MfcS iF CONSECR>VTiON
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 '¥^ 
 
 ^M
 
 J 
 
 CHIMES OF CONSECRATION 
 
 AND THEIR ECHOES
 
 CHIMES OF CONSECRATION 
 
 AND THEIR ECHOES 
 
 BY THE 
 AUTHOR OF "I MUST KEEP THE CHIMES GOING,' 
 "COPSLEY ANNALS," "ALL THE DAY LONG," 
 ETC. ETC. 
 
 " There are in this loud stunning tide 
 Of human care and crime, 
 With whom the melodies abide 
 
 Of th' everlasting chime ; 
 Who carry music in their heart 
 Through dusky lane and wrangling mart, 
 Plying their daily task with busier feet, 
 Because their secret souls a holy strain repeat." 
 
 SEELEY, JACKSON, AND HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET 
 LONDON. MDCCCLXXV.
 
 
 PKEFACE. 
 
 Though now for the first time, together with hitherto 
 unpublished poems, collected into a separate volume, 
 several of the following have already appeared among 
 other surroundings and at different periods. This 
 must be accepted as an excuse should occasional re- 
 petitions of thought and expression seem to demand 
 an apology. 
 
 If on some ears, freshly attuned to the glad har- 
 monies of a life fully consecrated, " Chimes among 
 the Shadows " should, even as those of childhood, 
 fall as memorial music only, they may not as such be 
 without their sacredness of association. 
 
 And in their hearts for whom, because of Light and 
 Love behind the cloud, the consecrated path is shaded 
 by bereavement, loneliness, suffering, may " the ever- 
 lasting chime" make heavenly melody, until, in its 
 fullest sense, the Day dawn, and the shadows flee 
 away. 
 
 Odohcr, 1874. 
 
 8GG767
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHIMES OF CONSECRATION. 
 
 "The Consecration op his God is upon his Head" 
 
 White Robes 
 
 Stillness . 
 
 In Waiting ...... 
 
 ■ He shall hide them Secretly . 
 "Arise ; shine; for th? light is come !" 
 "Trust in Him at all Times" . 
 Longings ....... 
 
 "There will I Meet with Thee" 
 
 " Praying without at the Time of Incense " 
 
 "That the King op Glory may come in". 
 
 "Casting all your care upon Him". 
 
 "Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest 
 
 to approach unto Thee 
 A Little While 
 " If He had bid thee 
 
 Easter 
 
 Watch and Ward 
 
 One Thing Desired 
 
 do some Great Thing " 
 
 PAGE 
 
 3 
 5 
 7 
 10 
 12 
 14 
 16 
 18 
 20 
 22 
 24 
 26 
 
 27 
 28 
 30 
 32 
 33 
 34
 
 Contents. 
 
 VI 1 
 
 "Order Thou !" 
 Covered 
 
 PACK 
 
 35 
 36 
 
 II. 
 
 CHIMES AMONG THE SHADOWS 
 
 The Churchyard in a Garden . 
 Clinging ..... 
 
 "Reckonings" .... 
 
 "Via Crucis, Via Lucis ! " 
 
 "For Thy Name's sake, lead me and guide me 
 
 The Faithless Ones ..... 
 
 The Mourners ...... 
 
 " The Lord watch between me and thee !" 
 If we suffer with Him .... 
 
 "Have I been a Wilderness unto Israel?" 
 
 "Sorrow not even as others which have no Hope' 
 
 The "Fear not" of Christmas-tide 
 
 Communion op the Sick 
 
 "He Liveth who was Dead" . 
 
 "Let us keep the Feast" 
 
 A Christmas Message 
 
 Weakness ..... 
 
 By the Fire .... 
 
 The Old Year and the New 
 
 "The Watchman said, 'The Morning cometh'" 
 
 39 
 41 
 4.5 
 46 
 48 
 50 
 53 
 55 
 56 
 57 
 60 
 62 
 63 
 64 
 66 
 63 
 73 
 75 
 78 
 80 
 
 HI. 
 
 CHIMES FROM HEATHER-BELLS; AND OTHERS. 
 
 The First Sacrament of the Reformation . . . . 
 The Cairn 
 
 85 
 92
 
 VUl 
 
 Contents. 
 
 The Cauldron Linn 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 97 
 
 Hidden Ones 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 Farewell to the Ochills . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 102 
 
 First Snowdrops 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 103 
 
 Never Dim .... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 105 
 
 How Great "Works are Done . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 108 
 
 Gathered by the Way 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 111 
 
 Two ^YEEPING Conquerors . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 113 
 
 September .... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 114 
 
 The Yule-log 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 115 
 
 By and By . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 117 
 
 Until Evening . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 119 
 
 " At the Last " 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 121 
 
 New Year's Eve . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 122 
 
 IV. 
 CHIMES OF CHILD-LAND. 
 
 The Child Jesus 
 
 " Lord, what wilt Thou have Me to Do?" 
 
 New Year's Morning . 
 
 "You may Pick the Daisies" 
 
 The Bell-bird , 
 
 Daisy Chains 
 
 The Easter Gospel 
 
 Harvest Hymn . 
 
 The Viktage Gatherers 
 
 Our Burn .... 
 
 In the Swing 
 
 November .... 
 
 Christmas .... 
 
 Waiting for the Answer . 
 
 125 
 127 
 131 
 135 
 138 
 140 
 142 
 146 
 148 
 150 
 153 
 157 
 159 
 161
 
 CHIMES OF CONSECRATION 
 
 ■ " And, therefore, be like tbe fresh river that keepeth its own 
 fresh taste in the salt sea. This world is not worthy of your soul. 
 Give it not a good-day when it cometh into competition with it. Be 
 like one of another ^country. Home, and stay not ! For the sun is 
 fallen low and nigh the tops of the mountains, and the shadows are 
 stretched out at great length. Linger not by the way, and the Lord 
 Jesus be with you." — Rutherford.
 
 CHIMES OF CONSECRATION 
 
 4 ( 
 
 c Consccrcrtioit nf uis 6oLr Is upon bis 
 
 FULL CoNSECRATiox ! — eye Imtli not beholden, 
 Ear hath not heard, nor heart of man conceiv'd 
 All the deep gladness in those words enfolden, 
 Their blessing who, not seeing, have believ'd. 
 
 Full Consecration ! — heart and spirit yielded 
 
 In the calm rest of resurrection life ; 
 Within the secret of God's presence shielded 
 
 From care in service, and from harm of strife. 
 
 Full Consecration ! — confident surrender 
 Of starting wish, of plan unowned by Him ; 
 
 Conscious encirclement by love too tender 
 With needless cloud the pilgrim path to dim. 
 
 n 2
 
 4 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 Full Consecration ! — every day revealing 
 Fresli visions of tlie land to be explor'd ; 
 
 Once hidden melodies upon us stealing, 
 Clear whispers of the secret of the Lord. 
 
 Full Consecration ! — whither, Lord, Thou goest, 
 We too would follow, listening for Thy call ; 
 
 The true, glad watchword of our hearts Thou knowest,- 
 '■'' AU, all for Christ, and Christ our All in all!'''' 
 
 Full Consecration ! — our own life's brief story 
 l^o wasted essence, no unwoven thread ; 
 
 But, with the Church's commonwealth of glory, 
 Link'd to the glory of her risen Head. 
 
 Full Consecration ! — is the first love over — 
 A tender mem'ry of a yearned- for past ? 
 
 Iso ; rather day by day our hearts discover 
 Depths deep'ning into perfect love at last. 
 
