The Meaning of the Cross.

Far westward, where the venerable mountains rise as if to greet the stars, the traveler sees a solemn sign in snow-it is the Holy Cross. The sailor in summer seas looks up at night and beholds in the heavens the Southern Cross. In cathedral shades, where prayers echo through the aisles and sweet child-voices chant anthems half divine, the worshiper adores the Roman Cross. There is a lovely flower in whose heart the hand of God has set the Passion Cross. The Knights of the Middle Ages bore on their blazoned banners the Red Cross. And we may behold them all, and even wear upon our breasts the Cross in gold or pearl; but not until we clasp hands in brotherhood of sorrow have we seen the real sign of the cross-not until we feel the pain, the joy, of loving sacrifice do we know the deepest meaning of the Cross of Christ.-CHARLES C. ALBERTSON.

Christ with Us Means the Cross for Us.

When God breaks up your plans, and throws you to the very ground, and breaks all the threads in the loom which you are weaving, and says to you, "Begin again,' is there any Christ for you at that point of your overthrow? Can you go forth unto your Savior marking that place in His life where He was overthrown, identifying it in some way with your own overthrow? Can you stand rejoicing with Christ at that very point of humiliation and crucifixion? Christ may be followed in two waysvictorious, and in disgrace and ignominy; and we are called to follow, first, not Christ as He is set forth in all

MOUNTAIN OF THE HOLY CROSS, COLORADO.-From a Photograph.

the royalty of philosophy and reason, but a Christ humiliated, a Christ despised; a Christ hated, a Christ crucified. Before we stand with Christ upon Olivet we must stand with Him upon Calvary-must walk with Him thither.-BEECHER.

The Cross!

The Three Crosses.

Poets have sung its praise; sculptors have attempted to commemorate it in marble; martyrs have clung to it in fire; and Christians, dying quietly in their beds, have leaned their heads against it. May all our souls embrace it with an ecstacy of affection! Lay hold of that cross, O dying sinner! Everything else will fail you. Without a strong grip of that you perish. Put your hand on that, and you are safe, though the world swing from beneath your feet. Oh, that I might engrave on your souls ineffaceably the three crosses, and that if in your waking moments you will not heed, then that in your dream tonight you might see on the hill back of Jerusalem the three spectacles—the right-hand cross, showing unbelief and dying without Christ; the lefthand cross, showing what it is to be pardoned; while the central cross pours upon your soul the sunburst of Heaven as it says: 'By all these wounds I plead for thy heart. I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Rivers can not quench it. The floods can not drown it."-TALMAGE.

DEATH.

Via Solitaria.

Alone I walk the peopled city,

Where each seems happy with his own. O friends, I ask not for your pity— I walk alone.

No more for me yon lake rejoices,
Though wooed by loving airs of June;
O birds, your sweet and piping voices
Are out of tune.

In vain for me the elm-tree arches
Its plumes in many a feathery spray;
In vain the evening's starry marches
And sunlit day;

In vain your beauty, summer flowers;
Ye can not greet those cordial eyes.
They gaze on others fields than ours-
On other skies.

The gold is rifled from the coffer,

The blade is stolen from the sheath; Life has but one more boon to offer, And that is-Death.

Yet well I know the voice of duty,

And therefore life and health must crave, Though she who gave the world its beauty Is in her grave.