 | Thoughts in Verse |  |
108
THE EARTHQUAKE.
The day was done, the evening dawned
Bright, calm and beautiful!
But ere the rising morrow's sun,
Full many a life its race had run;
The earthquake's shock its work had done—
Destruction terrible!
Bright, calm and beautiful!
But ere the rising morrow's sun,
Full many a life its race had run;
The earthquake's shock its work had done—
Destruction terrible!
The people filled with fear and awe,
Before Jehovah bow.
Low in the dust the Sovereign saw
Ten thousand who had scorned his law,
Pleading deliverance from Death's jaw—
They cry for mercy now.
Before Jehovah bow.
Low in the dust the Sovereign saw
Ten thousand who had scorned his law,
Pleading deliverance from Death's jaw—
They cry for mercy now.
Another shock! the people wail
And rush forth helplessly.
But hardened wretches do not fail
To curse and ridicule, and rail,
And e'en Jehovah's power assail,
And laugh derisively.
And rush forth helplessly.
But hardened wretches do not fail
To curse and ridicule, and rail,
And e'en Jehovah's power assail,
And laugh derisively.
It was a night with terror rife;
A night of dread suspense:
In every breast a raging strife,
A conscience keener than a knife,—
Were this the terminus of life
Have we a sure defence?
A night of dread suspense:
In every breast a raging strife,
A conscience keener than a knife,—
Were this the terminus of life
Have we a sure defence?
And many made the wisest choice,
And anchored fast their soul
To Him who saves the tempest tost,
Whose mission is to seek the lost,
Who freely bore the bitter cross,
That men might be made whole.
And anchored fast their soul
109
Whose mission is to seek the lost,
Who freely bore the bitter cross,
That men might be made whole.
Then sages, as in days of yore,
Were summoned forth in haste:
The cause is sought by men of lore,
Why this calamity most sore
Should visit Charleston any more
Than any other place?
Were summoned forth in haste:
The cause is sought by men of lore,
Why this calamity most sore
Should visit Charleston any more
Than any other place?
To natural causes all agree,
They trace this matter broad.
Well, natural causes there may be,
But back of all we plainly see
A power that is and e'er shall be!
It is the power of God!
They trace this matter broad.
Well, natural causes there may be,
But back of all we plainly see
A power that is and e'er shall be!
It is the power of God!
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