She had been told that God made all the stars,
That twinkled up in heaven, and now she stood
Watching the coming of the twilight on,
As if it were a new and perfect world,
And this were its first eve. She stood alone
By the low window, with the silken lash
Of her soft eye upraised, and her sweet mouth
Half parted with the new and strange delight
Of beauty that she could not comprehend,
And had not seen before. The purple folds
Of the low sunset clouds, and the blue sky
That look'd so still and delicate above,
Fill'd her young heart with gladness, and the eve
Stole on with its deep shadows, and she still
Stood looking at the west with that half smile,
As if a pleasant thought were at her heart.
Presently, in the edge of the last tint
Of sunset, where the blue was melted in
To the faint golden mellowness, a star
Stood suddenly. A laugh of wild delight
Burst from her lips, and putting up her hands,
Her simple thought broke forth expressively--
"Father! dear father! God has made a star!"
--_N. P. Willis._
"COME UNTO ME!"
Art thou weary? Art thou languid?
Art thou sore distrest?
"Come to Me," saith One, "and coming,
Be at rest!"
Hath He marks to lead me to Him,
If He be my Guide?
"In His feet and hands are wound-prints,
And His side."
Is there diadem as monarch
That His brow adorns?
"Yea, a crown in very surety,
But of thorns!"
If I find Him, if I follow,
What his guerdon here?
"Many a sorrow, many a labor,
Many a tear."
If I still hold closely to Him,
What hath He at last?
"Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,
Jordan past!"
If I ask Him to receive me,
Will He say me nay?
"Not till earth and not till Heaven
Pass away!"
Finding, following, keeping, struggling,
Is He sure to bless?
"Angels, martyrs, prophets, pilgrims,
Answer--Yes!"
--_From St. Stephen the Sabaite._
"LOOKING UNTO JESUS."
Thou, Lord, my path shalt choose,
And my Guide be!
What shall I fear to lose
While I have Thee?
This be my portion blest,
On my Redeemer's breast,
In peaceful trust to rest:
He cares for me!
Shall I then, choose my way?
Never, oh, no!
I, a creature of a day,
What can I know?
What dread perplexity,
Then would encompass me;
Now I can look to Thee,
Thou orderest so!
This lightens every cross,
Cheers every ill;
Suffer I grief or loss,
It is Thy will!
Who can make no mistake,
Chooseth the way I take,
He who can ne'er forsake,
Holds my hand still!
Sweet words of peace and love
Christ whispers me!
Bearing my soul above
Life's troubled sea!
This be my portion blest,
On my Redeemer's breast,
In peaceful trust to rest:
He cares for me!
Christ died my love to win,
Christ is my tower!
He will be with me in
Each trying hour!
He makes the wounded whole,
He will my heart console,
He will uphold my soul
By His own power!
To Thee, the only, Wise,
Whatever be,
I will lift up mine eyes
Joyful in Thee!
This be my portion blest,
On my Redeemer's breast
In peaceful trust to rest:
He cares for me!
--_From the German._