Like Pope, this American poet loved onomatope and imitative verse, and the last line is a word-picture of home-sick weariness. This "psalm" was the best piece of work in Mr. Barlow's series of attempted improvements upon Isaac Watts--which on the whole were not very successful. The sweet cantabile of Mason's "Melton" gave "Along the banks" quite an extended lease of life, though it has now ceased to be sung. Joel Barlow was a versatile gentleman, serving his country and generation in almost every useful capacity, from chaplain in the continental army to foreign ambassador. He was born in Redding, Ct., 1755, and died near Cracow, Poland, Dec. 1812. "AS DOWN IN THE SUNLESS." Thomas Moore, the poet of glees and love-madrigals, had sober thoughts in the intervals of his gaiety, and employed his genius in writing religious and even devout poems, which have been spiritually helpful in many phases of Christian experience. Among them was this and the four following hymns, with thirty-four others, each of which he carefully labelled with the name of a music composer, though the particular tune is left indefinite. "The still prayer of devotion" here answers, in rhyme and reality, the simile of the sea-flower in the unseen deep, and the mariner's compass represents the constancy of a believer. As, still to the star of its worship, though clouded, The needle points faithfully o'er the dim sea, So, dark as I roam in this wintry world shrouded, The hope of my spirit turns trembling to Thee. It is sung in _Plymouth Hymnal_ to Barnby's "St. Botolph." "THE TURF SHALL BE MY FRAGRANT SHRINE" Is, in part, still preserved in hymn collections, and sung to the noble tune of "Louvan," Virgil Taylor's piece. The last stanza is especially reminiscent of the music. There's nothing bright above, below, From flowers that bloom to stars that glow; But in its light my soul can see Some feature of Thy deity. "O THOU WHO DRY'ST THE MOURNER'S TEAR" Is associated in the _Baptist Praise Book_ with Woodbury's "Siloam." "THE BIRD LET LOOSE IN EASTERN SKIES" Has been sung in Mason's "Coventry," and the _Plymouth Hymnal_ assigns it to "Spohr"--a namesake tune of Louis Spohr, while the _Unitarian Hymn and Tune Book_ unites to it a beautiful triple-time melody from Mozart, and bearing his name. "THOU ART, O GOD, THE LIFE AND LIGHT." This is the best of the Irish poet's sacred songs--always excepting, "Come, Ye Disconsolate." It is said to have been originally set to a secular melody composed by the wife of Hon. Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It is joined to the tune of "Brighton" in the Unitarian books, and William Monk's "Matthias" voices the words for the _Plymouth Hymnal_. The verses have the true lyrical glow, and make a real song of praise as well a composition of more than ordinary literary beauty.