 | A gift book of stories and poems for children |  |
93
THE DUMB LUNATIC.
Mark ix. 17.
From amid the crowd what unhallowed tone—
What voice in misery cried?
It seemed like nature's lamenting moan,
For reason's blessings denied.
What voice in misery cried?
It seemed like nature's lamenting moan,
For reason's blessings denied.
Oh, behold that face with its pallid hue,
Like snow-flakes at twilight's chime;
And that eye so burning, yet rayless too,
Like the moon in her waning time.
Like snow-flakes at twilight's chime;
And that eye so burning, yet rayless too,
Like the moon in her waning time.
And the youthful form that with early pain,
Has withered in boyhood's glow:
And the tongue with motion so quick and vain,
And the restless look of wo.
Has withered in boyhood's glow:
And the tongue with motion so quick and vain,
And the restless look of wo.
94
In anguish beside him his father stands
In a statelier mood of grief;
He is grasping closely those thin white hands,
And eagerly asks relief.
In a statelier mood of grief;
He is grasping closely those thin white hands,
And eagerly asks relief.
The Disciples of Jesus cannot bless;
He turns in anguish away,
And a smile of dark, unbelieving distress
Seems o'er his closed lips to stray.
He turns in anguish away,
And a smile of dark, unbelieving distress
Seems o'er his closed lips to stray.
But, behold! the Saviour of men appears!
A thrill to his chilled heart flies;
His faith contends with decaying fears,
And the warm drops fill his eyes.
A thrill to his chilled heart flies;
His faith contends with decaying fears,
And the warm drops fill his eyes.
A few soothing words to a father's wo,
Are breathed by that voice of power;
Sweet as the flush of a fountain's flow,
In the blaze of a noontide hour.
Are breathed by that voice of power;
Sweet as the flush of a fountain's flow,
In the blaze of a noontide hour.
A higher address of command is heard!
Oh, what has that accent done?
It has banished “the sickness of hope deferred,”
Has restored the maniac son.
Oh, what has that accent done?
It has banished “the sickness of hope deferred,”
Has restored the maniac son.
| A gift book of stories and poems for children | |