 Full Consecration ! — binding to the altar 
 A free heart's sacrifice of life and will ; 
 
 For pain, for chast'ning shall our spirits falter ? 
 Take Thou Thy way, our God, and keep us still ! 
 
 Full Consecration ! — let us go forth bravely — 
 His cross-bearers, who lived for us, and died ; 
 
 Taking grief calmly, making conquest gravely, 
 With the sweet quiet of the satisfied. 
 
 Thine, Lord, for ever ! keep us, we implore Thee, 
 Yielded to Thee as risen from the dead ; 
 
 Each in his priestly white to walk before Thee, 
 Thy consecration ever on his head !
 
 "Let tliy garments be always white." 
 " They shall walk with Me in white." 
 
 THEY walk with Him iu white ; 
 -L Knowing as they were known 
 Ere faith was lost iu sia'ht. 
 
 And life's sharp cross laid down. 
 Ye conquered in the fight, 
 
 Oh loved ones gone before ; 
 And now ye walk in white 
 
 With Him for evermore. 
 
 Tf^e walk Avith Him in white : — 
 
 Purer than linen fair, 
 In God the Father's sight, 
 
 The righteousness we wear : 
 Fairer than driven snow. 
 
 Since washed in cleansine: flood. 
 Their robes who here below 
 
 Now walk in white with God. 
 
 Here, on a sin-stained earth, 
 
 Now in a far-off land, 
 The sons of heavenly birth 
 
 As white-rob'd priests should stand ; 
 Keeping their garments pure, 
 
 Shining with light serene ; 
 Their watchword, " We endure 
 
 As seeing the Unseen !"
 
 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 Oh pilgrim of the King, 
 
 To the trials of thy way, 
 The hush'd remembrance bring, 
 
 " I walk in white to-day." 
 And in gladness and in toil, 
 
 Uplift thy heart to Him, 
 Lest stain of earthly soil, 
 
 That blood-bought radiance dim. 
 
 And in times of sacred calm. 
 
 In hours of weary strife. 
 Chanting the pilgrim psalm 
 
 Of our new and ransomed life. 
 Still onward let us go 
 
 As children of the light, 
 That all around may know 
 
 "We walk with Him in white.
 
 stillness. 
 
 (Ps. xxxvii. 7.) 
 
 Literally, in the Hebrew, " Be silent to God, and let Him mould 
 thee." — Luther. 
 
 THY lesson art tLou learning, 
 Oil tried and weary soul ? 
 His ways art ttou discerning 
 
 Wlio works to make thee whole ? 
 In the haven of submission 
 
 Art thon satisfied and still ? 
 Art thou clinging to the Father 
 
 'Neath the shadow of His will ? 
 Oh, while His arms enfold thee, 
 
 Think well " He loveth best ! " 
 Be still, and He shall mould thee 
 
 For His heritage of rest. 
 
 The vessel must be shapen 
 
 For the joys of Paradise ; 
 The soul must have her training 
 
 For the service of the skies ; 
 And if the great Refiner, 
 
 In furnaces of pain, 
 Would do His work more truly 
 
 Count all His dealings gain.
 
 8 CJdincs of Consecration. 
 
 For He Himself hatli told thee 
 Of tribulation here ; 
 
 Be still, and let Him mould thee 
 For the changeless glory tliere. 
 
 From vintages of sorrow 
 
 Are deepest joys distill'd ; 
 And the cup outstretch'd for healing 
 
 Is oft at Marah fill'd ; 
 God leads to joy thro' weeping, 
 
 To quietness tlii-o' strife, 
 Thro' yielding unto conquest, 
 
 Thro' death to endless life : 
 Be still ; He hath enroll'd thee 
 
 For the kingdom and the crown ; — 
 Be silent ; let Him mould thee 
 
 Who calleth. Thee His own. 
 
 Such silence is communion. 
 
 Such stillness is a shrine ; 
 The " fellowship of suff"ring " 
 
 An ordinance divine : 
 And the secrets of " abiding " 
 
 Most fully are declar'd 
 To those who in Gethsemane 
 
 The Master's watch have shar'd. 
 Then trust Him to uphold thee 
 
 'Mid the shadows and the gloom ; 
 Be still, and He shall mould thee 
 
 For His presence and for Home.
 
 Siillncss. 
 
 For resurrection stillness 
 
 Tliere is resurrection pow'r, 
 And the prayer and praise of trusting 
 
 May glorify each hour ; 
 And common days are holv 
 
 And years an Easter-tide 
 For those who with the Risen One 
 
 In risen life abide. 
 Then let His true love fold thee, 
 
 Keep silence at His word ; 
 Be still, and He shall mould thee, 
 
 Oh, rest thee in the Lord !
 
 10 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 |it Mlitituicf. 
 
 I MUST watch betimes at His gate, ere the hush of 
 the dawn be broken ; 
 Ere the hnrry of life begin, and the calm of the 
 mom depart : 
 Some word for me alone in the quietness may be 
 spoken 
 Which all thro' the live-long day I shall carry deep 
 in my heart. 
 
 I know not what joy or care in its history may befal 
 me ; 
 I look in Thy face, my Lord, with eye and with heart 
 
 attent : 
 "Whether to still communion Thy voice of love shall 
 call me. 
 Or whether to earnest toil : — I know not ; yet wait 
 content. 
 
 Some, with fall heart of love, in waiting upon the 
 Master, 
 Will go to prepai-e His way in the throng of the busy 
 street ; 
 And a few Avill bring, even now, the casket of ala- 
 baster, , 
 Making His weary glad with the fragrance tender and 
 sweet :
 
 In Waiting. 1 1 
 
 'i> 
 
 And to me a seed may be given for hidden and jjraycr- 
 
 ful sowing ; 
 
 Some lowly office of love discerned by His eye 
 alone ; 
 It may be only a word, while many are coming and 
 
 going. 
 
 Which He will teach me to say who am whisp'ring, 
 "Thy will be done!" 
 
 So while those to their liigh employ go forth in rejoiced 
 procession, 
 Brigbt from the " With you alway " of the Master 
 at the gate, 
 Quiet and strangely glad, with the peace of a iclt 
 possession, 
 I am willing to go or stay : — He knows that I stand 
 and wait.
 
 12 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 Mc sirall bibc tbcnt Secrctlir. 
 
 fov o vJ '-' -^ 
 
 THERE is a Royal Pavilion 
 For the sons of God out- spread ; 
 A canopy of covering 
 
 For bowed and weary head ; 
 The everlasting Father 
 
 Unchangeable abides ; 
 In the secret of His presence 
 His chosen ones He hides. 
 
 Oh, there are calm recesses 
 
 In that sanctuary fair ; 
 And depths of hushed communion, 
 
 And quietudes of prayer : 
 There are times of sacred stillness, 
 
 Soft shadows of repose, 
 Tranquillities in sorrow 
 
 Which the Christ-taught mourner knows. 
 
 There are strains of hidden music. 
 
 Soft echoed songs of heaven ; 
 "Whispers of holy promise 
 
 To the beloved given : 
 A quiet, still possession 
 
 Of such unchanging joeace 
 That hushed are outer voices. 
 
 And doubt and waverings cease.
 
 He shall liidc tJtcni Secretly. 1 3 
 
 Oil, to be ever dwelling 
 
 Within tliat calm serene ! 
 Oh, to be ever resting 
 
 In the shade of the Unseen ! 
 Beneath that fair Pavilion 
 
 Wherein Thy chosen hide 
 Through stormy day, in toilsome way, 
 
 Dear Lord, let me abide !
 
