Gifts, in the eye of Heaven, not always bear The marketable value stamped by man Upon them,--else the poor were truly poor, The willing spirit destitute indeed. In other balance are our actions weighed By Him who sees the heart in all its thoughts; Both what it wills and cannot, what it tries And doth,--and with what motive, for what end. Clouds clothe them like realities, and shine Even so to human eyes; yet, not the less Are only mockeries of the things they seem, And melt as we survey them. Let us not The shadow for the substance take, the Jay For the true Bird of Paradise. A crust Dealt, by the poor man, from his daily loaf, To the wayfarer, poorer than himself-- A cup of water, in the Saviour's name Proffered, with ready hand, to thirsting lips,-- Seem trifles in themselves, yet weigh for wine, And gems, and gold, and frankincense. The mite,-- The widow's offering, and her all, put in With grief, because she had no more to give, Yet given although her all,--was in the sight Of Heaven a sumless treasury bestowed, And reckoned such in her account above:-- When Nineveh, through all her myriad streets, Lay blackened with idolatry and crime, God had preserved her--would have saved her whole-- Had but the Prophet, as a leaven, found His righteous ten! Therefore, Oh never deem Thoughts, deeds, or feelings valueless, that bear The balance of the heart to Virtue's side! The coral worm seems nought, but coral worms Combined heave up a reef, where mightiest keels Are stranded, and the powers of man put down. The water-drop wears out the stone; and cares Trifling, if ceaseless, form an aggregate, Whose burden weighs the buoyant heart to earth. Think not the right path may be safely left, Though 'twere but for one moment, and one step; That one departure, slight howe'er it be, From Innocence is nought. The young peach-bloom, Rudely brushed off, can be restored no more, By all the cunning of the painter's art; Nor to the sered heart comes, in after life Again,--however longed for, or bewailed,-- Youth's early dews, the pure and delicate! VALEDICTORY VISITS AT ROME.