"going Alone."

With curls in tlie sunny air tossing, Witb light i t'ie merry blue eyes, With laugbter so clearly outringing, A laugli of delight and surprise ; All friendly assistance disdaining, And trusting no strength but its owc - The past fears and trials forgotten, The baby is " going alone." What woful mishaps have preceded Tbis day of rejoicing and pridel How often the help that lic needed Has carelessly gone from bis side ! He lias fallen while reaching for snnbeams, Which, just as he grasped them, have flown, And the tears o} vexation have followed ; But now he is " going alone." And all through his life he will study ïhis lesson agaiu and again , He will carelessly lean upon shadows, He will feil, and weep over the pain. The hand whose fond clasp was the surest Will coldly withdraw from his own, The sunniest, eyes will be clouded, And he will be walking alone. He will learn what a stern world we live in, And he niay grow cold like the rest, Just keep a warm, sunny welcome For those who seem truest and best ; Yet. chastened and taught by past sorrow, And stronger and manlier groWn, Nor trusting his all in their keeping, He learns to walk bravely alone. And yet not alone, for our Father The foltering footsteps will guide Through all the dark mazes of earth-life, Aud " over the river's " deep tide. 0, here is a Helper unfailing, A strength we can pcrfectly trust, When, all human aid unavailing, ': The dust shall return unto dust."