The Mountain Spring And Other Poems | Page 4

perform.

THE TRAVELERS
Away from the city, away from the crowd,
Two comrades in sorrow
traversed hill and dale;
The gloom of their hearts did their faces
enshroud,
And clouds of distress only seemed to prevail.
Alone, as they thought; but a stranger unknown
Inquired thus kindly
the cause of their woe:
"Of what are ye talking? Why are ye cast
down,
So burdened with care, as thus onward ye go?"
Cleopas thus answered, "A stranger art thou
In Jerusalem, not
knowing the things happening there?"
"What things?" asked the
stranger, desiring now
Their lips should disclose what had caused
their despair.
"Of Jesus of Nazareth, one mighty in deed,
A wonderful prophet; him
have they slain.
To Israel's redemption we hoped he would lead,

But why should we hope if hope is in vain?
"Some women who went to the sepulcher say
That angels assured
them he's living this hour,
But they did not see him, and try as we
may,
It seems a false rumor of glory and power."
The stranger rebuked them ere he would teach
What the prophets
portray of Christ's sufferings here.
Their souls were enlivened, but
soon they would reach
The village they sought, which too quickly
drew near.
The stranger seemed passing, but now they entreat,
"Abide with us
here; the day is far spent";
They could not forego yet such fellowship
sweet,
And he entered in with them whither they went.
When supper was ready, they sat up to partake--
They and the
stranger, in whom they delight.
He blessed, as his custom, the bread
ere he brake;
They knew it was Jesus! And he vanished from sight.

"Did not our hearts burn within us," now they exclaimed, "As he taught
of himself what the prophets record?
We've seen him, we've heard
him, and he is the same:
He is Israel's Messiah, our Savior and Lord!"
We are travelers here on the highway of time,
But he will go with us
if we seek him aright.
His strength will support us as upward we
climb;
Through his blood we inherit immortality's light.
DAYBREAK
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away.--Song of Solomon 4:6.
Gleaming softly, silvery-faint,
Heralded by chanticleer,
Merging
from night's shadowy taint,
New day of the passing year!
Born to bless or born to blight,
Born for you and born for me,

Leaving, ere it take its flight,
Impress on eternity!
'Tis a gift from God's own hand.
On its pure unsullied page
Let us
write at his command
What will bless our pilgrimage.
True repentance giveth joy
To the angels in the sky.
What could be
more blest employ
Than to cheer the choirs on high?
Deeds of patience, deeds of love,
Banishing all hate and guile--

These will steer toward heaven above,
These will make the angels
smile.
May this child of time unite
Earth and heaven in blest accord,

Heathen nations see the light
From the cross of Christ our Lord.
Coming is the glad daybreak,
The prophetic jubilee;
Sin will then
all hearts forsake,
Then will all the shadows flee.
GONE

Upon time's surging, billowy sea
A ship now slowly disappears,

With freight no human eye can see,
But weighing just one hundred
years.
Their sighs, their tears, their weary moans,
Their joy and pleasure,
pomp and pride,
Their angry and their gentle tones,
Beneath its
waves forever hide.
Yes, sunk within oblivion's waves,
They'll partly live in memory;

To youth, who will their secrets crave,
Mostly exist in history.
Ah, what a truth steps in this strain--
They are not lost within time's
sea;
Their words and actions live again,
And blight or light eternity!
A new ship comes within our view,
Laden with dreams both sad and
blest;
To youth they're tinged with roseate hue;
To weary ones
bring longed-for rest.
And still the stream of life flows on,
Laughing beneath the century
new.
God's promise gilds the horizon;
Mercy shall reign; his word
is true.
AWAKE!
All my ways are before thee.--Psalm 119:168.
Awake, O soul, awake!
Enter thy cell of thought,
And there in
calmness meditate
On what God's word has taught.
There's nought within thy scope,
No influence thou hast sown,
No
gloomy doubt, no joyful hope,
But unto him are known.
Awake! but grovel not
In ashes of despair,
Christ's precious blood
can cleanse each spot;
Cast on him every care.
Before him are thy ways,
But in his mercy free
He further yet his

love displays,
And intercedes for thee.
Awake to holy fear
And praise thy God on high;
Be it thy joy to
praise him here
And praise him in the sky.
"ABIDE WITH US"
"Abide with us!" Where could we go?
Thou art our strength, thou art
our tower,
Our refuge from the ills below,
In darkness light, in
weakness power.
"Abide with us!" We would prevail,
And plead that thou be ever near

To banish doubts when they assail,
And give deliverance from fear.
"Abide with us" in words of love,
For thou dost say, "Come unto
me."
Oh, guide us to thy home above
To dwell in joy and peace
with thee!
O BETHLEHEM!
"For he is our peace."
O Bethlehem, where Christ was born
And angels watched him where
he lay,
When cradled on that holy morn
That ushered in earth's
promised day!
O Bethlehem, it was thy star
Which guided