But smile sweet solace on me from above,
And comfort me as thou alone canst do.
And Virgin Mother, of all maids most blest,
Dear interceder with thy glorious Son
For us poor erring men, I pray thee now,
Thou Spotless with the Sinless intercede,
That strength and mercy may unite, and bless
Thy loving sufferer in his woe and pain.
How weak is man when face to face with deatl
A year, a month, a day agone, and I
Had told, not without pride and conscious boast,
The record of my life-had numbered up
The deeds of my few years, and fondly claimed
Some slight return of glory and of peace.
Like fathers gazing on their children, I,
In presence of my darling acts, had felt
That exaltation of one's-self, forbad
By Christ to all who live and work in Him.
Then had I told of lawless men subdued
To honour, if not love, authority;
Of savage foes, whom years of force and wrong,
Successful rapine, unresisted wars,
And natural love of violence and blood,
Had made the scourges of our land, o'ercome,
And driven from the soil, or made to own
The power of Christian law and Christian love;
Of slaves made free; of widowed hearts made glad
Of orphans taken from the oppressor's hand;
Of unjust judges summoned from the seat
Their presence had defiled; of holy men
Exalted to their place; of schools upraised;
Of learned men, of this and other lands,
Enjoined to teach the blessed lore of man,—
The still more blessed lore of God and Christ ;
Of peace secured with all its priceless fruits,—
Its social joys, security, prosperity,-
With sweet religion going hand in hand,
And kissing her fair brow, till all the land
Smiled one glad, bright, beauteous, heavenly smile.
All this, dear England, have I done for thee,—
For thee, thou one rich jewel of my love—
Thou treasure of all treasures unto me-
Thou loveliest, noblest, dearest spot of earth,
Rich in the love of God and of His Son !
But yesterday I thought it much; to-day,
Thus looking on thy future with the eye
Which coming death illuminates, I see
How poor the Done, with what remains to do!
Yet what is done is done: and thou, O Lord, Canst make it not in vain! Upon thy shrine, In solemn expiation for the sins, Which make them all unworthy of Thy love, I lay these simple tributes, with a heart Which has one only merit of its ownIt ever loved and laboured for the right. Accept them, Lord; O take them to Thyself; Not for their worth, but for the sake of Him In whose dear name, for whose dear love, they all, The greatest and the least, were done.
The end is nigh. I feel the coming hour,
When I shall leave the darkness for the light;
This poor half knowledge for the perfect truth;
This weary round of never-ceasing pain
For rest in God; this struggle with myself,
This constant war of spirit with the flesh,
This restlessness for heights yet unattained,
And unattainable by man on earth,
For that sweet peace with God and with his Christ
Which those who but believe shall surely know.
One painful scene; one parting more; one look On those dear faces I so long have loved;
One kiss from those dear lips whose words have been
Rich consolation in the darkest hour.
One long, close, last embrace with friends on earth,
And one more prayer unto the Lord of life
For this my land, and for its kingless folk,
Whose love and trust have never failed me yet,
And then, O Lord, soon as thy mercy please,
Redeem me from the bonds of death to life.
I would not longer stay: my pain is sharp :
The agony is racking all my bones:
My strength is gone: 'tis hard to stay my groans.
Yet none must know how bitterly I'm torn,
Or loving hearts would with the anguish bleed,
And I not eased. Help me, help me, O Lord!
Be merciful and quick; teach me to bear;
And strengthen me to bear in silence this,
And whatsoever yet remains for me.
It cannot be for long-O not for long!-
O Lord, I trust it will not be for long!
And yet-Thy will be done.
LIKE a beam of sunlight,
Across my life she came ;
And all its gloomy places
Flashed into joyous flame.
In my heart Love nestled,
And built his rosy bowers;
And barren wildernesses
Grew bright with sunny flowers.
Life wore a sweeter aspect;
The hours flew clad in light;
Time won a golden swiftness;
My heart a new delight.
Brighter bloomed the roses;
More sweet the violet-
Earth smiles in conscious beauty
Since that fair face I met.
Glad thoughts come to me ever;
Sweet tunes ring in my ears;
And day and night bring visions;
Alternate hopes and fears ;-
Hopes still themselves fulfilling,
And fears that know not pain,—
For she is in each vision,
Her voice rings in each strain.
And now I carol lightly
As Spring-birds on the tree;
Life's current flows a streamlet,
Bright, joyous, careless, free.
My heart-chords swept by Beauty,
The sweetest thrillings prove;
For Effie's smiled upon me,
And crowned me with her love.
THE stars have never shone so bright;
The night was never so divine;
And ne'er o'er such a silent sea
Did harvest moon so yellow shine.
And in our boat we glided on,
And watched the waters silently: Old Ocean's fire-flies sparkled round, And rivalled Heaven's own galaxy.
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