 14 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 " %n^t ; sljinc ; for tljir ligbt is C0mc ! " 
 
 ARISE ! shine ! for tliy light is come, 
 And the glory on thee is risen ; 
 Arise, shine on a world of gloom, 
 
 Oh soiil, which hast burst thy prison ! 
 The fflad new song; thou must rise and sing 
 
 With the voice of a life's thanksgiving ; 
 Thou art called to walk before the King, 
 In the land of the happy living. 
 
 N'ot with uncertain light and dim, 
 
 With pale and faint reflection, 
 Shine forth, oh ransomed one, for Him, 
 
 Thy Life and Eesurrection ; 
 E'en where of Christ, thy Lord most dear. 
 
 There is no remembrance spoken, 
 Light on thy brow serene and clear 
 
 His presence shall betoken. 
 
 Shine, that the world without may know 
 
 Of springs in secret welling. 
 Of a changeless peace for all below 
 
 In His secret Presence dwelling : 
 Thy life is hid with Christ in God, 
 
 Henceforth, in Him abiding. 
 Thy light must shine upon the road, 
 
 Homeward and heavenward guiding.
 
 "Arise; shine ; for thy light is come!'' 15 
 
 IS.0 more, in dark and cloudy day, 
 
 Let doubt and care enthral thee ; 
 He goes before thee in the way. 
 
 Who deigned in love to call thee : 
 Thon hast left behind thee death's dark gloom 
 
 And the chains of the shadowy prison ; 
 Arise ! shine ! for thy light is come, 
 
 In the life of a Saviour risen.
 
 1 6 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 '' ^ntst m SJint at all Cimcs." 
 
 THOU didsfc trust Him long ago, 
 Sin-burdened, weary, poor ; 
 Doth He less pitying grow ? 
 Doth He now close the door 
 Who, opening before, 
 Said, " Mine for evermore ! " 
 
 Canst thou not trust Him now ? 
 
 Thou didst cast on Him a load 
 Which He alone could bear; 
 
 And He, the Son of God, 
 
 Who shed for thee His blood, 
 Said " Cast on Me tliy care ; * 
 For on my heart I wear 
 Thy name, whose guilt I bare ; 
 My all with thee I share, 
 
 My peace on thee bestow." 
 
 Canst thou not trust Him now ? 
 
 Thou hast trusted Him for all, 
 Placed all within His hand ; 
 
 Is this thy grief too small 
 For Him to understand 
 
 Who marks the sparrow's fall ? 
 Heir of the King of kings. 
 Heir of immortal things, 
 Would'st thou, on eagles' wings, 
 
 Mount nearer to the Throne ?
 
 " Trust in Him at all Tiniest if 
 
 Ob, take to Him alone 
 
 All that each hour brings : 
 
 Stoop not to murmurings ! 
 
 Doth not thy Father know, 
 "Who all thy past hath known 
 
 Shall care o'ercloud thy brow ? 
 To roll away the stone 
 
 Canst thou not trust Him now / 
 
 Thou hast trusted Him for death, 
 
 Wilt thou not trust for lije ? 
 Believing what He saith — 
 
 " Not pain, nor sword, nor strife, 
 Not height nor depth beneath, 
 
 Distress that earth can know, 
 
 Or power of hell below, 
 
 Shall separate from Me 
 
 Him whom I ever see 
 
 Covered, Son, in Thee 1 " 
 
 Canst thou not trust Him now ?
 
 1 8 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 NOT fond desirings wliicli may be translated 
 Into meet language, brother, for tlij^ ear ; 
 Not hopes deferred ; — "N'ow, for this thing I waited, 
 And lo, the morning cometh ! it is here ! " 
 
 Not high, ambition springing into action, 
 
 Clear-cut, like distant mountain-top, its aim ; 
 
 Not the wild impulse towards a seen attraction, 
 The burning ardour for thy shrine, Fame ! 
 
 Know'st thou but these ? Are these, immortal sleeper, 
 These the profoundest currents of thy soul ? 
 
 Know'st thou no hidden longings — fuller, deeper, 
 Secret, unchallenged, scathless of control ? 
 
 When late thine eyes beheld, as in a vision, 
 Yon western tapestry of purpling gold. 
 
 When on thine ear there fell the strains elysiau. 
 Of hai'monies thine heart cried forth to hold. 
 
 Then came there not to thee that nameless longing, 
 That deep, still need, thou vainly would'st express ? 
 
 Unspoken prayers upon thy spirit thronging, 
 
 Which cries for help, which weeps for tenderness ? 
 
 Come, thou south wind ! waken, thou north ! 
 
 Breathe o'er these strings which quiver into sound, — 
 The infinite within me yearning forth 
 
 Towards the Greater Infinite beyond !
 
 Longings. 19 
 
 Christ ! by the memory of Thy one rejoicing 
 O'er mysteries to the children's hearts reveal'd, 
 
 Hear in the longing soul's nn uttered voicing 
 Thy call, from whom no secret lies conceal'd. 
 
 Thou knowest ! Leave, fond heart, to His true keeping 
 Thy silence and thy longings ; yet abide 
 
 Till thou shalt waken from thy quiet sleeping 
 To hear Him whisper, " Be thou satisfied 1 "
 
 20 Chi Dies of Consecration. 
 
 " Z\m told I fflwt toitlj Uin:' 
 
 Up in the silent solitudes of prayer, 
 There where the soul holds communing- with God, 
 Beyond the clouds of earthly grief and care, 
 The secret springs of life have ever flow'd. 
 Distant echoes from far-off regions, 
 Echoes of song from angel-legions 
 Welcome the thirsty spirit there ; 
 And pardon, and promise, and peace are given. 
 Where the confines of earth touch the borders of 
 Heaven. 
 
 They reach but seldom to those upper springs. 
 
 For whom earth barriers bar the mountain way ; 
 Since to its kindred dust the spirit clings. 
 Loving the twilight rather than the day, 
 
 Till the angry clouds o'er life's pathway hover, 
 Till some short, sweet dream of bliss is over, 
 And the heart cries out for better things ; 
 Then the voice of the Lord finds the sorrowing soul — 
 " Oh, come unto Me, I will make thee whole.' 
 
 11 
 
 The presence-chamber of our God is found 
 
 By those who mount unto that tranquil height ; 
 The place whereon they stand is holy ground, 
 
 And things of earth are seen in Heaven's true light ; 
 And the soul clings fast to a strong salvation, 
 And to hope in Christ, and His consolation ; 
 And whispers of promise breathe around ;
 
 " There zvill I Meet zvith Thee" 2i 
 
 While for help in the Ijattle, and strength in the strife, 
 The waters are there of the well of life. 
 
 In ancient propheey and lioly psalm, 
 
 We trace the footsteps of the saints of old ; 
 The love which lured them to that refuge calm 
 Abides unchanging, nor shall e'er grow cold : 
 
 And the sweet, pure well-springs are ever flowing. 
 And sun-lights of welcome for ever glowing, 
 And far-off visions of streets of gold : 
 When the Spirit has brought us to God in prayer, 
 We are near unto those who ai-e waiting there.
 
 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 " ^vanhiig toitbout lit tijc Cimc of |nrcnsc/' 
 
 HIGH Priest of our profession, 
 Who art gone np ou liigli, 
 Now from Tliy royal session 
 
 In might and mnjesty, 
 Look down with love unceasing 
 
 On this Thy flock, we pray; 
 We are waiting for the blessing : 
 Oh, turn us not away ! 
 
