IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 1^ ^ 12.2 2.0 lU m u |40 11.25 11.4 III 1.8 1.6 w /a ^ J^ '• ^K^"^'^^ y /A . CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technical Notes / Notes techniques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Physical features of this copy which may alter any of the images in the reproduction are checked below. Coloured covers/ Couvertures de couieur Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couieur L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6tA possible de se procurer. Certains difauts susceptibies de nuire A la quality de la reproduction sont notAs ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couieur Coloured plates/ Planches en couieur T P o fi T c o ai T fi ir D Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages ddcolories, tachet^es ou piqu^es Tight binding (may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin)/ Reliure serrd (peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure) E D Show through/ Transparence Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies IV in b f< D Additional comments/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires Bibliographic Notes / Notes bibliographiques D D Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponibie Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'au^res documents D D Pagination incorrect/ Erreurs de pagination Pages missing/ Des pages manquent D Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque D Maps missing/ Des cartes gdographiques manquent D Plates missing/ Des plsfiches manquent D Additional comments/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires The images appearing hare are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contrect specifications. Las images suivantes ont AtA reproduites avec le plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition at de la nettetA de rexempieire filmA, et en conformity avec las conditions du contrat de filmage. The last recorded frame on eech microfiche shall contain the symbol — ► (meaning CONTINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la der- niire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". The original copy was borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of the following institution: National Library of Canada L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grflce d la g6n6rosit6 de I'itablissement prAteur suivant : Bibliothdque nationale du Canada Maps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper lAft hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour Atre reproduites en un seul cliche sont film^es A partir de I'angle supArieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 rV'^v 1 w^^^. f.)^^^^^~ ^ .K A CO.. MONTHCAL. Saci^ament Sunday BY J. M. HARPER. MONTREAL : WILLIAM DRYSDALE & CO., PUBLISHERS. J. & A. McMillan, st. john, n.b, HART & RIDDELL, TORONTO. Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-four, by William Dryhdale & Co., in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture. 1 My native land, a debt of song 1 pay— A debt of love that lieth on my soul, When memory draws the veil of by-gone day, And olden music greets the lifting scroll. A tribute to thy freedom's faith I bring ; The piety that scents thy glebe I sing; Thy purple hiJls whose silver nusts unroll The waving gold of dawn ; thy lowing plains And hawthorn banks and braes, where hamlet meekness reigns. Sacrament Sunday. In lowland vale, the dearest far to me, Where nature hums as in a mead of flowers, I hear the sweet-lipped chimes arouse the lea, And wake its slow response to Sabbath hours. Within, the drowsy echoes find retreat : Without, the murmurings of springtide meet, Where cloistered brook sings in its nearer bowers, Till seems it, as if nature would begin An anthem in my being, ushering Easter in. ~Ji. Of Sabbath morns, the precious of the year, Thy sweetness maketh meek the landscape's face, And from the dews of prayer distils a tear, To scent the heart, a chamber fit for grace. Where leads its course the soul oft wisteth not, When faith turns down the bridle-path of doubt. That winds about so oft a hapless maze ; Yet, ere thy paschal chimes have died away, Truth's highway broadens as it finds the sheen of day. On wing of dawn new light illumes the soul. And wrestles with the world creeping in. While conscience reads, alarmed, the memory-scroll Of motives sabled by the breath of sin. Alas ! how strength is weakness in the strife, We find within the narrowness of life ! How can the soul be shriven amid the din ? Not till it seeks its foster-strength in love. Not till it finds, through faith, a wisdom from above. 6 ft The sombre homestead, cowering in its nest, One day in seven, unheeds king rooster's call, But waits the clarion claims from spire addressed To break the gossamer bonds of dreamland's thrall. Yet, ere the dew hath lost its lingering drops, The smoke comes winding from the chimney tops, To signal me within the boundary wall, — Or others warn the homeward path to take, To greet the sounds of duty that are now awake. Such respite-rest to all the world owes, And stint of toil enhances Sunday fare ; As round the frugal board the family shows A cheerful meekness void of secular care. From worldly themes the converse turns away. Though thoughts are busy with approaching day — With friends and neighbours who will soon repair, A wistful throng, to celebrate the hour. When Christian power, from sleep of death, arose to power. And, thanks returned, the simple record's read How once the Son of Man atoned for man. More wondrous still, how rose He from the dead, That hopes immortal mortal love might fan. And from the family altar prayers ascend. That conscience, finding peace in faith, would end The day in peace, as only conscience can, — And that the elect would find communion