A SMILE

The gliding of a fairy form And rosy lips that knew no guile, With wonder parted, came to ask, "Papa, what is a smile?"

A smile, whate'er it is, then stole That gentle parent's features o'er; For ne'er to him had been proposed Query so strange before.

But while he pondered in his heart How he should to his child reply, A new, triumphant joy lit up Her loving, lustrous eye;—

And with this gladsome, new-found thought, She answered in her own behalf: "Oh, now, I know; a smile must be The whisper to a laugh!"

"A SPARROW ALONE ON THE HOUSETOP"

Sing, little sparrow, sing thy song. No peril neareth thee; Tho night be dark or day be long, Or clouds hang low, sing on, sing on, The dear God heareth thee.

Sing, little bird, whate'er befall— Trill out thine utmost need; Thou canst not soar, thou canst not fall But He will note who knoweth all, And He thy plaint will heed.

O little sparrow, far and high Thy soft notes God-ward go, And I with thee send up my cry, And both shall somewhere find reply, God careth for us so.