Thou hast been found By merit, more than _birthright_, Son of God. _Milton._ While no baseness in my breast I find, I have not lost the _birthright_ of my mind. _Dryden._ They tell me ’tis my _birthday_, and I’ll keep it With double pomp of sadness; ’Tis what the day deserves which brought me forth. _Dryden._ Mysterious love! that thou must recommence Life and existence, and be _born_ anew, _Born_ both of water and of spirit, whence Spirit comes only, as flesh must flesh ensue: And where it lists the wind shall blow, whose sound Thou hearest, but know’st not--none-- Whence cometh it, nor whither it is bound; And no man hath ascended into heaven But he who thence came down, and bore the wound, And perished that the world might be forgiven. _J. A. Heraud._ Let us learn the wondrous story, Of our great Redeemer’s _birth_; Spread the brightness of His glory, Till it cover all the earth. Hasten mortals to adore Him, Till in heaven ye sing before Him. _Cawood._ Are all the memories of life Buried when life has fled? Are we forbid to keep again The _birthdays_ of the dead? Time was when each successive year Brought one bright day of mirth, The looked-for anniversary Of some belov’d one’s _birth_. The _birthday_ feasts of childhood’s age, The feasts of riper years, Remind us of like youthful joys Remembered now with tears. For they with whom those days were spent, Have done with all on earth, The fond home circle’s broken up That hailed each day of _birth_. Yet as the days come round again Marked with affection’s seal, Once more we think of those we’ve lost, Once more their presence feel. The blessed spirits now in Heaven, May not such cycles keep, Time metes not out their happiness, They know not night or sleep. Yet may they still retain the thoughts Commemorating _birth_, And haply still they keep in Heaven The calender of Earth. Far off are they, but still towards them Our loving arms we spread, And ever in our hearts we’ll keep The _birthdays_ of the dead. _George E. Shirley._ BLESSING--BLESSEDNESS--BLESS. I will _bless_ the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.--Psalm xxxiv. 1. _Blessed_ are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. _Blessed_ is the man whose strength is in thee.--Psalm lxxxiv. 4, 5. _Blessings_ are upon the head of the just, but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.--Proverbs, x. 6.