The organ grandly pealed;
Still rose the peaceful hymn;
The lights, though waxing dim,
A beauteous sight revealed.
From off the busy street
Into the sacred pile,
Adown the shadowy aisle
Came little wandering feet.
Secure from fear of harm,
With eager, upturned face,
The lone ones rest a space;
Joy-filled of music's charm.
Forgot their hapless fate;
Forgot cold, worlding scorn;
Unseen the life forlorn;
Seems nigh heaven's golden gate.
Upriseth from his seat
He of a world-wide fame;
He of the lustrous name,
Those nameless ones to greet.
The mightiest orb on high
Doth kiss the meanest flower;
True love, in bounteous shower,
Doth rift earth's formal sky.
Stoops low the silvered head
To kiss the smooth young brow,
To seal the sacred vow
Which life-long fragrance shed.
And tenderly his arms
Those boyish forms enfold;
As if, o'er life's drear wold,
He'd shield from rude alarms.
Thus pass they from the sight,
From out the vaulted door;--
_He_ walks the pearly floor,
_They_ grope through dismal night.
Oh scene surpassing fair!
Soul-filling, all sublime;
Undimmed of dark'ning time,
Unlit of earthly glare.
Fair soul of tenderness!
Unselfish, meek and mild,
The waif, the outcast child
Thou deignest to caress.
Sweet, humanizing love!
Beyond choice gifts of mind,
'Yond culture most refined;
Bright essence from above!
Columbia! brave young land!
Long is thy scroll of fame;
Full many a deathless name
Hath led thee by the hand.
High on that scroll of fame,
Whilst hero echoes ring,
Whilst votaries pause to sing,
Shall glow thy Beecher's name.