 Thou hast gone forth before us, 
 
 Hast pass'd within the vail ; 
 Yet dost Thou still bend o'er us 
 
 When fears and foes assail : 
 Our wants, our sins confessing, 
 
 In silent prayer we bow ; 
 We are waiting for the blessing ; 
 
 Oh, shine upon us now ! 
 
 Now, by the recollection 
 
 Of the cross on Calvary, 
 Now, by the resurrection 
 
 Which seal'd Thy victory ; 
 Hear this our supplication. 
 
 The blessing be outpour'd ; 
 Show forth Thy great salvation, 
 
 And breathe Thy Spirit, Lord !
 
 ''Praying without at the Time of Incensed 23 
 
 Here, though our strains but falter, 
 
 We plead Thy sacrifice : 
 " The coal from off the altar " 
 
 Makes prayer as incense rise ; 
 Thy pard'ning love possessing, 
 
 Our doubts and fears shall cease : 
 We are waitimj for the blessing ; 
 
 Oil, hid us go in j^eace !
 
 24 Chivies of Consecration. 
 
 " Cljat i\n prnig oi 6loru ntau ronu in." 
 
 rrHOU did'st leave Thy throne and Thy Kingly crown, 
 
 -L When Thou earnest to earth for me ; 
 
 But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room 
 
 For Thy Holy Nativity: 
 come to my heart, Lord Jesus ! 
 
 There is room in my heart for Thee. 
 
 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang, 
 
 Proclaiming Thy Royal degree ; 
 But of lowly birth cam'st Thou, Lord, on earth, 
 
 And in great humility : 
 0, come to my heart, Lord Jesus ! 
 
 There is room in my heart for Thee. 
 
 The foxes found rest, and the birds had their nest 
 
 In the shade of the cedar tree ; 
 But Thy couch was the sod, Thou Son of God, 
 
 In the deserts of Galilee : 
 come to my heart, Lord Jesus ! 
 
 There is room in my heart for Thee. 
 
 Thou earnest, O Lord, with the living word. 
 
 That should set Thy people free ; 
 But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn 
 
 They bore Thee to Calvary : 
 come to my heart, Lord Jesus ! 
 
 Thy cross is my only plea.
 
 " TJiat the King of Glory may conic in" 25 
 When Heaven's arches shall ring, and her choirs shall 
 
 sing 
 
 At Thj coming to victory, 
 Let Thy voice call me home, saying, " Yet there is 
 
 room ! 
 
 There is room at My side for thee : " 
 And my heart shall rejoice at the Bridegroom's voice, 
 When He cometh and calleth for me.
 
 26 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 " €^asti:n0 all trour twxz xx-^ssn pim." 
 
 WHEN from a world of tumult we retreat 
 To commune with the Lord in secret prayer, 
 We gladly bring our burdens to His feet 
 
 Who bids us cast on Him our every care ; 
 
 Yet is it seldom that we leave theru there : 
 But when again the busy throng we meet, 
 We still are heavy laden, — still repeat 
 
 The tale of griefs which Jesus fain would bear. 
 Oh we should " roll our burdens on the Lord," 
 
 Though faith be trembling, and our eyesight dim ; 
 For, did we realize His gracious word 
 Whose love is strong to bear His children's load. 
 We should go forth from communing with God 
 
 His peace our own — our care consigned to Him.
 
 27 
 
 '* J^Icsscb is tbc man Inborn ^hm cbaoscst, 
 anb tiuiscst to approarlj unto ^\n. 
 
 ALONE with Jesus I would be, 
 Withdrawn from earth and earthly things ; 
 The brightness of His face to see 
 
 From whom each stream of blessing springs. 
 
 Alone with Jesus ; to reveal 
 
 Each hidden thought, each secret care ; 
 
 The sin I seek not to conceal, 
 
 The joys, the conflicts, He will share. 
 
 Alone, to tell Him all my need ; 
 
 Alone, to whisper all my fear ; 
 Alone, His promises to plead ; 
 
 Alone, to feel that He is near. 
 
 Our earthly comforts pass away, 
 And gifts His bounty has bestow'd; 
 
 But this remains ; and day by day 
 'Tis mine to be alone with God.
 
 28 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 ONLY a little while, 
 And our longing hearts shall rise 
 To the light serene of the joys unseen 
 That await our waking eyes. 
 
 Only a little while, 
 
 And God shall the veil remove, 
 Which hides the face of our Lord of grace, 
 
 Whom, not having seen, we love. 
 
 Only a little while, 
 
 And His servants shall see the blaze 
 Of the hosts of God that encamp abroad. 
 
 To guard them in all their ways. 
 
 We have read how the seer of old 
 
 By that fiery guard was kept, 
 Which, calm and still, circled Dothan's hill, 
 
 Where Jehovah's prophet slept ; 
 
 And we know that around our path 
 
 The watch is for ever set, 
 Though we hear not the tramp of the mighty cam] 
 
 Where the legions of God are met ; 
 
 Though we hear not the solemn charge 
 
 Concei'ning His own elect, 
 Of the Son of God who our path has trod, 
 
 And whom ever our hearts expect.
 
 A Little While. 29 
 
 We see not, but yet believe — 
 
 Believe in tbe life unseen — 
 Id that second birth which is not of earth, 
 
 In hearts where the Lord hath been ; — 
 
 Believe that the soul's still voice 
 
 Is carried to Heaven in prayer ; 
 That her need outpoured to a risen Lord, 
 
 Is ever remembered there ; — 
 
 Believe that the fight is fought, 
 
 And the banner of God unfurl'd 
 Where reig'ns in our time, amid guilt and crime, 
 
 The prince of a fallen world. 
 
 Only a little while. 
 
 And our faith, so flickering here, 
 Shall die in the light of a day-dawn bright, 
 
 When the shadows shall disappear. 
 
 Then, knowing as we are known. 
 
 The blessing may we receive 
 Which e'en now from Heav'n to them is given 
 
 Who see not, but yet believe.
 
 50 C J limes of Consecration. 
 
 (I 
 
 if Ijc bub bitr fbcc bo some 6rcut ^bina." 
 
 How many, miglit they liear their Saviour's voice 
 Requiring for His own their lov'd and best, 
 Would hail such gracious summons, and rejoice 
 To yield their all at that dear Lord's behest. 
 
 And many, vrith those martyr'd saints of old 
 Who stood triumphant at the cross and stake, 
 
 As champions in the ranks of Christ enroll'd, 
 Would vs^elcome death, v?-ere it for Jesu's sake. 
 
 '' Lord," they say, " our life, our spirit powers. 
 Our wealth, our all — yea, more than all — is Thine ; 
 
 Take of Thine own ! if still Thy love be ours, 
 All else to Thee we joyfully resign ! " 
 
 Yet oft the same who at their Lord's command 
 Would tread the path of suffering undismayed, 
 
 Ax^e sore perplexed, and sorrowfully stand, 
 If one fair blossom of life's pleasures fade. 
 
 Some -word of light rebuke, some trivial loss 
 
 Will cloud their sunshine and obscure their light ; 
 
 And heirs of God, and children of the cross, 
 Will lose the path of faith in that of sight. 
 
 Not by the death alone, bvit by the life 
 
 Of our Lord Christ ; and by the wrong, the scorn, 
 The daily mead of sorrow and of strife. 
 
