What makes us, when we look above,
      See smiling angels there,
    And think they look on us in love,
      As if we were their care? 
    ’Tis that the soul, all free from sin,
      Glows like an inward sun;
    And heaven above and heaven within
     Do meet and join in one.

CHILDREN IN SLAVERY.

    When children play the livelong day,
      Like birds and butterflies,
    As free and gay sport life away,
      And know not care nor sighs;

    Then earth and air seem fresh and fair,
      All peace below, above;
    Life’s flowers are there, and everywhere
      Is innocence and love.

    When children pray with fear all day,
      A blight must be at hand;
    Then joys decay, and birds of prey
      Are hovering o’er the land. 
    When young hearts weep as they go to sleep,
      Then all the world seems sad;
    The flesh must creep, and woes are deep,
      When children are not glad.

TO GOOD RESOLUTIONS.

    How like the morning flower ye are! 
      Which lifts its diamond head,
      Exulting in the mead;
    But the rude wind shall steal its gem,
      Shall break its tender stem,
        And leave it dead.

    Frail pledges of the contrite heart,
      Wherefore so soon decay? 
      O, yet prolong your stay! 
    Until my soul shall boldly rise,
      And claim its native skies,
        Haste not away.

THANKS FOR A PLEASANT DAY.

    Come, let us all, with heart and voice,
      To God our Father sing and pray;
    In his unceasing love rejoice,
      And thank him for this pleasant day.

    The clear blue sky looks full of love;
      Let all our selfish passions cease! 
    O, let us lift our thoughts above,
      Where all is brightness, goodness, peace.

    If we have done a brother wrong,
      O, let us seek to be forgiven;
    Nor let one discord spoil the song
      Our hearts would raise this day to heaven.

    This blessed day, when the pure air
      Is full of sweetness, full of joy,—­
    When all around is calm and fair,—­
      Shall we the harmony destroy?

    O, may it be our earnest care
      To free our souls from every sin;
    Then will each day be bright and fair,
      For God’s pure sunshine dwells within.

TO A BUTTERFLY.

     [Those who are acquainted with this little poem, translated
     from Herder, will perceive that a slight liberty has been
     taken with the last two lines.]

    Airy, lovely, heavenly thing! 
    Butterfly with quivering wing! 
    Hovering in thy transient hour
    Over every bush and flower,
    Feasting upon flowers and dew,
    Thyself a brilliant blossom, too!