Just as the little boat approached The island bleak and bare. The boat ran up a creek, as if, "Twere steered by angels good; And ere the evening prayer was done Beside the youth she stood. The chiefest joy it hath not words 'Its deep excess to say; And as if he had seen a sprite, His spirit died away. Then with clasped hands, and broken speech, And tears that ceaseless flowed; He poured forth from his full heart A fervent praise of God. PART XII. "BUT let us hence," said Marien; A light breeze from the desert shore And the little boat sailed on before, Till the isle was out of view. As friends long parted, met once more, And as they sailed, sweet Marien O'er sinners that repent; And of the weary prodigal Returning bowed with shame, And the good father hastening forth To meet him as he came; And how he bade the fairest robe Be brought; the golden ring; Shoes for the feet; and music sweet, As if to hail a king. "For this, my son," said he, " was dead, And is alive; is found, Who was long lost; 'tis meet, therefore, That stintless joy abound!" "Oh, child of woe," said Marien, "The meanest of thy creatures, low I bend before thy throne, And offer my poor self to make Thy loving-kindness known! "Oh father, give me words of power, "Thy love which wearieth not; which like Thy sun, on all doth shine! Oh Father, let me worship Thee I love not life; I ask not wealth; My heart and soul, my youth and health, So spake the youth; but now the boat Which, like a cloudland realm of bliss, Skyward rose sunny peaks, pale-hued, As if of opal glow; And crested palms, broad-leaved and tall, In valleys grew below. A lovely land of flowers, as fair As Paradise, ere sin And sorrow, that corrupting pair, A lovely land"!" And even now," "For these, God kept thee in the wild, For these, his people, through distress "Thy work is here! Go forth, 'mid these Meek children of the sun, Oh servant of the Lord, and tell Down to the shore the thousands came, To welcome Marien back, whom they "And welcome to thee, little child!" They sang forth sweet and clear; "And welcome to the stranger poor, Who cometh with thee here!" And then they brought him silken cloth, And ever as they served him, They sang forth sweet and low, "Would this repose might solace thee, These apples cure thy woe!" 103 And though the twain knew not their speech, Yet well they understood The looks of love that welcomed them, Their actions kind and good. With them for many a year abode The youth, and learned their tongue; And with the sound of Christian praise The hills and valleys rung. Oh beautiful beyond all lands That lay beneath the moon, A joyful people there they dwelt, And with them dwelt the holy youth, Willing himself to spend. Like to some ancient church of Christ, From worldly taint kept free, Lay this delicious isle of love Amid its summer sea. But now the work he had to do Was done; and ere his day Approached its noon, his strength, his life, Was wearing fast away. They saw his cheek grow thin and pale; Old men, and youths, and women meek, Sad mourners knelt in prayer, And round about his feet they sat, Now all this while good Marien Had wandered far and wide, Through divers realms, for many a year, The hand of Heaven her guide. And now unto the glorious isle She saw no wandering company, "T was Sabbath eve, and o'er the isle A stillness, how unlike the calm Of many a Sabbath day! A hush, as of suspended breath, Onward she went, not many steps, With heart of mournful ruth, She saw the holy youth. Beside him knelt she on the turf, And spoke in accents low Words of strong love, which like new life He raised himself, and blessing God, With low-toned voice, more musical That I am called to go! "Fain would I tarry, but the cry Hath sounded in mine ear, "I go, but leave you not forlorn, "Oh weep not, friends; a better home Awaits me, and I go, But to that home which is prepared For ye who love me so! The Sabbath sun went down amid And the freed spirit, cleansed from sin, Beneath the trees where he had died. Now he who knows old Christmas, He comes warm cloaked and coated, We know that he will not fail us, So we sweep the hearth up clean; We broach the strong ale barrel, That does one good to hear; He shakes one heartily by the hand, As he hath done many a year. And after the little children He asks in a cheerful tone, Jack, Kate, and little Annie,He remembers them every one! What a fine old fellow he is, With his faculties all as clear, And his heart as warm and light As a man's in his fortieth year! What a fine old fellow, in troth! Not one of your griping elves, Who, with plenty of money to spare, Think only about themselves! Not he! for he loveth the children; And singeth with might and main; Oh he is a kind old fellow, And all the workhouse children Oh, could you have seen those paupers, You would wish with them that Christmas He must be a rich old fellow,— Good luck unto old Christmas, THE TWELFTH HOUR. My friends, the spirit is at peace; Nor covet for me length of years, I know how strong are human ties; And words of power are in mine ear; "Thou human soul," they seem to say, "We are commissioned from above, Through the dark portal to convey Thee to the paradise of love; Thou need'st not shrink, thou need'st not fear; We, thy sure help, are gathered near! 105 "Thy weakness on our strength confide; Thy doubt upon our steadfast trust; And rise up, pure and glorified, From thine infirm and sinful dust. Rise up, rise up! the eternal day Begins to dawn- why wilt thou stay? "Look forth—the day begins to dawn; The future openeth to thy view; The veil of mystery is undrawn; The old things are becoming new; The night of time is passing by: Poor trembler, do not fear to die! "Come, come! the gates of pearl unfold: The eternal glory shines on thee! Body, relax thy lingering hold, And set the struggling spirit free!" "Tis done, 'tis done! - before my sight Opens the awful infinite: I see, I hear, I live anew! Oh friends, dear friends, adieu, adieu! THE BLIND BOY AND HIS SISTER. "OH brother," said fair Annie, To the blind boy at her side; "Would thou could'st see the sunshine lie On hill and valley, and the sky Hung like a glorious canopy O'er all things far and wide! "Would thou could'st see the waters "Would thou could'st see my face, brother, As well as I see thine; For always what I cannot see Yet thou dost ne'er repine!" Beside our cottage door, And people say, that boy is blind,' "But better far than this, Annie, "Oh, love is not of sight, Annie, Are strong in heart and mind!" THE SPIRIT'S QUESTIONINGS. WHERE shall I meet thee, What is the shape To thy clear spirit given? Where is thy home In the infinite heaven? I see thee, but still As thou wert upon earth, But now thou art one Of the glorified band Who have touched the shore Of the far spirit-land! And thy shape is fair, And thy locks are bright, Of the quenchless light. And from mystery! And thine ears have drunk The awful tone Of the First and Last, Of the Ancient One! And the dwellers old Thy steps have met, Where the lost is found, And the past is yet. Where shall I find thee, For aye who art gone? Where shall I meet thee, Thou beautiful one? THE POOR CHILD'S HYMN. WE are poor and lowly born; What of this? our blessed Lord Was of lowly birth, We are ignorant and young; Gifted with but humble powers, What of this? our blessed Lord Loved such as we; How he blessed the little ones Sitting on his knee! A DREAM. HOAR with the lapse of ages seemed Had held the sons of men; In earth or air, from wind or flood; But o'er the bare and barren ground Brooded an endless solitude. It was an awful thing to tread O'er grey and parched and mighty plains, Where never living thing was seen, Where the live heart had never been: Yet still I felt in spirit led But lo! that deadness of the world, And I walked over fern and flower; Bounded that amplitude of plain; One I beheld who strongly toiled; And he clove vood for sacrifice. And he gazed on it with an air Before me; and between the tall It mixed not with the ambient air; |