THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY.

Oozed through them slow and silent-she wept now,
When none beheld her!-and one rosy foot,
Unsandaled, peering from the ruffled hem
Of her white garb-all else a drifted mass
Of draperies heaving like the ocean's swell,
To that unspoken agony within,

Which rent her bosom, unsuspect of man,
But seen of the All-seeing.

Up they spake

"Master, this woman in the act was ta’en Sinning. Now Moses taught us in the law, That whoso doeth thus shall surely die,

Stoned by the people-But what sayest thou?"

Thus said they, tempting him, that they might have
Of sin to accuse the sinless.

Jesus stooped,

Silent, and with his finger on the ground

Traced characters, as though he heard them not ;
But when they asked again importunate,

He raised himself in perfect majesty,

Calm, and inscrutable, reading their souls

With that deep eye to which all hearts are known,
From which no secrets can be hidden.

Then,

"He that is here, among you, without sin,"
He said " let him first cast a stone at her."
Then stooped he again, and on the ground
Wrote as before.

A mighty terror fell

On those which heard it, in their secret souls.
Convicted. One by one, they slunk away,

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THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY.

The eldest first, as guiltiest, to the last,
Till none were left, but Jesus in the midst
Standing alone, and at the column's base,
The woman groveling like a trampled worm:
They two were in the temple-but they two,
Of all the crowd that thronged it even now—
The sinful mortal, and her sinless God.

When Jesus had arisen, and beheld

That none were left of all, save she alone;
"Woman," he said unto her, "Woman, where
Be now those thine accusers? Hath no man
Condemned thee?"

And she answered-" No man, Lord."

"Neither do I"-Jesus replied to her—
"Condemn thee. Go, and sin no more.

And she

Arose, and went her way in sadness; and
The grace of Him, to whom the power is given
To pardon sins, sank down into her soul,
Like gentle dew upon the drooping herb,
That under that good influence blooms again,
And sent its odors heavenward-

And perchance

There was great joy above, in those bright hosts

Who more rejoice o'er one, that was a slave

To sin and hath repented, than o'er ten,

So just, that they have nothing to repent.

Henry W. Herbert.

.

The Ten Lepers.

And he said unto him, "Arise, go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." -ST. LUKE xvii. 19.

TEN cleansed, and only one remain !

Who would have thought our nature's stain
Was dyed so foul, so deep in grain?

Even He who reads the heart,

Knows what He gave and what we lost,
Sin's forfeit and redemption's cost,-
By a short pang of wonder cross'd
Seems at the sight to start.

Yet 'twas not wonder, but his love
Our wavering spirits would reprove,
That heavenward seem so free to move

When earth can yield no more:

Then from afar on God we cry ;
But should the mist of wo roll by,

Not showers across an April sky

Drift when the storm is o'er,

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THE TEN LEPERS.

Faster than those false drops and few
Fleet from the heart, a worthless dew.
What sadder scene can angels view
Than self deceiving tears,

Pour'd idly over some dark page
Of earlier life, though pride or rage
The record of to-day engage,

A woe for future years?

Spirits that round the sick man's bed
Watch'd, noting down each prayer he made,
Were your unerring roll display'd,

His pride of health t'abase;

Or, when soft showers in season fall,
Answering a famish'd nation's call,
Should unseen fingers on the wall
Our vows forgotten trace;

How should we gaze in trance of fear!
Yet shines the light as thrilling clear
From heaven upon that scroll severe,

"Ten cleansed and one remain!"
Nor surer would the blessing prove
Of humbled hearts, that own thy love,
Should choral welcome from above
Visit our senses plain:

Than by Thy placid voice and brow,
With healing first, with comfort now,
Turn'd upon him, who hastes to bow

THE TEN LEPERS.

Before Thee, heart and knee;

"Oh! thou, who only wouldst be blest, On thee alone my blessing rest!

Rise, go thy way in peace, possess'd

For evermore of me."