Nugae Modernae Morning thoughts, and midnight musings: consisting of casual reflections, egotisms, &c. In prose and verse. By Thomas Park |
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ANNE LAWSON
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120
ANNE LAWSON .
“My delight is upon the saints that are in the earth, and
upon such as excel in virtue.”
Psal. xvi. 3.
Hence, the lone walk I oft prefer
Is to a Widow, poor and blind;
And I do seem to value her
Before the most of womankind.
Is to a Widow, poor and blind;
And I do seem to value her
Before the most of womankind.
Should it surprise, when this I own,
My reason too may some surprise:
'Tis that I look on her as one
Whom Christ regards with favouring eyes.
My reason too may some surprise:
'Tis that I look on her as one
Whom Christ regards with favouring eyes.
As one, whom He will deign to raise
Near Mercy's seat and Glory's throne,
When, on the final day of days,
He comes to gather up his own.
Near Mercy's seat and Glory's throne,
When, on the final day of days,
He comes to gather up his own.
121
For she, 'mid sickness, age, and want,
Lifts to high heaven her sightless eye,—
Thankful, though daily food be scant,
And cheerful, 'midst her poverty:
Lifts to high heaven her sightless eye,—
Thankful, though daily food be scant,
And cheerful, 'midst her poverty:
Assur'd that she shall never need,
Though nothing she her own can call;
And so in faith with Paul agreed,
That having nothing, she hath all.
Though nothing she her own can call;
And so in faith with Paul agreed,
That having nothing, she hath all.
Oh, hear ye this, ye rich! ye great!
Not one, one murmuring thought appears,
Though but a crust she hath to eat,
And nought to moisten it but tears.
Not one, one murmuring thought appears,
Though but a crust she hath to eat,
And nought to moisten it but tears.
Low bending to her Saviour's will,
Her sight she ceases to deplore;
Nay, scarcely deems her loss an ill,
Scarce sighs that she can see no more.
Her sight she ceases to deplore;
Nay, scarcely deems her loss an ill,
Scarce sighs that she can see no more.
122
For now no more her eye is pain'd
By deeds of dark or cruel kind;
But an interior sight is gain'd,
Sight to the spirit and the mind:
By deeds of dark or cruel kind;
But an interior sight is gain'd,
Sight to the spirit and the mind:
Sight of that world, where tears and sighs
And pain and death shall all be o'er;
Where He the lowly heart will prize
Who was himself both meek and poor.
And pain and death shall all be o'er;
Where He the lowly heart will prize
Who was himself both meek and poor.
Hers is the true disciple's plan—
In Christ she lives, Christ lives in her;
And hence I honour poor blind Anne
More than I could an emperor.
In Christ she lives, Christ lives in her;
And hence I honour poor blind Anne
More than I could an emperor.
Hers is that soul of second-birth,
Which lives upon a Saviour's love,
And leads me to her oft on earth,
As one I hope to meet above.
Which lives upon a Saviour's love,
And leads me to her oft on earth,
As one I hope to meet above.
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