 | Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell |  |
228
A PASTOR'S PORTRAIT.
A man he was who, from his earliest youth,
Had sought and found the hidden heart of truth
Whose law found just expression in his mouth.
Had sought and found the hidden heart of truth
Whose law found just expression in his mouth.
His was a noble mind, pure, docile, calm,
His lips for wounded souls kept healing balm,
Prayers for the sad, for happy ones a psalm.
His lips for wounded souls kept healing balm,
Prayers for the sad, for happy ones a psalm.
His gaze was on the unattained, the far,
Which shone before him like the polar star,
For things unseen he scorn'd the things which are.
Which shone before him like the polar star,
For things unseen he scorn'd the things which are.
His face caught beauty from the soul within,
His ear was deaf to earthly strife and din
His mind to that of angels was akin.
His ear was deaf to earthly strife and din
His mind to that of angels was akin.
He ever linked high thoughts to loving words,
Which stirred to music all the spirit's chords,
As stir the leaves the songs of forest birds.
Which stirred to music all the spirit's chords,
As stir the leaves the songs of forest birds.
229
The beautiful had in his heart a share—
The flowers, the birds, all things of earth and air;
He looked abroad, and found God's creatures fair.
The flowers, the birds, all things of earth and air;
He looked abroad, and found God's creatures fair.
Life was to him no idle, empty dream,
No withered leaf caught by the whirling stream,
And borne where'er the current might beseem.
No withered leaf caught by the whirling stream,
And borne where'er the current might beseem.
He filled each passing hour with earnest deeds,
In action lived what he professed in creeds,
And of high aspirations sowed the seeds.
In action lived what he professed in creeds,
And of high aspirations sowed the seeds.
His voice was raised for suff'ring souls and poor,
And he could pity where he could not cure;
When wronged himself, he knew how to endure.
And he could pity where he could not cure;
When wronged himself, he knew how to endure.
His heart was as a sacred altar-fire,
On which burned faith, and hope, and pure desire,
But which of meaner passions was the pyre.
On which burned faith, and hope, and pure desire,
But which of meaner passions was the pyre.
Although no halo gleamed around his head,
Yet o'er his life a saintliness was shed,
All saw to worldly pleasure he was dead.
Yet o'er his life a saintliness was shed,
All saw to worldly pleasure he was dead.
So, as the narrow path he daily trod,
And walked the world unspotted with his God,
With sweetest praise and prayer he cheered the road.
And walked the world unspotted with his God,
With sweetest praise and prayer he cheered the road.
230
All that he lost for Christ he counted gain,
And, living not for earth, lived not in vain,
But sowed for future harvests the rich grain.
And, living not for earth, lived not in vain,
But sowed for future harvests the rich grain.
Wise as the serpent, harmless as the dove,
He dwelt on earth, but lived in heaven above,
Childlike and simple, full of faith and love.
He dwelt on earth, but lived in heaven above,
Childlike and simple, full of faith and love.
| Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell | |