Page images
PDF
EPUB

ROBERT NICOLL.

DEATH.*

THE dew is on the summer's greenest grass,
Through which the modest daisy blushing peeps;
The gentle wind that like a ghost doth pass,
A waving shadow on the corn-field keeps ;
But I, who love them all, shall never be
Again among the woods, or on the moorland lea!

The sun shines sweetly-sweeter may it shine!—
Blessed is the brightness of a summer day;
It cheers lone hearts; and why should I repine,
Although among green fields I cannot stray!
Woods! I have grown, since last I heard you wave,
Familiar with death, and neighbour to the grave!

These words have shaken mighty human souls-
Like a sepulchre's echo drear they sound-
E'en as the owls' wild whoop at midnight rolls
The ivied remnants of old ruins round.

Yet wherefore tremble? Can the soul decay?
Or that which thinks and feels in aught e'er fade away?

Are there not aspirations in each heart

After a better, brighter world than this? Longings for beings nobler in each part—

Things more exalted—steeped in deeper bliss? Who gave us these? What are they? Soul, in thee The bud is budding now for immortality!

Death comes to take me where I long to be;

One pang, and bright blooms the immortal flower; Death comes to lead me from mortality,

To lands which know not one unhappy hour;

I have a hope, a faith-from sorrow here

I'm led by death away-why should I start and fear?

This poem is supposed to have been the last, or among the last, of Nicoll's compositions.

TEACHING FROM THE STARS.

If I have loved the forest and the field,

Can I not love them deeper, better there?
If all that power hath made, to me doth yield
Something of good and beauty-something fair-
Freed from the grossness of mortality,

May I not love them all, and better all enjoy?

159

A change from woe to joy-from earth to heaven,
Death gives me this-it leads me calmly where
The souls that long ago from mine were riven
May meet again! death answers many a prayer.
Bright day, shine on! be glad: days brighter far
Are stretched before my eyes than those of mortals are!

JANE TAYLOR.
BORN, 1783; DIED, 1824.

TEACHING FROM THE STARS.
STARS, that on your wondrous way
Travel through the evening sky,

Is there nothing you can say
To such a little child as I?

Tell me, for I long to know,
Who has made you sparkle so?

Yes, methinks I hear you say,
"Child of mortal race attend;
While we run our wondrous way,
Listen; we would be your friend ;
Teaching you that name divine,
By whose mighty word we shine.

"Child, as truly as we roll

Through the dark and distant sky,

You have an immortal soul,

Born to live when we shall die.

Suns and planets pass away:

Spirits never can decay.

"When some thousand years at most,
All their little time have spent,
One by one our sparkling host
Shall forsake the firmament.
We shall from our glory fall;
You must live beyond us all.

"Yes, and God, who bade us roll,
God, who hung us in the sky,
Stoops to watch an infant's soul
With a condescending eye;
And esteems it dearer far,

More in value than a star!

Oh, then, while your breath is given,
Let it rise in fervent prayer;

And beseech the God of heaven
To receive your spirit there,
Like a living star to blaze,
Ever to your Saviour's praise."

CAROLINE SOUTHEY.*

I WEEP, BUT NOT REBELLIOUS TEARS.
I WEEP, but not rebellious tears;

I mourn, but not in hopeless woe;
I droop, but not with doubtful fears;

For whom I've trusted, Him I know. "Lord! I believe, assuage my grief, And help-oh, help mine unbelief!"

My days of youth and health arc o'er,

My early friends are dead and gone; And there are times it tries me sore

To think I'm left on earth alone. But then faith whispers-""Tis not so, He will not leave, nor let thee go."

* Widow of the late Robert Southey.

THE MARINER'S HYMN.

Blind eyes--fond heart-poor soul that sought
Enduring bliss in things of earth!
Remembering but with transient thought,

Thy heavenly home, thy second birth:
Till God in mercy broke at last

The bonds that held thee down so fast.

As link by link was rent away,

My heart wept blood, so sharp the pain,
But I have lived to count this day

That temp'ral loss eternal gain;
For all that once detained me here
Now draws me to a holier sphere.

A holier sphere, a happier place,
Where I shall know as I am known,
And see my Saviour face to face,

And meet, rejoicing round his throne,
The faithful few, made perfect there
From earthly stain and mortal care.

161

THE MARINER'S HYMN.

LAUNCH thy bark, mariner! Christian, God speed thee! Let loose the rudder bands!--good angels lead thee! Set thy sails warily; tempests will come;

Steer thy course steadily! Christian, steer home!

Look to the weather-bow, breakers are round thee!
Let fall the plummet now--shallows may ground thee.
Reef in the fore-sail there! hold the helm fast!
So-let the vessel wear! there swept the blast.

What of the night, watchman? What of the night?
"Cloudy-all quiet-no land yet--all's right."
Be wakeful, be vigilant !-danger may be
At an hour when all seemeth securest to thee.

How! gains the leak so fast? Clean out the hold-
Hoist up thy merchandise-heave out thy gold!
There-let the ingots go!—now the ship rights;
Hurrah! the harbour's near-lo, the red lights!

Slacken not sail yet at inlet or island;

Straight for the beacon steer-straight for the high land; Crowd all thy canvas on, cut through the foamChristian! cast anchor now--HEAVEN IS THY HOME!

WILLIAM DRUMMOND.

CHARITY.

COME, let us sound her praise abroad,
Sweet charity, the child of God!
Hers, on whose kind maternal breast
The shelter'd babes of misery rest;

Who, when she sees the sufferer bleed,-
Reckless of name, or sect, or creed,-
Comes with prompt hand, and look benign,
To bathe his wounds in oil and wine;

Who in her robe the sinner hides,

And soothes and pities, while she chides;
Who lends an ear to every cry,

And asks no plea--but misery.

Her tender mercies freely fall,
Like heaven's refreshing dews on all;
Encircling in their wide embrace
Her friends-her foes-the human race.

Nor bounded to the earth alone,
Her love expands to worlds unknown;
Wherever faith's rapt thought has soar'd,
Or hope her upward flight explored.

« PreviousContinue »