EVENING PRAYER AT A GIRLS' SCHOOL. "Now in thy youth, beseech of Him, Who giveth, upbraiding not, That his light in thy heart become not dim, And his love be unforgot; And thy God, in the darkest of days, will be Bernard Barton. HUSH! 'tis a holy hour-the quiet room Seems like a temple, while yon soft lamp sheds A faint and starry radiance, through the gloom And the sweet stillness, down on bright young heads, With all their clust'ring locks, untouch'd by care, And bow'd, as flowers are bow'd with night-in prayer. Gaze on,-'tis lovely!-childhood's lip and cheek, And fragile things, as but for sunshine wrought? EVENING PRAYER AT A GIRLS' SCHOOL. 147 -Thou seest what grief must nurture for the sky, Oh! joyous creatures, that will sink to rest, 'Midst the dim folded leaves, at set of sunLift up your hearts!-though yet no sorrow lies Dark in the summer-heaven of those clear eyes; Though fresh within your breasts th' untroubled springs And o'er your sleep bright shadows, from the wings Her lot is on you-silent tears to weep, And patient smiles to wear through suffering's hour, And sumless riches, from Affection's deep, To pour on broken reeds-a wasted shower! And to make idols, and to find then clay, And to bewail that worship-therefore pray! 148 EVENING PRAYER AT A GIRLS' SCHOOL. Her lot is on you—to be found untir'd, Watching the stars out by the bed of pain, With a pale cheek, and yet a brow inspir'd, And a true heart of hope, though hope be vain. Meekly to bear with wrong, to cheer decay, And oh! to love through all things-therefore pray! And take the thought of this calm vesper time, With its low murmuring sounds and silvery light, On through the dark days fading from their prime, As a sweet dew to keep your souls from blight. Earth will forsake-oh! happy to have given Th' unbroken heart's first fragrance unto Heaven! THE INVOCATION. WRITTEN AFTER THE DEATH OF A SISTER-IN-LAW. ANSWER me, burning stars of night! Where is the spirit gone, That past the reach of human sight, -And the stars answer'd me- But, of the never-dying soul, Ask things that cannot die!" "We roll Oh! many-ton'd and chainless wind! "The blue deep I have cross'd, But not what thou hast lost!” Ye clouds that gorgeously repose Around the setting sun, Answer! have ye a home for those Whose earthly race is run? The bright clouds answer'd-" We depart, We vanish from the sky; Ask what is deathless in thy heart Speak, then, thou voice of God within! Where is the spirit flown? -And the voice answer'd-"Be thou still! Enough to know is given; Clouds, winds, and stars their task fulfil, Thine is to trust in Heaven!" |