Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

Rest not content in thy darkness- -a cloa. Work for some good be it ever so slowly; Cherish some flower be it ever so lowly; Labor- all labor is noble and holy;

Set thy great deeds by thy prayer to thy God."

One little jewel still remained, a gift from Mrs. Orne.

The Moonlight Hour.

"In the calm stillness of the night,
When care and tumult rest awhile,
When on the wave the moon shines bright,
How dear the light of friendship's smile.

Now memory's eye may scan those years,
When childhood's joys were bright as

pure,

Ere cold misfortune urged our tears,
Or pleasures false displayed their lure.

Fair vision of those days yet stay!

Why wouldst thou hence so soon depart?

Now while I watch the moon's pale ray,
Remain the solace of my heart.

Though sorrow oft may coldly gleam
Along my path-thence joy beguile,
Yet is it warmed by one soft beam,
Caught from the light of friendship's
smile."

Kate now arose and pursued her homeward way. The gentle moon lightened her path, and the glistening stars seemed to watch her like so many bright friendly eyes, looking down from the world of glory. She soon met Miss Mary Spencer, who had been rambling alone, and during her walk had arranged this string of pearls which she now presented to Kate:

The Eyes of Night.

"Night has eyes-sparkling eyes! Some soft, some bright;

The flashing fire ne'er dies,
From eyes of night.

Night has many woers

To watch her eyes,
To love her silent hours
And mellow skies.

Night has a witching spell
To bind the heart;
Its silent glances quell,
And awe impart.

A perfumed breath has night;

It wafts the sighs

Of flowers young and bright
Around the skies.

Night has a breathing tone,
Like distant swell

Of softest music, thrown

From fairy's knell.

[blocks in formation]

Spirits from a brighter, purer world seemed hovering in the air, and Kate listened intently to the sweet unknown voice which whispered in her ear the following words:

"It is a beautiful belief

That ever round our head,
Are hovering on noiseless wing,
The spirits of the dead.

It is a beautiful belief
When ended our career,
That it will be our ministry
To watch o'er others here.

To bid the mourner cease to mourn;
The trembling be forgiven;

To bear away from ills of clay,
The infant to its heaven.

Ah, when delight was found in life,

And joy in every breath,

I cannot tell how terrible
The mystery of death.

But now the past is bright to me,
And all the future clear,

For 't is my faith that after death
I still shall linger here."

Just in her path was lying a small scroll, which Kate picked up, and found it proper to add to her other treasures.

"We all might do good

Where we often do ill,
There is always the way,
If we have but the will;
Though it be but a word

Kindly breathed or supprest,
It may guard off some pain,
Or give peace to some breast.

We all might do good

In a thousand small ways

« ForrigeFortsæt »