Poems

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee. " — Isa.

Oh gentle presence, peace and joy and power;      Oh Life divine, that owns each waiting hour, Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight!       Keep Thou my child on upward wing to-night. Love is our refuge, only with mine eye      Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall; His habitation high is here, and nigh,      His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.

Do not grovel in the dust, Do not let your talent rust, Work and pray and love and trust, You will win. Rise above the care and strife Of a vain and selfish life Where the air with peace is rife: Free from sin.

Matt. 1, 18; Eph.

NOW flees the night across the hills, For ravening spite and fateful wills Have wrought Love's saving wonder. Lo; The sepulchres supernal glow; for He Is risen.

SO stood of old the holy Christ Amidst the suffering throng; With whom his lightest touch sufficed To make the weakest strong. That healing gift he lends to them Who use it in his name; The power that filled his garment's hem Is evermore the same.

UP, Pilgrim, Up! Earth's false fires fail To light thy onward way, Thy task? To cross yon shadowed vale, Ere dawns eternal Day. Fear not to tread the tangled wild, Fear not the ambushed foe, The Father's angels guard the child, And Faith and strength bestow.

"He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall lie do also; and greater works than these shall he do because I go to my Father. " Jesus.

Long years ago o'er Bethlehem There shone a star, Guiding by Love the three wise men From lands afar; Where in a lowly manger lay The Christ-child sweet. Wisdom and learning, reverent, knelt, Low at his feet.

With faith unshadowed by the night, Undazzled by the day, With hope that plumed thee for the flight, And courage to assay, God sent thee from the crowded ark, Christ-bearer, like the dove, To find, o'er sundering waters dark, New lands for conquering love. — John B.