 For you, oh troubled ones, so meekly borne,
 
 " If He had bid tlicc do sonic Great Tiling^ 3 i 
 
 Learn in each lesser pain, in hourly cares 
 Allowed by Him His chosen ones to prove, 
 
 To sing with hearts set free, since He prepares 
 Thine every day, and bids thee trust His love.
 
 J 
 
 2 CJiiuus of Consecration. 
 
 WHEN Easter comes 
 From hearts and homes 
 Let praises ring : 
 The strife is o'er, 
 Death rules no more, 
 The Lord is King ! 
 
 On Christmas morn, 
 When Christ was born, 
 
 We sang for joy ; 
 But now He reigns, 
 And higher strains 
 
 Our tongues employ. 
 
 In vernal leaf 
 
 The first-fruits' sheaf 
 
 Is waved on high : 
 The Harvest-Home 
 For those will come 
 
 In Christ who die. 
 
 risen Lord, 
 Light restor'd. 
 
 With quickening pow'rs 
 Arise and shine ! 
 Our lives be Thine, 
 
 Since Thine is ours 
 
 ^
 
 
 Mcttcb anb Murb. 
 
 "Set a watch, Lord, before my moutli, and keep Thou the door 
 of my lips." 
 
 " Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Thy 
 
 praise." 
 
 SET a watcli before my mouth, 
 Keep the door Thyself, Lord : 
 In Thy presence, God of truth, 
 Hush'd he each tumultuous word ! 
 All my help from Him I take 
 Who was silent for my sake. 
 
 Open Thou my lips for Thee ! 
 
 Glad thanksgivings let me raise ; 
 Thou hast lov'd, and set me free, 
 
 Let my mouth show forth Thy praise : 
 Ever of Thy grace to sing 
 Unto whom for all I cling. 
 
 D
 
 34 Chimes of Consecration. 
 
 TKXOW not wliat the years may bring, 
 I leave their issues, Lord, to Thee : 
 Yet, pleading, ask for "this one thing," — 
 " That which I see not teach Thou vie! " 
 
 That which I see not ; — all my need 
 
 Of pardon, grace, transforming power ; 
 
 His love -who deigns my cause to plead ; 
 His care who guides me hour by hour. 
 
 That lohich I see not ; — how to learn: — 
 In hidden teachings all around 
 
 How best Thy message to discern, 
 
 And of Thy voice to know the sound. 
 
 That which I see not ; — how to cheer 
 The secret mourner by the way ; 
 
 Christ-like to dry the sufferer's tear, 
 And lowly words for Thee to say. 
 
 That which I see not. — Oh! withhold 
 No teaching, whatsoe'er its cost ! 
 
 J^or let me weep, as those of old, 
 In bitter grief for warnings lost. 
 
 Thus, day by day, and year by year. 
 Lord, to thy feet I bring my plea : 
 
 In pard'ning, answ'ring love draw near : 
 " That which I see not teach Thou me ! "
 
 35 
 
 WILL the New Tear bring greetings 
 Blithesome and gay ? 
 Long looked-for meetings, 
 Joy's sunny day? 
 
 Father, we know not ! 
 Coming joys show not : 
 Hear our entreatings — 
 Choose Thou the way ! 
 
 Will the New Tear bring weeping — 
 
 Sorrow's increase ? 
 Will the New Tear bx-ing sleeping- 
 Quiet release ? 
 
 Father most tender, 
 We can surrender 
 All to Thy keeping : — 
 Gi-ant us Thy peace ! 
 
 D 2
 
 36 Chimes of Consecratio7i. 
 
 HAPPY heart that sings 
 Of everlasting things, 
 Cover'd 'neath shelt'ring wings, 
 For ever blest : 
 Changes of outward gloom. 
 Shadows which go and come, 
 Can never cloud that home 
 
 Of perfect rest. 
 
 Softly those wings enshroud 
 From discords harsh and loud 
 The heart 'mid thronging crowd 
 
 In quiet stayed : 
 A melody of calm. 
 Like chant of temple-psalm. 
 Falls, as with notes of balm. 
 
 Within that shade. 
 
 The little child that sings 
 " Keep me, King of kings, 
 Beneath Almighty wings !" 
 
 Falls soft asleep : 
 How rough soe'er the way, 
 Thus, until close of day. 
 Within that shade, I pray, 
 
 My spirit keep ! 
 
 I 
 
 i
 
 II 
 CHIMES AMONG THE SHADOWS 
 
 "There was a certain king who had a pleasant grove ; and that he 
 might make it every way delightful to him, he caused some birds to 
 be caught, and to be kept in cages till they learned sundry sweet and 
 artificial tunes ; and when they were perfect in their lessons, he let 
 them abroad out of their cages into his grove, that while he was 
 walking in this grove, he might hear them singing those pleasant 
 tunes, and teaching them to other l)irds that were of a wilder note." 
 
 Kev. J. Alleine (1664), "Address to Fellow- Prisonen for Christ s 
 Sake."
 
 39 
 
 Cljc Cburcbnavti in a 6arben. 
 
 [On one of the southern slopes of the Ochills lies an old church, 
 yard, for many generations disused, the church having fallen into 
 decay, and its materials having been transferred. Now, surrounded 
 by the garden of the proprietor, it is fenced in only by a few trees 
 and the rise of the ground ; and its silence is broken by the voices of 
 children playing without. ] 
 
 A LITTLE graveyard nestles on the bill. 
 Lost in a garden : once, witli reverent words, 
 Men bore their dead to rest secure and still 
 Within this treasure-chamber of the Lord's. 
 
 Without, earth's thousand voices echo clear. 
 And gleefvil chimes of children's laughter ring, 
 
 And circling seasons bring new joys : but here 
 Undying seed still waits a coming spring. 
 
 Without, the garden blossoms : while within, 
 Like a soft requiem, river waters sound : 
 
 One pitying rose-tree sever'd from her kin 
 Soft strews her petals on the wavy ground. 
 
 A little island in a tide of life 
 
 Which may not pass the bounds of that still shore ; 
 A holy rood where shout of joy or strife 
 
 Awakes no echo, finds no entrance more. 
 
 And thus, methinks, concealed within each heart, 
 Save the glad heart of childhood, there is found 
 
 Fenced in, and from all outer life apart, 
 A silent, treasured spot of holy ground.
 
 40 Chimes among the Shadoivs. 
 
 Lost hopes, surrendered joys, are hidden there, 
 Severed affections lie beneath that sod, 
 
 Buried with funeral rite of tears and prayer, 
 All secret save from Memory and God. 
 
 Yet blossoms life without : all is not dead : 
 
 On God's fair earth are there not flowers for all ? 
 
 Some hopes and joys for each their fragrance shed. 
 To each for culture and thanksgiving call. 
 
 And not less tenderly fond Memory treads 
 
 The heart's still graveyard, known to her alone, . 
 
 For that without fresh flowerets lift their heads, 
 And song resounds, and life's full tide flows on. 
 
 A churchyard in a garden ! Long ago 
 
 A sepulchre within a garden lay; 
 Thence bring we immortelles which fadeless blow, 
 
 Undying hopes which cannot pass away. 
 
 And plant them trustfully on each sad shrine, 
 
 And o'er each grave of long-renounced affection ; 
 
 Thence trace the rainbow arch of love divine 
 Linking for ever death and resurrection.
 
 41 
 
 THE strong heart cUnf/s. Earth's weaker souls are 
 found 
 Passionless leaning on near prop or stay 
 To which by tie of circumstance close bound 
 
 They bring their passive weight, and thro' their day 
 Smile with complacency on all things round. 
 
