7.  You are safe in the beautiful heaven,
     “Elizabeth, aged nine;”
   But before you went you had troubles
     Sharper than any of mine. 
   Oh, the gold hair turned with sorrow
     White as the drifted snow. 
   And your tears dropped here where I’m standing,
     On this very plumed chapeau.

8.  When you put it away, its wearer
     Would need it nevermore,
   By a sword thrust learning the secrets
     God keeps on yonder shore;
   And you wore your grief like glory,
     You would not yield supine,
   Who wrought in your patient childhood,
     “Elizabeth, Aged Nine.”

9.  Out of the way, in a corner,
     With hasp and padlock and key,
   Stands the oaken chest of my fathers
     That came from over the sea;
   And the hillside herbs above it
     Shake odors fragrant and fine,
   And here on its lid is a garland
     To “Elizabeth, aged nine.”

10.  For love is of the immortal,
      And patience is sublime,
    And trouble a thing of every day,
      And touching every time;
    And childhood sweet and sunny,
      And womanly truth and grace,
    Ever call light life’s darkness
      And bless earth’s lowliest place. 
                                      —­Mrs. M. E. Sangster.

Definitions.—­2.  Ward’er, a keeper, a guard. 3.  An-tique’, old, ancient. 
Saf’fron, a deep yellow. 4.  Cha-peau’, a hat. 8.  Su-pine’, listless. 10. 
Im-mort’al, undying.

Notes.—­6.  Puritan.  The Puritans were a religious sect who fled from persecution in England, and afterwards settled the most of New England.

A sampler is a needlework pattern; a species of fancywork formerly much in vogue.

LI.  THE GOODNESS OF GOD.

1.  Bless the Lord, O my soul!  O Lord, my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty:  who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain; who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariot; who walketh upon the wings of the wind; who maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire; who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.

2.  Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment:  the waters stood above the mountains.  At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.  They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.  Thou hast set a bound which they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

3.  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.  They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst.  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.  He watereth the hills from his chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.