall he not _hear_?--Psalm xciv. 9. Incline thine _ear_ unto wisdom.--Proverbs, ii. 2. The _ear_ that _heareth_ the reproof of life abideth among the wise.--Proverbs, xv. 31. The _hearing ear_, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.--Proverbs, xx. 12. Take heed what ye _hear_.--Mark, iv. 24. Take heed therefore how ye _hear_.--Luke, viii. 18.