 But is .that prop by sudden gust uptorn, 
 
 Or snapt in twain, such soul will helpless lie ; 
 
 No mutual strength of intertwinement born 
 Put forth to bend in clasp- ed harmony 
 Where hurried gale or storm- wind rushes by. 
 
 Yet cease thy plaint, faint soul which makest moan, 
 
 Thy face upturn' d to the soft summer sky, 
 " I shall not rise, ne'er can I stand alone : 
 Alas ! my pleasant things are past and gone : 
 
 Who so bereft, who so forlorn as I ! " 
 Cease thy complaint ! yon pitying passer-by 
 Shall pause, and, comprehending all thy cry, 
 Shall find for thee fresh stay : — thy tears shall dry ; 
 And once again in sunshine thou shalt smile. 
 And with light heart the wanderer beguile.
 
 ,'1 
 
 42 Chimes among- the Shadoivs. 
 
 But strong hearts plead to cling because of strength ; 
 An outward tending need for something higher 
 
 Going forth in yeai'ning tendrils, which at length 
 O'ertaking kindred clasp, with glad desire 
 Shall further still with growing might aspire. 
 
 Oh longing soul, with powerful impulse fraught, 
 
 Conscious of hidden sympathies unown'd, 
 
 Restless for soul- affinities uncrown' d, 
 Know'st thou a sep'rate life of wider thought. 
 Of strength unchallenged, of mind-powers unwrought, 
 
 Of stature loftier than theirs around, 
 By whom such loneliness least understood 
 Is lightly deem'd self-chosen solitude ? 
 
 E'en tho' it be not thine, that fuller part, — 
 "He sufFer'd thee to hunger" thine award — 
 It needs not that thy spirit-life be niarr'd : 
 
 Echoless corridors within thy heart 
 May waken to a whispering divine 
 
 Ordaining for thine influence a range 
 
 Most Christ-like, since, with scanty interchange 
 Of thought responsive, it may yet be thine 
 Far-reaching sympathies to intertwine 
 Where all around, in weariness' dull shade, 
 And by the toil of common life o'erweigh'd, 
 The faint and spiritless would clasjo thine aid ; 
 Thyself by every need a debtor made. 
 
 Thus link'd with joys and sorrows, hour by hour, 
 And drawing upwards towards a Higher Love, 
 Heav'n's clearer light e'en to thyself shall prove 
 
 Thy loneliness a gift, thy strength a pow'r.
 
 Clinging. 43 
 
 But if to thine aspirings it be giv'n 
 
 That thou with kindred mind should'st interlace, 
 
 And, in the fervour of that soul embrace, 
 
 Should'st. learning to thank God, His workings trace. 
 And yearn with greater might towards Him and Heav'n ; 
 
 Then, glad and triumphing in that soul-fusion, 
 Let strong-branch' d impulses, untutor'd once, 
 Girt into purpose by a full response, 
 
 In service prove their strength no vain illusion. 
 And more erect for upward clinging force, 
 Nobler for sympathy of intercourse, 
 
 With heart anew made bou.ntiful to each, 
 See that from wealth of thy beatitude 
 
 Towards all around new, loving tendrils reach ; 
 In joy, in grief, in care, in solitude, 
 Their claims discerning in thine own great good. 
 
 And falls the sev'ring stroke, as fall it must 
 Full often in a world where, intertwin'd, - 
 True souls, for union infinite design' d, 
 
 Thro' broken types and shadows learn to trust 
 God's love and ways inscrutable combin'd : — 
 
 Falls there the sev'ring stroke ? and art thou left 
 Bow'd, yet not prosti-ate, cherishing apart 
 
 The silence sensitive of the bereft ? 
 Tremulous fibres, rooted in thine heart, 
 
 Quiv'ring and bare, from answ'ring fibres cleft ? 
 Still, still thank God for that soul unison ! 
 The wealth of thy possession is not flown. 
 Its glory ended, its high mission done :
 
 44 Chimes among the Shadozvs. 
 
 Thy joy, tlio', for a season, thine no longer. 
 Hath left thy heart enrich 'cl, thy spirit stronger ; 
 Stronger for others, stronger yet to clasp 
 That which shall ne'er be sever'd from thy grasp. 
 
 For still thou mayest cling ; no heart too lone 
 To call One Stay, One Sympathy its own ; 
 
 Be strong in Him whose cross is at thy side ; 
 Thither thy weight of lonely yearnings bring ; 
 Thy longing arms of love around it fling ; 
 
 Fraught with its living pow'r unmov'd abide : 
 Its sharper edges shall but nerve thy strength 
 To suffer and to do ; until at length 
 
 Solemn and sweet shall sound the higher call ; 
 Until thro' Him who lonely lived and died, 
 Thro' Him who rose for thee, the Justified, 
 Thro' Him who lives for thee, the Griorified, 
 
 Thou, loving, clinging, dying, shalt grasp all !
 
 45 
 
 ' ^ T OED, how long these nights of weeping ? 
 -Ll Thus the fainting spirit saith ; 
 Weary heart, thy vigil keeping, 
 Hearken to the voice of Faith. 
 
 In the tongue of heav'n she speaketh, 
 And her tones are soft and clear, 
 
 " Who the Lord and Master seeketh, 
 Pain, endurance, must not fear ; 
 
 " Jesus loving, Jesus living, 
 
 Calls the cross-bearers His friends ; 
 Take with reverent thanksgiving 
 Tribulation which He sends. 
 
 " Hold it as a soul-consignment 
 Of inestimable worth ; 
 As a battle-field assignment, 
 And in firm crusade go forth. 
 
 " Reckon it a trust endowment. 
 Use it earnestly for Heav'n ; 
 Reckon it a love bcstowment, 
 By a watchful Father giv'n. 
 
 " Prize His dealings humbly, duly, 
 In thy heart's true estimate ; 
 Trust Him gladly, trust Him fully ; 
 And to know His meaning, — loait! "
 
 46 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 u 
 
 0ni Cruds, ^ht Eucb ! " * 
 
 " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and 
 up his cross daily, and follow me." 
 
 VIA Crucis, Via Lucis : 
 Unto Thee, the Crucified, 
 We our onward way confide ; 
 Thou who shimberest not nor sleepest, 
 But Thy watch unchanging keepest, 
 Be our light at even-tide. 
 
 Via Crucis, Via Lucis : 
 Men of one high brotherhood, 
 Warriors, not 'gainst flesh and blood, 
 By that cross, of life the token, 
 By a covenant unbroken, 
 
 Fight the fight of Christ and God. 
 
 Via Crucis, Via Lucis : 
 Ye who, treading paths obscure. 
 Well and faithfully endure, 
 Hear His word who knows each trial, 
 Secret pain and self-denial. 
 
 Saying, " Blessed are the pure ! " 
 
 Via Crucis, Via Lucis : 
 N"ot for us earth's dazzling glare 
 Who the Master's conflict share ; 
 In the night of tribulation. 
 In the hour of strong temptation, 
 
 Ours th''e battle-hymn ; our pray'r, 
 
 * Motto of the early Church.
 
 "Via Cnicis, Via Lucis!^' 47 
 
 Msen Lord, to Thee we cry ! 
 Amhuslid foes about us lie, 
 Thou canst grant us victortj : 
 Once in darh and awful hour 
 Thou didst quell the tempter'' s power ; 
 
 We are weak, hut Thou art nigli ! 
 
