 | The Western home |  |
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THE SPIRIT OF BEAUTY.
Spirit of beauty,—who dost love to dwell
In the pure chalice of yon new-born flower,
That unrepining shares my wintry cell,
And from my hand receives the mimic shower;
In the pure chalice of yon new-born flower,
That unrepining shares my wintry cell,
And from my hand receives the mimic shower;
Spirit,—who hoverest o'er the babe's repose,
Where guardian angels bend with viewless kiss,
Counting the innocence no guile that knows
A faint reflection of their higher bliss;
Where guardian angels bend with viewless kiss,
Counting the innocence no guile that knows
A faint reflection of their higher bliss;
Spirit,—who on the humblest lip doth rest,
That uttereth words of kindness,—and art seen
In the calm sunshine of the lowly breast,
Garnering its treasure in a clime serene;
That uttereth words of kindness,—and art seen
In the calm sunshine of the lowly breast,
Garnering its treasure in a clime serene;
Spirit,—who, mid the smile of holy age,
Closing its course in hope, dost make abode,
Though Time hath ploughed the brow with tyrant rage,
And scattered snows where sunny tresses flowed;
Closing its course in hope, dost make abode,
Though Time hath ploughed the brow with tyrant rage,
And scattered snows where sunny tresses flowed;
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Sweet Spirit, trembling through the loneliest star
That the storm-driven mariner descries,
And from the rush-light, when its beam afar
Eye of his cot—the way-worn peasant spies:
That the storm-driven mariner descries,
And from the rush-light, when its beam afar
Eye of his cot—the way-worn peasant spies:
Blest Spirit, touch our hearts, and as the child,
Who toward his parents' home doth singing hie,
Espies some wanderer, shivering on the wild,
And leads him onward with a pitying eye,
Who toward his parents' home doth singing hie,
Espies some wanderer, shivering on the wild,
And leads him onward with a pitying eye,
So, point us to our Father!—He who bade
Thee in this wilderness his way prepare,
And by thy pure, refining influence aid
Upward to Him,—First perfect and First fair.
Thee in this wilderness his way prepare,
And by thy pure, refining influence aid
Upward to Him,—First perfect and First fair.
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