 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
239
LEARNER AND TEACHER.
See her pen with motion slow
O'er the stainless paper go;
Word by word she forms with care,
Eyes and fingers centred there.
O'er the stainless paper go;
Word by word she forms with care,
Eyes and fingers centred there.
So each day on her young mind
New ideas grow defined,
Which from Nature's touch she learns,
Or by Heavenly grace discerns.
New ideas grow defined,
Which from Nature's touch she learns,
Or by Heavenly grace discerns.
While that other little maid
Lends her the experienced aid
Which an added year or two
Qualifies her, quite to do!
Lends her the experienced aid
Which an added year or two
Qualifies her, quite to do!
240
See her with superior air
Watch the pen, and cry, “Take care—
Make your l's a little longer,
Upstrokes finer, downstrokes stronger!”
Watch the pen, and cry, “Take care—
Make your l's a little longer,
Upstrokes finer, downstrokes stronger!”
She herself two years ago
Moved her pen with pace as slow;
But that time is far behind
To her fast-advancing mind.
Moved her pen with pace as slow;
But that time is far behind
To her fast-advancing mind.
We who hold the teachers' place,
Wise instructors of our race,
Oh, how few the years since we
Bowed beneath authority.
Wise instructors of our race,
Oh, how few the years since we
Bowed beneath authority.
Oh, how little yet we know
Of the wonders hid below,
And the mysteries of love
Shining in the heavens above.
Of the wonders hid below,
And the mysteries of love
Shining in the heavens above.
241
Here earth's alphabet we learn,
Soon to teach it in our turn;
But, Lord, we are children all,
And to Thee for wisdom call.
Soon to teach it in our turn;
But, Lord, we are children all,
And to Thee for wisdom call.
Master, take Thy pen and write
On our hearts with lines of light;
Once Thou wrotest on the ground,
And as low we would be found!
On our hearts with lines of light;
Once Thou wrotest on the ground,
And as low we would be found!
Learners, teachers—may we be
“Clothèd with humility;”
Sitting daily at Thy feet,
Till by grace for glory meet!
“Clothèd with humility;”
Sitting daily at Thy feet,
Till by grace for glory meet!
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