Poems of the Heart and Home Part 19

Now, sinner, now!

Not in the future, when thy longed-for measure Thou hast attained, of fame, or power, or pleasure, When thy full coffers swell with h.o.a.rded treasure, Not then, but now.

G.o.d's time may not be thine. When _thou_ art willing, His Spirit may have taken flight forever, No more thy soul with keen conviction filling, Softening thy spirit to repentance never,-- Now, sinner, now!

Now, Christian, now!

Look round, and see what souls are daily dying; List!--everywhere the voice of human crying Smiteth the ear;--the moan, the plaint, the sighing, Come even now.

Rise! gird thyself;--go forth where sorrow weepeth And ease the pang. Where sin holds guilty revel, Go tell of G.o.d! Where man securely sleepeth On ruin's verge, go, warn him of the evil Now, Christian, now!

Now, sinner, now!

Day waneth fast! The noon is spent! To-morrow Is G.o.d's, not thine!--and dost thou hope to borrow An hour from doom, when bursts the cloud of sorrow That darkens now?

Nay; the red bolt, e'en now, vindictive flashes The thunder rolls nearer, and still more near!

Hourly the tide of wrath more sternly dashes On ruin's rocks!--oh, that thou wouldst but Now, sinner, now!

Now, Christian, now Gather thy sheaves--the harvest time is hasting Gather thy sheaves--the precious grain is wasting!

Too many hours Earth's cup of nectar tasting Thou'st wasted now!

Up, up!--the Master's coining steps already Echoing adown the steeps of heaven are heard!

The angel-reapers, with firm hand and steady, Stand, dim-descried, waiting the signal-word Now, Christian, now!

SUNSET

The glorious sun, behind the western hills, Slowly, in gorgeous majesty, retires, Flooding the founts and forests, fields and rills, With the reflection of his golden fires.

How beauteous all, how calm, how still!

Yon star that trembles on the hill, Yon crescent moon that raises high Her beamy horns upon the sky, Seem bending down a loving glance From the unclouded skies, On the green Earth that far away In solemn beauty lies;-- And, like sweet Friendship in affliction's hour, Grow brighter still the more the shadows lower.

SWEET EVENING BELLS

Soft evening bells!--sweet evening bells!

O'er vale and plain your music swells, And far away The echoes play O'er s.h.a.ggy mount and forest grey; And every rock its secret tells To your soft chime, sweet evening bells!

Soft evening bells!--sweet evening bells!

Now twilight drapes the woodland dells, And shadows lie On the closed eye Of flowers that dream beneath the sky; Yet fainter, sweeter, tenderer swells Your dying chime, sweet evening bells!

O evening bells!--sweet evening bells!

With every note that sinks and swells, Sadly and slow The warm tears flow In pensive pleasure more than woe, As Mem'ry wakes her witching spells, 'Neath your soft chime, sweet evening bells!

UNKNOWN

Thou hast marked the lonely river, On whose waveless bosom lay Some deep mountain-shadow ever, Dark'ning e'en the ripples' play-- Didst thou deem it had no murmur Of soft music, though unheard?

Deem that, 'neath the quiet surface, The calm waters never stirred?

Thou hast marked the pensive forest, Where the moonbeams slept by night, While the elm and drooping willow Sorrowed in the misty light-- Didst thou think those depths so silent Held no fount of tender song That awoke to hallowed utt'rance As the hushed hours swept along?

So, the heart hath much of music, Deep within its fountains lone, Very pa.s.sionate and tender, Never shaped to human tone!

Dream not that its depths are silent, Though thou ne'er hast stooped to hear; Haply, even thence some music Floats to the All-Hearing ear!

ONWARD

Onward, still on!--though the pathway be dreary,-- Though few be the fountains that gladden the way,-- Though the tired spirit grow feeble and weary, And droop in the heat of the toil-burdened day; Green in the distance the hills of thy Canaan Lift their bright heads in a tenderer light, Where the full boughs with rich fruits overladen Spread their luxurious treasures in sight.

Onward, still onward!--around us are falling Lengthening shadows as daylight departs; Up from the past mournful voices are calling, Often we pause with irresolute hearts.

Wherefore look backward?--the flower thou didst gather Wounded thy hand with the thorn it concealed,-- Onward, and stay not!--the voice of thy Father Calls thee to glory and bliss unrevealed.

Onward!-Earth's radiance fadeth,--the glory That gilded her brow when the noon was in prime Faileth each hour, and the chill mist is h.o.a.ry!

Gathering thick on the dim sh.o.r.es of time.

Yet as the stars come out brighter and clearer While the day faints in the slow-fading west, So do the home-lights grow larger and nearer, Clearer the ray on the hills of thy rest.

Onward, and stay not!--the fountain, the flower, Toward which thou'rt pressing with wearying haste.

Are but the mirage that floats for an hour, Glowing and green o'er the desolate waste; Yet from the distance come tender home-melodies Borne from the Summer-land over the flood, Lovingly wooing thee homeward and Heavenward To the sweet rest of thy Saviour and G.o.d.

LOOKING BACK

Do the dancing leaves of summer To the time of buds look back?-- Does the river moan regretful For the brooklet's mountain-track?

Does the ripened sheaf of summer, Heavy with precious grain, Ask for its hour of blossom, And the breath of Spring again?

Does the golden goblet, br.i.m.m.i.n.g With the precious, ruby wine, Look back with weary longing To the damp and dusky mine?

Is the sparkling coin, that beareth A monarch's image, fain To seek the glowing furnace, Where they purged its dross again?

Would the chiselled marble gather Its rubbish back once more.

And lie down, undistinguished, In the rough rock as before?

Does the costly diamond, blazing On that crowned and queenly one, Look back with sorrowful gazing To the coa.r.s.e unpolished stone?

And shall man, the grandly gifted, Earth's monarch, tho' Earth's son, Turn back to court the shadows Of existence scarce begun?

Nay; with strong arm and helpful To aid the world's great lack, Press on, nor pause a moment, Supinely to look back!

MINNIEBEL