Page images
PDF
EPUB

Father!" they cried, as hanging on his gown

On either side, in each perplexed ear

They poured their eager tidings—“ He came down— Menino Jesu hath been with us here!—

We prayed him to partake our fruit and bread; And he came down—and smiled on us—and fed.”

"Children! my children! know

ye

what ye say?" Bernardo hastily replied-" But hold !— Peace, Briolanja!-rash art thou alway:

Let Inez speak." And little Inez told, In her slow silvery speech, distinctly o'er, The same strange story he had heard before.

"Blessed are ye, my children!" with devout
And deep humility, the good man cried-
"Ye have been highly favoured. Still to doubt,
Were gross impiety and sceptic pride.
Ye have been highly favoured. Children dear!
Now your old master's faithful counsel hear.

"Return to-morrow with the morning light, And as before, spread out your simple fare On the same table; and again invite

Menino Jesu to descend and share :

And if he come, say, 'Bid us, blessed Lord!
We and our master, to thy heavenly board.'

[ocr errors]

Forget not, children of my soul! to plead For your old teacher :-even for His sake, Who fed ye faithfully: and he will heed

Your innocent lips; With his dear lambs.

Return to-morrow.

and I shall so partake
Beloved! with the sun

Then his will be done."

SECOND PART.

"To-night! to-night! Menino Jesu saith
We shall sup with him, father! we and thee,"
Cried out both happy children in a breath,
As the good father entered anxiously,
About the morrow's noon, that holy shrine,
Now consecrate by special grace divine.

"He bade us come alone; but then we said, We could not without thee, our master dearAt that he did not frown, but shook his head

Denyingly; then straight, with many a tear, We pleaded so, he could not but relent,

And bowed his head, and smiled, and gave consent."

"Now God be praised!" the old man said, and fell In prayer upon the marble floor straightway, His face to earth; and so till vesper bell,

Entranced in the spirit's depths he lay,

Then rose like one refreshed with sleep, and stood Composed, among th' assembling brotherhood.

SLEEP ON!

34337 CORNWALL.

Se n' de world is vain;
il mad mi sm, and pain:
Imme i fran fix,
Comes i sumber, pretty boy!
Si swan sing "

Fang tua bis erells deep;
Stew in all that cannot be,
Fre then dost flee!

Sveg on! Let no sad truth
Fall yet upon his youth:
Let him see no thing unkind,
But live a little longer blind!
O sweet sleep!

Hang upon his eyelids deep;

Show him Love, without his wings,
And all fair things!

TO A CHILD IN PRAYER.

FOLD thy little hands in prayer,
Bow down at thy Maker's knee.
Now thy sunny face is fair,

Shining through thy golden hair,

Thine eyes are passion free;

And pleasant thoughts like garlands bind thee Unto thy home, yet grief may find thee

Then pray, Child, pray!

Now thy young heart like a bird

Singeth in its summer nest,
No evil thought, no unkind word,
No bitter, angry voice hath stirred

The beauty of its rest,

But winter cometh, and decay

Wasteth thy verdant home away—
Then pray, Child, pray!

Thy spirit is a house of glee,

And gladness harpeth at the door,

While ever with a merry shout
Hope, the May-queen, danceth out,

Her lips with music running o'er!
But time those strings of joy will sever,

And hope will not dance on for ever;
Then pray, Child, pray!

Now thy mother's hymn abideth

Round thy pillow in the night;

And gentle feet creep to thy bed,
And o'er thy quiet face is shed
The taper's darkened light.

But that sweet hymn shall pass away,
By thee no more those feet shall stay:

Then pray, Child, pray!

W.

New Monthly Magazine, 1832.

« PreviousContinue »