 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
THE LITTLE ANGEL WITHOUT WINGS.
27th APRIL, 1880.
God sent an angel from the Land of Light,
Into a childless home;
He wanted it to be complete and bright,
And bade that Angel come.
Into a childless home;
He wanted it to be complete and bright,
And bade that Angel come.
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The Angel spoke a sweet but different voice
From that of common tone;
And yet its burden seemed to be, “Rejoice,
Ye are no more alone!”
From that of common tone;
And yet its burden seemed to be, “Rejoice,
Ye are no more alone!”
Her language was a faint and feeble cry,
That touched the mother's heart;
The fountain of her tears had long been dry,
But now it made them start.
That touched the mother's heart;
The fountain of her tears had long been dry,
But now it made them start.
And forth they flowed in fertilizing streams,
With seeds of promise rife;
They mingled gently with her dearest dreams,
Enriching all her life.
With seeds of promise rife;
They mingled gently with her dearest dreams,
Enriching all her life.
That pleading cry which drew the mother's tears,
And told her not to pine,
Seemed but an echo through the empty years,
Of the great Voice Divine.
And told her not to pine,
Seemed but an echo through the empty years,
Of the great Voice Divine.
It filled with music all the silent strings,
And made them softly chime;
It sounded on in sacred murmurings,
Unto the end of time.
And made them softly chime;
It sounded on in sacred murmurings,
Unto the end of time.
God sent an Angel from the Land of Love,
Into a world of care;
Faith brought that blessed Angel from above,
Upon the wings of prayer.
Into a world of care;
Faith brought that blessed Angel from above,
Upon the wings of prayer.
She had a message written on her face,
Proclaiming God is good;
And in each helpless act and tender grace,
Those words were understood.
Proclaiming God is good;
And in each helpless act and tender grace,
Those words were understood.
And in the father's fond and anxious heart,
Affection bubbled up;
It grew, as joy poured into every part,
An overflowing cup.
Affection bubbled up;
It grew, as joy poured into every part,
An overflowing cup.
And all the features of his life, it seemed
To beautify and raise;
Till back to Heaven the gift of gladness streamed,
In daily songs of praise.
To beautify and raise;
Till back to Heaven the gift of gladness streamed,
In daily songs of praise.
This angel was a sign of pardoned sin,
Which wiped out every spot;
That from forgiveness love might yet begin
A new and nobler lot.
Which wiped out every spot;
That from forgiveness love might yet begin
A new and nobler lot.
Nor was the angel's only utterance this,
That pardoned was the past;
But that He who had guided unto bliss,
Would guide unto the last.
That pardoned was the past;
But that He who had guided unto bliss,
Would guide unto the last.
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And linked together by this precious bond,
That knit their hearts to God,
The happy parents seemed upraised beyond
The narrow stage they trod.
That knit their hearts to God,
The happy parents seemed upraised beyond
The narrow stage they trod.
Love in a purer life went forth to Him
Who gave that kingly crown,
Who saw their little home was cold and dim
And sent the angel down.
Who gave that kingly crown,
Who saw their little home was cold and dim
And sent the angel down.
Once more the Holy Saviour seemed to live
In this dear firstborn child,
And by His Presence a fresh power to give
Which curbed their passions wild.
In this dear firstborn child,
And by His Presence a fresh power to give
Which curbed their passions wild.
Till even the darkest sky looked bright and clear,
With blessings scattered round,
And every spot of earth however drear
Appeared as sacred ground.
With blessings scattered round,
And every spot of earth however drear
Appeared as sacred ground.
All mortal things they once deemed poor and vile,
Seemed consecrated now,
By the pure radiance, that like God's own smile,
Streamed from that infant's brow.
Seemed consecrated now,
By the pure radiance, that like God's own smile,
Streamed from that infant's brow.
And lest the angel should grow sad and pine,
Or fly from earthly things,
The Heavenly Father in His care Divine,
Took off that angel's wings.
Or fly from earthly things,
The Heavenly Father in His care Divine,
Took off that angel's wings.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |