THE RAINBOW.

See, see, where the clouds in majestic array, The bright face of nature deform!

They roll on the air; and with terrible sway, Awe the world with their frowns, and darken the

day,

Big with tempest, and charg'd with the storm.

Hear the winds how they whistle! the hurricane's blast

Sweeps through the horizon amain.

The shade of deep night through the firmament

vast,

Spreads her dark ebon wings; and terrific at last,

Descends in wild torrents of rain.

Anon in the distance the murmuring tone

Of the thunder strikes full on the ear:

The blue light'nings flash in the midst of its moan, And mingle their fires in the deafening groan, As it bears on its course through the air.

Now in full vivid sheets the tempest unfurl'd All its horrors; the beasts fled the field; The poor little birds sought their nests; and the world

Seem'd shatter'd, as if to eternity hurl'd,

And with terror and dizziness reel'd.

It is gone! it has vanish'd! the sun's cheering light

Once again bless'd the world with his smile; When, lo! in the distance, a rainbow so bright, So brilliant, so clear, that it dazzled the sight, Spread forth its gay beams for awhile.

It gleam'd through the air and it reach'd to the The emblem of mercy and peace;

[sod,

With blushes returning the looks of its God, Who raises or stills the rude blast with his nod, And bids the rough whirlwind to cease.

Bright omen; bless'd token of bountiful grace, Vouchsaf'd to the remnants of man!

I learn, from the beams of thy heavenly face, The contract of God with his creatures to trace, And his promise with rapture to scan.

How joyful the day, how bless'd was the hour,

When thy beauties first gleam'd from on high; The rain it had ceas'd from the Heavens to pour, The tempest no longer alarm'd with its roar,

And darkness was swept from the sky.

'Twas then from Thy archway the promise was

heard,

Which breath'd consolation to man:

'Twas then in soft accents was utter'd the word, "Henceforth nor the rains, nor the storms shall Destruction and deluge again."

[afford,

"When clouds and thick darkness the Heavens

shall strew,

And hurricanes trouble the day;

My Bow in such seasons serenely I'll view, And my promise to man again will renew, And their terrors and sorrows allay."

Thus spoke the First Cause: and with rapture mankind.

Place reliance and trust in His word.

And when elements threaten, when storm and wild wind

Rock the earth with their blasts, I'll still quiet my mind,

And

repose on my God and my Lord.

Yes, yes, there's a Providence seated on high, That presides o'er the tempest's alarms; That rides on the wings of the winds as they fly, That hovers above in the realms of the sky,

And fosters the world in his arms.

ON A GLOW-WORM,

KILLED BY A LITTLE BOY.

The show'r had ceas'd, the clouds had pass'd

away,

Bright drops of pearl bespangl'd ev'ry spray; The waning moon display'd a sickly light, That scarcely seem'd to smile upon the night; Wrapp'd in a contemplative mood,

The beauteous scene alone I view'd.

Beneath the hedge a Glow-worm chanc'd to stray,

And proudly spread around its feeble ray :

And as it crept the plants and shrubs between, Lent all its aid to beautify the scene.

Ah! little did it deem or fear,

The hour of its fate was near.