THE PIGEON. 95 



to these birds in the sacred volume are numerous and 

 important. 



The dove was selected by Jehovah to be the messen- 

 ger of peace to Noah and his family. The first time she 

 was sent out, she soon returned, because the waters still 

 covered the face of the earth, and she could find no rest 

 for the sole of her foot. On her second excursion, she 

 returned, after pursuing her flight to a much greater 

 distance, for she did not come back till the evening, 

 when she returned with an olive-leaf in her mouth, 

 which Noah justly considered as a sure proof that the 

 waters had subsided. 



The practice of conveying intelligence by means of 

 tame doves, is of long standing in the East. It has 

 been sweetly said : — 



" The dove let loose in eastern skies, 

 Returning fondly home, 

 Ne'er stoops to earth her wing, nor flies 

 Where idle warblers roam : 



But high she shoots through air and light. 



Above all low delay : 

 Where nothing earthly bounds her flight, 



Nor shadow dims her way. 



So grant me, Lord, from every stain 



Of sinful passions free, 

 Aloft, through virtue's purer air, 



To steer my course to Thee ! 