 Via Crucis, Via Lucis : 
 Ours the pillar and the cloud, 
 Hidden calm 'mid tempests loud ; 
 As the pilgrim pathway steepens 
 Pilgi-im joy for ever dee ens, 
 
 Wings of peace our gouIs enshroud. 
 
 Via Crucis, Via Lucis : 
 Through the night-watch chill and damp 
 Let the virgin trim her lamp. 
 Till the sun, the east adorning, 
 And the waking of the momiing 
 
 Call us forth without the camp. 
 
 Via Crucis, Via Lucis : 
 Then the glory, now the fight — 
 Now earth's darkness, then heav'n's light : 
 Lord that we, through Thy great merit, 
 This salvation may inherit. 
 
 Keep us faithful in Tliy sight.
 
 48 Chivies among the Shadozvs. 
 
 mc." 
 
 THOU who wast before me 
 In the path I tread, 
 Thoii who benclest o'er me, 
 
 Risen from the dead ; 
 As a true believer 
 
 In the one sure Guide, 
 Keep me Thine for ever. 
 Clinging to Thy side ! 
 
 If the way be lonely. 
 
 If the path be drear, 
 Let my spirit only 
 
 Find Thy presence near. 
 So shall light retui^ning 
 
 Bid the darkness cease ; 
 And the night of mourning 
 
 End in perfect peace. 
 
 When the flesh is failing. 
 
 When the heart is numb. 
 And the foe, assailing. 
 
 Seeks to overcome, 
 From Thy throne all glorious 
 
 Hear my suppliant breath, 
 Once Thyself victorious — 
 
 Faithful unto death.
 
 For Thy Names sake, lead me and guide vie.'' 49 
 
 When, like solemn dirges 
 
 From the moaning sea, 
 Sound the ocean surges 
 
 Of Eternity ; 
 When the angel, beckoning, 
 
 Saith " The hour is come. 
 And the Master, reckoning. 
 
 Sends to call thee Home ;" 
 
 When, in those far regions 
 
 Where around the throne 
 Shine the burning legions, 
 
 I must stand alone ; 
 By Thy cross and passion 
 
 Borne to set me free, 
 Jesu — our Salvation — 
 
 Bid me dwell with Thee !
 
 50 Chimes among the Shadozvs. 
 
 CIjc /aitblcss (Bnes. 
 
 ' ' Woe uEto us ! for the day goeth away, and the shadows of evening 
 are stretched out." 
 
 " Why are ye fearful, oh ye of little faith ?"' 
 "At evening time it shall be light." 
 
 WOE imto us ! for the day is going, 
 Clouds are gathering one by one, 
 Night-winds up from the river are blowing, 
 Shaking the shadow-curtains down. 
 
 Flowers lifting their faces sunward 
 Glow in the flush of the dying light : 
 
 We, like the river, are drifting onward, — 
 Onward, onward, into the night. 
 
 Our faces turned from the happy morning. 
 
 Our hearts restrained from the joys o'erflown ; 
 
 The path wherein there is no returning 
 Into the darkness leads us on. 
 
 We remember the day-break golden, 
 Jubilant hours of childhood's story. 
 
 When fi'om the future our eyes were holdeu, 
 Seeing only a haze of glory. 
 
 Hand in hand we listened and wondered — 
 Wondered that others should shrink in fear : 
 
 Little we dreamt of affections sundered, 
 We were together, our sky was clear.
 
 The Faithless Ones. 5i 
 
 We remember a shadow falling 
 
 Darkly, silently, over our track ; 
 One to another distantly calling, 
 
 Vainly we sought our beloved back. 
 
 Vainly wept with a passionate yearning, 
 Wept that the dewy morn was past ; 
 
 Afterwards drooped in the noon-tide burnmg — 
 Drooped and mourned in the desert waste. 
 
 We remember the Miserere, 
 
 Upward borne from our fainting band ; 
 Then the rest when our hearts were weary, 
 
 Under the rock in the desert land. 
 
 We remember the deepened longing. 
 
 Visions fair of a far-ofl' home ; 
 Oft, when doubts o'er the soul came thronging, 
 
 Angel-whispers of joys to come ; 
 
 Secret treasures of promise proven, 
 
 Hours lit up with a light sublime ; 
 Silver threads in life's tissue woven. 
 
 Golden gi-ains in the sands of time. 
 
 Joy and Sorrow with smiles and showers, 
 Wove above us their rainbow arch ; 
 
 Hope and Fear in the waning hours 
 
 Whispered concerning the onward march :
 
 52 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 Whispered low as tlie mists crept o'er us— 
 Eartli's soft screen round a dying sun ; 
 
 Whisper still as the path before us 
 Into the darkness leads us on. 
 
 Into the darkness : and then — ah ! whither ? 
 
 Whither ? ask we with failino- breath : 
 Our lost kindred retui*n not hither ; 
 
 All is still with the hush of death. 
 
 Into the darkness : — and who shall guide us ? 
 
 " Father," we cry from the lonely path, 
 " Send thine Angel to stand beside us — 
 
 Father, our Father, now give us faith !" 
 
 In that hour of spirit travail 
 
 He, the Angel of Life, draws near ; 
 
 All the past doth his clue unravel. 
 Making life's tangled mysteries clear. 
 
 And through the shadows a glory loometh : 
 Help us, Lord, for our sight grows dim ! 
 
 " Hush !" He whispers : " the morning cometh- 
 And with the morning the angel's hymn."
 
 53 
 
 BENEATH this hill the quiet lake 
 Yon churchyard border gently laves ; 
 I mark the silent mourners take 
 
 The path among the new-made graves, 
 
 And linger while the day wears on 
 
 As if unwilling to depart : 
 Oh friends, oh weary ones unknown, 
 
 I watch your grief with rev'rent heart. 
 
 Now fair thy face, thou poor wild flower 
 Fond clinging to yon bended bough ; 
 
 How many in their parting hour 
 
 Have yearned that they might cling as thou ; 
 
 Who wander here alone, alone ; 
 
 And would that by some sudden change 
 These haunts all too familiar grown 
 
 Might wear an aspect new and strange, 
 
 Nor hold them fettered to the past 
 By memory's fondly woven chain. 
 
 Of other days too sweet to last, 
 
 And joys which blossom not again. 
 
 Soft broideries of leaf and fern 
 
 Are wrought upon the severed stem ; 
 
 And parted streams meet beck and burn 
 From other hills, and sing with them ;
 
 Shall meet and rest wlien life has fled, 
 
 Knowing what here they knew in part ;- 
 A full communion perfected, 
 
 54 Chimes auiouq' the Shadoivs. 
 
 \ 
 But not for all does Time's kind art J 
 
 O'ersmooth the sharpness of farewell ; I 
 
 Nor voice of song from every heart 
 May echoes of the past dispel. 
 
 Yet is it ours, 'mid thoughts that steal 
 
 Upon the soul with chill of death, 
 A sudden inward joy to feel : — 
 
 They still are one — the one in faith. 
 
 The waters from one parent source 
 
 This mountain-ridge parts east and west ; 
 
 Yet in one ocean ends their course : 
 
 They in one love shall meet and rest, — 
 
 And changeless unison of heart. 
 
 
 Thr Lal-es.
 
 55 
 
 "CIjc l^orb batcb betlncen mc anb Ibcc!" 
 
 0' 
 
 kNCE more farewell ! 
 
 We are still with the hush of our last 
 greeting ; 
 And our hearts with the pai-ting thi-ob are beating ; 
 And but faintly falls the murmured hope of meeting : 
 For a little while farewell. 
 
