THE PATH THROUGH THE FOREST.

SISTER! the shades of evening
Press darker about our way;
The trees grow closer about us,
And where is the light of day?
One bright, bright star is shining,

It peers through the winnowing leaves;
But see a dark cloud has hid it,

And the wind for its fading grieves.

I can see no crimson sunset

Where, where does the bright west lie? There's a wild red tint on that cloud above,

Does it come from the western sky?

A noise, like the roar of the sea,

Is sounding overhead,

And the tall trees swing, and their branches crash, And the rustling leaves are shed.

Hold my hand closer in thine, sister;
I can hardly see my way;

And the thorny bushes scratch my arm
O, they shall not make me stay.

What a flash of light was that, sister!
It almost blinded my eyes;

And hark! how the awful thunder
Rolls through the gloomy skies.

Let us hasten, hasten forward,
For the big rain-drops pour,
And mother is anxiously watching
Before our cottage door.

I can see a bright light streaming
Beneath that tossing bough;

It is it is our own sweet home,
That lies before us now.

O! God is ever near us,

In sunshine and in storm;
When winds are resting peacefully,
When clouds the sky deform.
His mercy is never ceasing,
And he is ever good;

Why did I fear when he was near

In the dark and stormy wood?

THE DEAR BOUGHT VICTORY;

OR,

THE MONKEY AND THE SACK OF NUTS.

WITHIN a balcony of state,

At ease, and happy beyond measure,

A monkey sat, who had of late

Become the master of a treasure.

Though not, indeed, of gems or gold,
(Mark! I translate it to the letter,)

But fresh, sweet nuts, which I'll be bold
Friend Pug esteemed as something better.

These in a sack he tied with care,
For other monkeys by the dozen,
Came flocking round, in hopes to share
The rich possessions of their cousin.

They thronged beneath, in greedy train
The balcony, where he was seated,
But quickly found 't was all in vain
They reasoned, menaced, or entreated.

For Pug, however rich in fruit,

Appeared in bounty greatly lacking, And flung, in answer to their suit,

The shells of nuts, which he'd been cracking.

At this the suppliants filled with rage,
Resolved to sue to him no longer,
But battle now prepared to wage

As they in numbers were the stronger.

The monkey, on this rude attack,

Although he thought the means expensive, Without ado, untied his sack,

And turned his nuts to arms offensive.

Pug with these missives aimed his blows
So hard and fast, that, in conclusion,
His smarting and be-pelted foes
Fled off in cowardly confusion.

At length he proudly stood alone

With feelings that of rapture savored,

Prepared to thank, in joyous tone,

Dame Fortune, who his cause had favored;

That he had from the fierce attack

His precious nuts so well defended, But cast his eyes upon his sack,

And saw that they were all expended!

Through these he had maintained his place,
And now his foes had all retreated,