Why hearts, that true love-tokens need For brother or for friend, Count not the cost with careful heed, Ask why of old the favoured king Yea, lowly fall, and of thy Lord In silence ask and dread, Why praised He Mary's ointment, poured Upon His Sacred Head. Holy Places and Things. 271 '7. CHURCH WINDOWS. "The Lord my God shall come, and all the Saints with Thee: and it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark." OFT have I heard our elders say, How sad the autumnal hour, To heap and toss them wild and free, Their fragrance breathe, and o'er them see Soft evening lustre shed. And some will say, 'tis drear and cold In holy Church to kneel With one or two, Christ's little fold, With blind and lame, with poor and old, There met for Him to heal. Nay, look again: the Saints are there : Is thronged with shadows bright. The Saints are there :-the Living Dead, The Mourners glad and strong; The sacred floor their quiet bed, Their beams from every window shed, Their voice in every song. And haply where I kneel, some day, But in my heart remain ! Holy Places and Things. 273 8. RELICS AND MEMORIALS. "As the shadow of a great Rock in a weary land." THE Twelve holy men are gathered in prayer, A keen silent thrilling is round them in air, A Power from the Highest with thought and word blends. They pass by the way, to sight poor and mean. How glorious the train that streams to and fro ! The blind, dumb, halt, withered, by hundreds are seen, The prisoners of Satan lie chained where they go. O lay them but where the shadow may fall T Nay, look again: the Saints are there : Is thronged with shadows bright. The Saints are there :—the Living Dead, The Mourners glad and strong; The sacred floor their quiet bed, Their beams from every window shed, Their voice in every song. And haply where I kneel, some day, The glory of some Saint will play :- But in my heart remain ! |