"Have I not worn my strength away With fast and penance sore? Have I not watched and wept?" she cried; "Did Thy dear saints do more? Have I not gained Thy grace, O Lord, And won in heaven my part?"-- It echoed louder in her soul,-- "_My child, give me thy Heart!_" "For I have loved thee with a love No mortal heart can show; A love so deep, my saints in heaven Its depths can never know; When pierced and wounded on the cross, Man's sin and doom were mine, I loved Thee with undying love, Immortal and divine! "I loved Thee ere the skies were spread; My soul bears all thy pains; To gain thy love my sacred heart In earthly shrines remains: Vain are thy offerings, vain thy sighs, Without one gift divine; Give it my child, thy heart to me, And it shall rest in mine!" In awe she listened, and the shade Passed from her soul away; In low and trembling voice she cried,-- "Lord, help me to obey! Break Thou the chains of earth, O Lord, That bind and hold my heart; Let it be Thine, and Thine alone, Let none with Thee have part. "Send down, O Lord, Thy sacred fire! Consume and cleanse the sin That lingers still within its depths; Let heavenly love begin. That sacred flame Thy saints have known, Kindle, O Lord, in me, Thou above all the rest forever, And all the rest in Thee." The blessing fell upon her soul; Her angel by her side Knew that the hour of peace was come; Her soul was purified: The shadows fell from roof and arch, Dim was the incensed air,-- But Peace went with her as she left The sacred Presence there! --_Adelaide Procter._ One sweetly solemn thought Comes to me o'er and o'er: I'm nearer home to-day Than I have been before; Nearer my Father's house, Where many mansions be, Nearer the great white throne, Nearer the crystal sea. Nearer the bound of life, Where burdens are laid down, Nearer to leave the cross, And nearer to the crown; But lying dark between, And winding through the night, The deep and unknown stream Crossed ere we reach the light. Jesus, confirm my trust; Strengthen the hand of faith To feel Thee, when I stand Upon the shore of death. Be near me when my feet Are slipping o'er the brink; For I am nearer home, Perhaps, than now I think. --_Phoebe Cary._ LEFT BEHIND. Look at this starbeam! From its place of birth, It has come down to greet us here below; Now it alights unwearied on this earth, Nor storm nor night have quenched its heavenly glow. Unbent before the winter's rugged blast, Unsoiled by this sad planet's tainted air, It sparkles out from yon unmeasured vast, Bright 'mid the brightest, 'mid the fairest fair.