THE REAPER AND THE FLOWERS. Dear tokens of the earth are they, Where He was once a child. "They shall all bloom in fields of light, And saints, upon their garments white, And the mother gave, in tears and pain, O, not in cruelty, not in wrath, The Reaper came that day; "T was an angel visited the green earth, And took the flowers away. 11 THE LIGHT OF STARS. THE night is come, but not too soon ; All silently, the little moon Drops down behind the sky. There is no light in earth or heaven, And the first watch of night is given Is it the tender star of love? The star of love and dreams? O no! from that blue tent above, And earnest thoughts within me rise, When I behold afar, Suspended in the evening skies, The shield of that red star. O star of strength! I see thee stand Thou beckonest with thy mailed hand. And I am strong again. THE LIGHT OF STARS. Within my breast there is no light, But the cold light of stars; I give the first watch of the night The star of the unconquered will, Serene, and resolute, and still, And calm, and self-possessed. And thou, too, whosoe'er thou art, As one by one thy hopes depart, O fear not in a world like this, And thou shalt know ere long, Know how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong. 13 FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS. WHEN the hours of Day are numbered, Wake the better soul, that slumbered, Ere the evening lamps are lighted, And, like phantoms grim and tall, Shadows from the fitful fire-light Dance upon the parlour wall; Then the forms of the departed The beloved, the true-hearted, Come to visit me once more; He, the young and strong, who cherished By the road-side fell and perished, They, the holy ones and weakly, Who the cross of suffering bore, Folded their pale hands so meekly, Spake with us on earth no more! |