 | The American common-place book of poetry |  |
Idle Words.—Anonymous.
[_]
I have a high sense of the virtue and dignity of the female character; and would not, by any means, be thought to attribute to the ladies emphatically, the fault here spoken of. But I have remarked it in some of my friends, who, in all but this, were among the loveliest of their sex. In such, the blemish is more distinct and striking, because so strongly contrasted with the superior delicacy and loveliness of their natures.
“My God!” the beauty oft exclaimed,
With deep impassioned tone—
But not in humble prayer she named
The High and Holy One!
With deep impassioned tone—
But not in humble prayer she named
The High and Holy One!
'Twas not upon the bended knee,
With soul upraised to heaven,
Pleading, with heartfelt agony,
That she might be forgiven.
With soul upraised to heaven,
Pleading, with heartfelt agony,
That she might be forgiven.
'Twas not in heavenly strains to raise
To the great Source of good
Her daily offering of praise,
Her song of gratitude.
To the great Source of good
Her daily offering of praise,
Her song of gratitude.
But in the gay and thoughtless crowd,
And in the festive hall,
'Mid scenes of mirth and mockery proud,
She named the Lord of All.
And in the festive hall,
'Mid scenes of mirth and mockery proud,
She named the Lord of All.
She called upon that awful name,
When laughter loudest rang—
Or when the flush of triumph came—
Or disappointment's pang!
When laughter loudest rang—
Or when the flush of triumph came—
Or disappointment's pang!
80
The idlest thing that flattery knew,
The most unmeaning jest,
From those sweet lips profanely drew
Names of the Holiest!
The most unmeaning jest,
From those sweet lips profanely drew
Names of the Holiest!
I thought—How sweet that voice would be,
Breathing this prayer to heaven—
“My God, I worship only thee;
O, be my sins forgiven!”
Breathing this prayer to heaven—
“My God, I worship only thee;
O, be my sins forgiven!”
| The American common-place book of poetry | |