And

and re-repeats, the trite and needless caution. feels, that she shall certainly forget what she most longs to say. And cannot say, what she most feels, because she feels it most, Farewell!

Beloved ones, you stand upon the Threshold of your

Life. I may not keep you back. I would not, if I might. You came here, to prepare for it. God calls you, now, to enter on it. I must speed the parting guests; although they take my heart-strings, out, with them. I speed you, my beloved, in the name and strength of God. I speed you, in the might and merit of the Cross. I speed you, in the cleansing comfort of the Dove. It is God's world. You are His children. If you trust Him, He will shelter you. If you submit to Him, He will direct you. If you love Him, He will save you. Take with you, my beloved, as your inseparable companion, His most holy word. Make it the book, of your hearts, and of your lives. Never leave your chambers, without a portion of it, in your minds; for meditation, through the day. Never leave your chambers, without acknowledg ing, upon your knees, the answer to the prayer, that blessed you for your pillow; and invoking the divine protection, to restore you to it, again. Seek, with a frequent foot, the place, where prayer is made. Make it your BETH-LEHEM: the house of living bread. Nor deem you have it, for the nurture of your souls, for heaven; till, with true penitent and faithful hearts, you feed on that, which your dear Saviour blessed; and said, "This is My Body."

Beloved ones, you are to stand, one day, upon the

VOL. IV.-9

Threshold of another life. That, which you enter, now, is but the longer, or the shorter, road, to lead you to it. How long, how short, He only knows, Who is Himself, THE LIFE. How long, how short, it matters not, if it secure you to His love. In the mercy of the Father, Who made you; in the merit of the Saviour, Who redeemed you; in the grace of the Spirit, Who desires to sanctify you; the way to it, however long, however short, is sure. You go on in it, henceforward, my beloved, with my blessing. You go on in it, with the maternal yearnings of this true nursery of your youth. You go on in it, with the prayers of the Holy Church; commended to the mercy-seat, by the intercession of your suffering Lord. Hold fast to your allegiance, as the daughters of the Church. Hold fast to your protection, as the children of the Cross. So, shall the life you are to enter now, be the safe passage to the Threshold of the next. So, shall "the grave and gate of death," be but the Threshold of Immortality.

X.

THE TENTH ADDRESS

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

THE HOLY WOMEN, AT THE SEPULCHRE.

BELOVED CHILDREN, with what strange thoughts, of trial and of triumph, our hearts have been engaged, the last ten days! We have wept, with Christendom, beneath the Cross. We have sat silently, with Christendom, beside the grave. We have rejoiced, with Christendom, at the deserted Sepulchre. "He is not here: HE is risen; as He said." And, while the tokens of that triumph are yet abroad, and the echoes of the Easter anthem are still ringing, through the world, we are gathered here, a little band, to weep, and pray, and part. To you, beloved ones, a parting, which will cost

some natural tears;" but, yet, a joyful parting: for it bears you home; and opens to your feet the world, which, to your inexperienced eye, bears only flowers. To me, the moment that tears off from my heart the tendrils, which so long have twined, in love and loveli

March, A. D. 1853.

ness, about it and leaves it stripped, and sad, and sore; bleeding, and almost broken. But, it is nature's way. The young birds are impatient of the nest. And, when the warm Spring winds begin to blow, and crocuses and pansies paint the garden, and the violet, with maiden lips, kisses the air, and makes it fragrant, there is a rustling, and a chirping, and a twittering, in the leafy covert, where their life was nurtured; and they are off and gone: and there is silence, and solitude, and sorrow, in their place. Yes: it is nature's way. And, were there only nature, it were sad, indeed, and hard to bear. And I should be as Rachel, weep

ing for her children, that would not be comforted, because they were not. But, I remember Who it was, that lent you to me; for how long; and for what. And, if, through grace, I have been faithful to my trust; and you have grown in grace; and I can comfortably hope that you will still employ "the means of grace," which have been yours, while here; and struggle forward, through their help, whatever be the several pathways of your life, towards the hope of glory: I shall have grace, I trust, the answer to your prayers, to wipe my tears, with yours; and to rejoice, while you rejoice; and hope, that, if we meet not, here, on earth, again, we shall, through Christ, in Heaven.

And, now, before we part, my daughters, a word or two, of customary counsel. You were children, when you came to me. You go from me, WOMEN. And, what a word that is! And what a world of meaning in it! Gentleness, tenderness, thoughtfulness, meekness,

patience, kindness, fortitude, self-surrender, self-control, self-sacrifice for all a woman has to be, and bear, and do, we might write out the Apostle's character of charity; and say, of her, as he, of it, she "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

"Though fresh within your breasts th' untroubled springs

Of hope make melody, where'er ye tread,

And o'er your sleep, bright shadows, from the wings
Of spirits, visiting but youth, be spread;

Yet, in those flute-like voices, mingling low,

Is woman's tenderness; how soon, her wo!

"Her lot is on you: silent tears to weep,

And patient smiles to wear, through suffering's hour;

And sumless riches, from affection's deep,

To pour on broken reeds, a wasted shower;

And to make idols, and to find them clay,

And to bewail that worship: therefore, pray!

"Her lot is on you: to be found untired

Watching the stars out by the bed of pain,
With a pale cheek, and yet a brow inspired,

And a true heart of hope, though hope be vain ;

Meekly to bear with wrong, to cheer decay;

And, oh, to love, through all things: therefore, pray!” *

Beloved ones, the lessons of the Church, in these three days, as specially, on this, besides the triumphs of THE CRUCIFIED, which they record, have snatches, in them, which present the woman, as she ought to be, with an inimitable truth and tenderness. I can but

* Mrs. Hemans: “Evening Prayer, in a Girls' School."