THE MOUNTAIN SPRING

And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.—­Revelation 22:17.

    I wandered down a mountain road,
      Past flower and rock and lichen gray,
    Alone with nature and her God
      Upon a flitting summer day.

    The forest skirted to the edge
      Of Capon river, Hampshire’s gem,
    Which, bathing many a primrose ledge,
      Oft sparkled like a diadem.

    At length a silvery spring I spied,
      Gurgling through moss and fern along,
    Waiting to bless with cooling tide
      All who were gladdened by its song.

    Oh, who would pass with thirsting lip
      And burning brow, this limpid wave? 
    Who would not pause with joy and sip? 
      Its crystal depths who would not crave?

    This query woke a voice within—­
      Why slight the spring of God’s great love,
    That fount that cleanseth from all sin,
      Our purchase paid by Christ above?

    Whoever will may drink!  Oh, why,
      Worn toilers in this earthly strife,
    Reject a mansion in the sky,
      Reject heaven’s bliss and endless life?

GO WANDER

    Go, wander, little book,
    Nor let thy wand’ring cease;
    May all who on these pages look
    From sin find sweet release,

    Through Christ, God’s holy son,
    Who left his throne in heaven
    And e’en death’s anguish did not shun
    That we might be forgiven.

    How should our thoughts and deeds
    Exalt this mighty friend,
    Who died, yet lives and intercedes
    And loves us to the end!

LOVE

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.—­Ephesians 2:8.

    Christ might have called the angels down
    To bear him safe above,
    To shield his brow from sorrow’s crown,
    From death’s cold blight, and bitter frown,
    Had it not been for love.

    Our glorious King, our Prince of Peace,
    Has left his throne above
    To give our souls from sin release,
    To make our pain and anguish cease,
    And all because of love.

    By faith in him, we all may see
    In realms of light above,
    Through streams of blood on Calvary,
    A joyful immortality;—­
    The purchase price was love.

THE LILIES

Consider the lilies.—­Luke 2:27.

    Emblems of Christ our Lord,
    Roses and lilies fair,
    These flowers in His word,
    His glory seem to share.

    The lilies of the field,
    Sweet teachers of the soul,
    Which will their lessons yield
    Long as the seasons roll,