University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The adopted daughter

and other tales
  
  
  
  

expand section1. 
expand section2. 
 3. 
expand section4. 
 5. 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
expand section13. 
 14. 
 15. 
 16. 
 17. 
 18. 
 19. 
 20. 
 21. 
 22. 
 23. 
 24. 
 25. 
 26. 
 27. 
 28. 
 29. 
 30. 
 31. 
 32. 
 33. 
 34. 
 35. 
 36. 
 37. 
 38. 
 39. 
 40. 
 41. 
 42. 
 43. 
 44. 
 45. 
 46. 
 47. 
 48. 
 49. 
 50. 
 51. 
 52. 
 53. 
 54. 
EARTH'S HEAVENLY VISITOR.
 55. 
 56. 
 57. 

EARTH'S HEAVENLY VISITOR.

BY MARY MIDDLETON.

An angel now is speeding
This wide world o'er and o'er,
As it hears the voice of wailing
Like ocean's ceaseless roar—
It comes from low roofed hovels,
It comes from palace halls,
An endless-endless chorus
Upon the heart it falls!
What tears of woe and sorrow,
And anguish hath it seen—
What broken hearts still bleeding,
And graves still fresh and green—
The fairest home is desolate,
The brightest hopes have fled,
And many loved most fondly
Have gone down to the dead!
Millions of bones are bleaching
Within the drunkard's tomb
Wild flowers have wreathed them over,
Yet oh, how deep their gloom—

359

Page 359
Murder—and crime—and poverty—
Linked here—man's direst foes
Have gathered all their weapons
From this forge of endless woes!
Oh blessed—blessed angel—
We welcome thee to earth—
And hope for it, a happier day,
A new and brighter birth—
When sealed up every Fountain
That flows with liquid sin,
How glad a day from that blest time
Would here on earth begin!