cares; to mitigate, for them, the pangs of sickness; to lighten, for them, the darkness of old age; to smooth, for them, and cheer, the bed of death. Go, to the brothers, and the sisters, who share with you the dear parental board, and blend their feet with yours, beside the dear parental hearth. Go, to be patterns to them, in truth, in tenderness, in patience, in humility, in self-denial, in self-sacrifice, in heavenly-mindedness. Go, to be soothers of their troubles, and inspirers of their mirth. Go, to be nurses, teachers, charmers, ministering spirits, guardian-angels; such, as only sisters can be. Go, to the Pastors of Christ's flock, by whom you were incorporated into Him, in holy baptism; and trained, and fed, and nurtured, as the lambs of His dear love. Go, to return to them their care, and watching, for your souls, by exemplary lives, and holy conversation; and by the soothing voice, the cheering eye, the helping hand, to aid, and animate them, in their arduous care of souls. Go, to the neighbourhoods, in which your lot of life is cast, to be the almoners of Christ, among the poor; to minister to sickness, and infirmity, and sorrow; to be the teachers of the young; the helpers of the helpless; the staff, and stay, and succour, of the aged. So, shall you justify the pains, and patience, of parental love. So, shall you overpay our utmost care and effort, for your good. So, shall you fitly bear the name of that most blessed of the Maries, who was Mother of the Son of God. So, shall the legend of that sacred scroll, on which, it may be, you look for the last time, be justly written "Behold the handmaid of the Lord!"

of you,

VIII.

THE EIGHTH ADDRESS

* TO THE GRADUATING CLASS AT ST. MARY'S HALL.

THE HALCYON MOMENTS OF THE HEART.

THERE are moments, my beloved, when the heart lies more than open, and is more than tender. When it is quick, to take impressions; and tenacious, to retain them. When, like the glassy surface of a summer lake, the shadow of a breath will write itself, in wavelets, on its bosom ; and be felt, through all its depths. The thoughtful ancients noted, what they called, their halcyon days: seven days before, and seven days after, the winter solstice; when the halcyons made their nests. "The very seas, and they that saile upon them," Pliny says, "know well, what time they sit, and breed." "And the time, when they are broodie, is called the halcyon daies; for, during that season, the sea is calm.” And Michael Drayton, the most picturesque of poets, says, of them:

"There came the haleyon whom the sea obeys;
When she, her nest, upon the water, lays."

*March, A. D. 1851

The moments, that I speak of, may be called, the halcyon moments of the heart. When it lies still, and waits, and listens; as the holy angels hearken, for the will of God. It was at such a time, that the spirit of Plato, the divinest of the souls, that knew not God, caught, in the silence of the midnight, the music of the spheres. And, at an hour, like this, it was, that the old Prophet, upon Horeb, when the great strong wind, that rent the mountains, and the earthquake, and the fire, passed by him, unregarded, heard, in the still, small, voice, the whisper of the Lord. The halcyon moments of the heart are diverse, in their times of coming; and in the occasions, which produce them. They may be times of sickness, or of sorrow. Times, when the heart is more than full, in its embrace of hopes, long cherished and pursued; and found, at last. Or, times, when it is to leave the scenes, which have been long familiar to it; and look, for the last time, upon its parting dear ones. Dearly beloved, it is so, with you, to-day. You stand, for the last time, before me, in the dear relation which has knit our hearts, so long, together. You stand, here, for the last time, as pupils, among pupils. When, next you come, into these old familiar places; when next you stand, under this hallowed roof; when next you fix your eyes and hearts, on that pale Cross; it will be with memories of what it was, to your young spirits, a holy, happy, home. Shall I not catch, with love's impassioned eagernesss, this halcyon moment of your hearts; to write on them one word, that shall not die? Can you take, with you, from this sacred place;

can you take, with you, from these loving lips of mine; can you take, with you, into life, and keep with you till death; a sentence, more befitting to your age, your sex, your present duties, or your prospective responsibilities, than that sacred legend, so familiar to your sight, which holds, before your hearts, the touching words of that most blessed of all maidens, the meek and matchless Mary: "BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD!" * Will you not adopt it, as the purpose of your youth? Will you not adhere to it, for the direction of your life? Will you not look forward to it, as the consolation of your death?

You are, indeed, the His, as He redeemed

i. “BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD!" Adopt it, as the purpose of your youth. Lord's. His, as He made you. you. Ilis, as, in baptism, He adopted you. But, to be His handmaids, is to own, that you are His; and, consenting, in your hearts, to His most righteous claim, to give yourselves, in unreserved devotion, to His service. Whatever has been done by you, before, when you have passed the threshold of this peaceful home, and nursery of your childhood and your youth, you will be

forced to choose.

You will have to be the handmaids

of the Lord; or else, bondwomen of the world. You cannot blend the services. The world will take no

half allegiance. God will not. You have but one heart. And you can bestow it, on but one.

"Choose

In the main compartment of the Chancel window of the Chapel of the Holy Innocents, is a large pale Cross, surrounded with clouds. Under it, in a scroll, the legend, Behold the Handmaid of the Lord.

ye, this day, whom ye will serve. If the Lord be God, follow Him: but, if Baal, then follow him." Say, with your heart, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord!" Or be, whatever you may say, the bondwoman of the world. I bless my God, that you have made that choice. I bless my God, that I have not, now, to win your souls, for Christ. I bless my God, that you are signed and sealed, with that most blessed Cross. What I have, now, to say, is, to beseech you, to hold fast to your determination. What I have, now, to ask, is, that, when you leave this sacred rail, and go out, into life, you will bear, ever, in your heart, and on your brow— not in moroseness, not in the cant of mere profession, not in the Pharisaic pride, which stands by itself, as better than the rest; but, in meekness, gentleness, charity, piety, heavenly-mindedness, the control, the subjugation, and the sacrifice of self, the service, in all deeds of love and offices of devotion, of the God Who made you, and Who bought you, with His blood-that sacred legend," BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD," so clear, distinct, and radiant, that, whosoever looks upon your modest, gentle, and religious youth, shall see, in you, the Model, you have chosen, in the holy Mother of our Lord; and take knowledge of you, that you have been with Jesus.

'Lady, that, in the prime of earliest youth,

Wisely hast shunn'd the broad way, and the green;

And, with those few, art, eminently seen,

That labour up the hill of heavenly truth;