3. GUARDIAN ANGELS. "TELL me now thy morning dream.” "In the flowery sweet spring-tide I beheld a sparkling stream, Where by thousands Angels glide; Each beneath the soft bright wing Seem'd a tender babe to bring, Where the freshest waters fell In an ever-living well. Far within the unearthly Fount Showed the pure Heaven's steadfast rays, Stars beyond what eye can count Deepening on the unwearied gaze. Whoso of those springs would draw, Wondrous joy and wondrous awe On his soul together rise, Starlight keen and dark blue skies. Round the margin breath'd and bloom'd Flowers from Eden: far below Gems from Heaven the sides illum'd :— But nor flower nor gem might show Half so fair as your soft charms, Who in your own Seraphs' arms Here are wafted, in pure vest Rob'd, and wash'd, and seal'd, and bless'd. There one moment lay immers'd Each bright form, and ere it rose, From where golden morning glows, Ne'er so bright, so gentle, sweep In a moment came that ray, Came but went not every sprite, Through its veil of mortal clay, Now is drench'd in quickening light; Light wherewith the Seraphs burn, Light that to itself would turn Mars even now the new-born frame. Through the pure Heavens now at large Joying to behold their charge Purg'd, wing'd, brighten'd more and more, As the strong undying spark Buoys them upward to God's Ark, Ne'er with smile so glad and kind Glory of the Paschal morn ;— When the shades from Salem's wall On Siloah deepest fall ; As in that entrancing dream, On my sleep-embolden'd eyes, From the shrine, the approving beam Each new living ray, each soul With its faithful Watcher, found O sweet morning dream, I pray, Pass not with the matin hour : Charm me :-heart and tongue allay, Thoughts of gloom and eyes that lower. From the Fountain to the Shrine Bear me on, thou trance divine; Faint not, fade not on my view, 4. BAPTISMAL VOWS. O HAPPY new-born babe, where art thou lying? "His Bosom bears me, who on earth descended, Joy to thy nurse, more joy to her who bare thee, "Amen and therefore am I sworn His servant, : His sacred Heart through life to be my rest, To watch His eye with adoration fervent, Foe of His foes, and in His white robe drest." |