sweet. Around the table where their privilege 'tis to meet. The poor have little need for sumptuous laws, To bridle pride or love for dress impair, Yet, ben the house, the young folk seek their braws. That seldom ken as yet a week-day wear. If there's distress that thrift hath never borne. How doubly poor's the thrift, on Sunday morn, That hath no second better garb to air In God's own house : and so both old and young Adorn themselves, as best they may, to join the throng. a The hour draws near, at last the bells ring out, And echo answers from the solemn streets, As pass the worshippers with mien devout. To hear the story that their heart repeats. To worship God ! nay more with Him to feast ! The emblems of His body's passion taste ! And with the chimes the hum of life retreats Across the glebe, beyond the grass-hid mounds, Where saintship marks its rest within the church's bounds. Within the sacred courts the snow-white lines, A space reserved, mark where the faithful meet ; Then cometh pause, when once the bell resigns Its claim to call. Each solemn wales a seat. The pastor and his friend from parish near. With measured pace, in central aisle appear As regents of the feast. The elders seek retreat Within the pulpit's shade ; till " Let us sing," In presence of the throne of God, the faithful bring. i ) The sermon o'er, appropriate for the day, The warrant read, a law for good and ill — What joy it is, a guest prepared, to stay ; What judgment 'tis, if unrepentant still. Then silence seeks anew to sift the heart : Its subtle rhythm, far beyond all art Of anthem-power, hath in it music's thrill : Is man the Holy Place, where finds he grace. Within its waking awe, his destiny to trace ? A blessing craved, as first the feast was blessed. The patriarch-elders pass the emblems round, — The bread, the token of the world's unrest. The wine, the token of redemption found. The frailties of the flesh each sad reviews, The covenant-pledges broken each renews. Still seeking good within, — a higher ground. What is't to find ? Can man e'er reach the goal ? Is it to do or be that purifies the soul ? 10 Faith courage takes, assurance conies of faith, And, prayer-becalmed, the pastor's friend draws near, To tell how love can conquer sin and death, And sanctify the soul through faith-girt fear. * Betray it not, nor yet thyself betray,* The preacher saith, * Avoid the world's way ; With guidance from the truth thy path is clear : Though narrow is its course, it leadeth straight. Where peace and happiness the pilgrim's end await.' The youthful of the flock have wondering seen The mystery of the feast. They know in part ; For who is wise to know what all may mean ? Who can attain true purity of heart ? 'Tis theirs to join in praise with pure-eyed mirth. Receive the blessing, and discern the worth Of righteous dealing ; theirs to learn the art From piety matured, — God's flock in sooth, Though timorous as yet, to watch the ways of truth I 11 I L And tlien at lengtk along the waking aisles, Solemnity apace, all wend their way, — The younger first, in haste for out-door wiles, The older soon to bid them mind the day. Friend greeteth friend in sober words and kind, A converse fitting for the day they find ; Wliile some, with miles to go, yet fain to stay, To hear at eve the helper's eloquence. Have instant pressing welcome to their neighbour's spence. . In time dispersed, home duties them await. The interval delayed, thrift urgeth haste ; Some seek the byres, some pass a-field the gate, To seek report of flocks or straying beast. The housewife and her handmaids have their cares, As each her portion of the meal prepares. The auld man, thinking less to-day of waste Than plenty for his waiting guests, moves round. To urge a sitting down as soon as things are found. 12 4PMr(NMlM«ta« Nor of the day do they for long forget, As round the table all have ta'en their place : The tribulations that the saints beset, The judgments fallen on men for lack of grace. The doctrines of the sectaries, false and true. The watchwords of the churches, old and new. Reforms of eld, both orthodox and base. The seniors sore discuss ; while still the young. In admiration of the lore, restrain their tongue. Yet even they to purpose converse hold, Bely ve outside the steading on the green. Of pastor-prophets, virtued pure as gold. Of prowess for the faith in battle seen. Of sect-craft, and the ties of church and state They hesitate to talk, but fond relate The tales of church-romance ; for well I ween The record of the martyrs they have known. Since e'er their pride awoke, to prize the land their own. 13 *l And then, from far and near, as sinks the sun. The country-side assembles, keen to hear The helpmate preacher. Service elsewhere done, The sympathies of sect may disappear. The venerated walls enclose a throng Who lift their voices in the sacred song, " All people that on earth." How stirring, clear The grand old chorus is when thus enchoired ! How from a thousand hearts the words ring out inspired ! Nor is there need to linger o'er the scene. No need to cell what words the preacher found To stir his heartrs' hearts. The tears between The joys aroused, to tell were empty sound. Compared to what was felt. And yet renewed. Such scenes reveal the mystery of the good In God and us : by them is ever crowned The fading glory of the human that's divine : Through them the good and true becometh thine and mine. 14 Yes, thine and mine, my friend ; and who shall dare With ruthless hand from us such memories steal ? Who from the past its fringe of sweetness tear, As narrowness its giddy joys reveal ? Our lives are God's, not ours, to make or mar ; Our loyality is His, in country near or far : Our homes are His, within His commonweal ; And lingering o'er the scenes of bygone time Makes, more and more, both here and there, our lives sublime.