 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
166
THE STAR.
As in the light uncertain
Of a dim lamp I lay,
Betwixt the blind and curtain
A star shot in its ray.
Of a dim lamp I lay,
Betwixt the blind and curtain
A star shot in its ray.
Bright as a silver arrow,
All in a moment seen,
It filled the opening narrow
With a white, twinkling sheen.
All in a moment seen,
It filled the opening narrow
With a white, twinkling sheen.
A few quick gleams it darted
Into my shadowed room,
Then on its way departed,
And left me in the gloom.
Into my shadowed room,
Then on its way departed,
And left me in the gloom.
167
Too soon the star had drifted
Across that narrow line,
But yet in passing lifted
My soul as with a sign.
Across that narrow line,
But yet in passing lifted
My soul as with a sign.
A smile of God seemed sweetly
Upon my spirit shed
In blessing, and then fleetly
To other watchers sped.
Upon my spirit shed
In blessing, and then fleetly
To other watchers sped.
A touch of tenderest lustre
Caught from an angel's wing,
Revealed the seraph-cluster
Who guard us in a ring.
Caught from an angel's wing,
Revealed the seraph-cluster
Who guard us in a ring.
A gleam of Heaven's own brightness
Pierced through our clouded air
To hint the pearly whiteness
Of yonder City fair.
Pierced through our clouded air
To hint the pearly whiteness
Of yonder City fair.
168
A ray of dazzling beauty
Fell from the crown of life—
Guerdon of love and duty
And victory in the strife.
Fell from the crown of life—
Guerdon of love and duty
And victory in the strife.
Thus in the night-watch dreary
A momentary star
Flashed me a message cheery
From happy realms afar!
A momentary star
Flashed me a message cheery
From happy realms afar!
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