THE WATER AND THE FLOWER. 65 Flooded with peace, the parting soul Till where earth ends and Heaven begins. THE WATER AND THE FLOWER. A MEMORY. One quiet eve, some years ago, whilst lingering by a stile That ran along a wayside path, to watch the clouds. awhile, Ere thought had lifted from my heart the shadow of her wing, I saw a child—a little girl-returning from the spring. Her well-filled pitcher lightly pressed her curls of silken hair, Supported by a tiny hand, and she was very fair, With something in her sunny face pure as the sky above, And something in her gentle eye that guardian angels love. A little flower blossoming, a step or so aside, This happy child of innocence with sudden joy espied; 66 THE WATER AND THE FLOWER. Then letting down her pitcher, with the same sweet joyous song, She watered it half laughingly, and gaily tripped along. The flower seemed to raise its head, bowed by a sum mer's sun, And smile beneath the act which she unconsciously had done; Whilst wandering on, with fairy tread, as merry as before, I saw her pass the garden gate and close the cottage door. O, often when this little scene has crossed my thoughts again, I've wondered if-with all the love that warmed her spirit then This little girl has tripped through life as joyous to the last, Refreshing all the weary hearts that met her as she passed— If with unconscious tenderness her heart has paused to bless The poor amid their poverty, the sad in their distress; Still following up God's teachings, day by day and hour by hour, Foreshadowed in that simple scene-the water and the flower; THE WATER AND THE FLOWER. 67 If with a song, as pure and sweet, that voice has hushed to rest The troubles of an aching heart, a sorrow-laden breast If to the wayside wanderer, where'er her steps have led, The pitcher has been lowered ever kindly from her head. O, holy, happy Charity! how many pleasures lost By those who have not known thee, had been worthy of the cost; How many heads a blessing from a better world have borne, Whilst lowering the pitcher to the weary and the worn. Thou who hast stood beside God's spring of blessing day by day, To fill the pitcher of thy wants, and carry it away, The poor and the dejected,-whom God hath willed to roam Are resting by the wayside that leads thee to thy home! Ol let thy heart beat ever quick in actions kind to be, Remember Him whose bounty has at all times fol lowed thee; 68 THE ETERNAL FATHER. And deem it not a trouble, in the wayside or the town, To linger where the weary are, and let the pitcher down. A. H. S. THE ETERNAL FATHER. FATHER! the sweetest, dearest Name Thou comest not, thou goest not; Eternity is but a thought By which we think of thee. Lost in thy greatness, Lord! I live Thy grandeur is all tenderness, The hearts that will not come to it Humbling itself to seek. THE CHURCH OF HUMANITY. Thou feign'st to be remote, and speak'st That fear may make more bold with thee, On earth thou hidest, not to scare 69 FABER. THE CHURCH OF HUMANITY. ISAIAH 60. Он, church of man and church of God, Thine altar is but one! By all alike thine aisles are trod, By whom His will is done. They follow on where truth shall lead, In thought and act, in word and deed, By color or by clime, All from one heart of love proceed, One life that knows no time. |