 Once more farewell ! 
 The fading form no longer we discover ; 
 The days of our unparted life are over ; 
 Their mem'ries as their shadows round ns liover — 
 For a little while farewell. 
 
 Once more farewell ! 
 The threads of our life-histoines divided 
 To the keeping of our Father are confided : 
 He holds them by whose promise we are guided : 
 For a little while farewell. 
 
 Once more farewell ! 
 Till we meet in the fulness of the blessing,^ 
 Till we meet the inheritance possessing, 
 Till we meet, all His faithfulness confessing, 
 For a little while farewell !
 
 56 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 |f be buffer toitb f rm. 
 
 T ORD, make us strong to suffer ! to endure 
 
 Beliolding the Invisible by faith ; 
 Knowing Thy presence real, Thy promise sure, 
 
 Faithful in life and faithful unto death ; 
 Patience, long-suffering, joyfalness we claim, 
 Grasping the power of a Saviour's name. 
 
 And if the strokes for love Thou canst not spare 
 Must fall renewed on heart and frame opprest. 
 
 Teach us with faith serene Thy cross to bear. 
 And 'neath its yoke to trust and be at rest ; 
 
 Thankful to share Thy baptism of pain, — 
 
 Who suffer with their Lord with Him shall reign.
 
 57 
 
 Wdbt I bcm a Milbcnuss unto Israel ? " 
 
 44 
 
 WHO, standing thoughtful on the height, 
 
 O'er his uufoldecl path looks back, 
 Retracing in celestial light 
 
 The mazy windings of his track, 
 May hear, 'neath requiem o'er the past 
 
 Chaunted in courts of memory, 
 A voice low hush'd as dying blast — 
 
 " Am I a wilderness to thee ? 
 
 " Wlien the fresh trust and hope of youth 
 
 Withered beneath the noon-day sky ; 
 When rang the anguish'd ' What is truth ? ' 
 
 The heart's exceeding bitter cry ; 
 When first, with doubt and care opprest, 
 
 Thy spirit knew not where to flee. 
 And wept that earth was not her rest, 
 
 Was I a wilderness to thee ? 
 
 " When, fearful of an unknown God, 
 
 Thy soul, o'erwhelm'd with guilt and sin. 
 Lay crushed beneath the hidden load — 
 
 Darkness without — despair within ; 
 Who came with healing to thy side, 
 
 And told of darker agony. 
 And bade thee know the Crucified ? — 
 
 Was I a wilderness to thee ?
 
 58 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 " When, as in shining after rain, 
 
 Thy path was glad, serene thy skj. 
 And ' Shall I ever donbt again? ' 
 
 Burst from the heart to Heav'n brought nigh 
 When earth's fond arts and glittering snare 
 
 In vain allured a soul set free, 
 And love brought sweetness out of care, 
 
 Was I a wilderness to thee ? 
 
 " When blind affection wildly strove 
 T' assuage the hunger of thy heart, 
 
 Which sigliing for an earthly love, 
 Refused from that fond hope to part ; 
 
 And when by disappointment's breath 
 The light was quenched of joys to be. 
 
 One love upheld thee strong as death — 
 Was I a wilderness to thee ? 
 
 " In dark bereavement's lonely hour 
 
 I treasured up tby secret tears ; 
 My presence quelled the tempter's power, 
 
 And gave thee victory for fears ; 
 In joys and griefs a Father's hand 
 
 My Si^irit taught thy heart to see, 
 And waymarks in a pilgrim land — 
 
 Was I a wilderness to thee ? 
 
 " Yet would'st thou linger far from Home, 
 Lamenting sore the years gone by, 
 
 Who cryest, ' Lord, Thy kingdom come ! ' 
 And hast thy treasure stored on high.
 
 "Have I hccii a Wilderness unto IsracH" 59 
 
 Say, fear'st thou still tlie nntried path ? 
 
 O bring thy doubts, thy cares to j\Ie ! 
 Why fearful ? tliou of little faith : 
 
 Am I a wilderness to thee ? " 
 
 Thus oft in retrosj)ection's liour 
 
 The secret voice is inly heard 
 Whereby, with fresh almighty power, 
 
 To firmer trust the soul is stirr'd. 
 Nor die the echoes of that tone — 
 
 How dark soe'er life's future bo, 
 Still softly pleading " Not alone ! 
 
 Am I a wilderness to thee ? " 
 
 And when within his Father's halls 
 
 The wayfarer, his conflict o'er. 
 Each link of lil'e's brief past recalls, 
 
 Knowing what he beli'ned before, 
 One voice with love's unchanging might 
 
 Awakes each chord of memory, 
 Whisp'ring, while faith is lost in sight, 
 
 " Was I a wilderness to thee? "
 
 6o Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 " Snrrnhj mi tbxix us others tobklj Ijabc 110 
 
 u ;j u 
 
 TO the earth thy dust consigning, 
 To its G-od thy soul resigning, 
 
 We commit thee, unrepining, 
 To thy tranquil grave ; 
 
 Yielding thee to His protection, 
 
 To His tenderer affection 
 
 Who, — our Life and Resurrection, — 
 Once in mercy gave. 
 
 Life's last lesson slowly learning, 
 To our darkened home returning, 
 We, with lonely hearts and yearning, 
 
 Take our toilsome way : 
 Thou the golden streets art treading 
 Where the Lamb His light is shedding. 
 His redeemed ones gently leading 
 
 To the founts of day. 
 
 As the flood-notes of the river 
 Swells their song of joy for ever 
 On his ear, the Lord and Giver 
 
 Of their cloudless life ; 
 We, our joys oft mix'd with weeping, 
 Through the night our watch are keeping, 
 Lest the Master find us sleeping 
 
 In His hour of strife.
 
 "Sorrow not even as others zvhieh have no hopeT 6i 
 
 Lord, our suppliant cry receiving, 
 Bend o'er us, our need relieving, 
 Who, not seeing, yet believing, 
 
 Would witli them be blest : 
 Now our toil and conflict sharing. 
 Now our sorrow-burden bearing. 
 Lift our hearts to joys preparing 
 
 In Thine endless rest.
 
 62 Chillies among the Shadozvs. 
 
 Clr^ ''^fcur not" of aTljiistnuis-titic. 
 
 MOURNER, Christmas comes for thee ; 
 Hear, with low and gentle tone, 
 One who whispers, " Look to Me ! 
 Hope, for thou art not alone ! " 
 
 Not for thee the merry throng, 
 Gladness making lonelier still ; 
 
 Yet is thine the angels' song. 
 
 Echoed clear from Bethlehem's hill. 
 
 " Fear ye not ! " from heav'n was spoken 
 Long ago, on Christmas Eve ; 
 
 " Fear thou not !" is still the token 
 Which our waiting hearts receive. 
 
 " Unto you the Christ is given ! " 
 Thus saijg choirs full and clear ; 
 
 Now a voice on Christmas Even 
 Softly echoes, " He is here !" 
 
 He knows all — thy Lord divine : 
 Mourner, tliough thine eye be dim, 
 
 Look to Christ ; — His love is thine ; 
 Take thy Christmas joy from Him.
 
 65 
 
 Communion of tbe .Sicli. 
 
 " The sLadow of a great rock in a weary laud." 
 
 TESUS, I come to Thee! 
 
 fJ Weary and weak, with contrite heart and 
 lowly, 
 1 come to Thee, O Lord ; Thy name is holy : 
 Por hope, for life, for all unto Thy cross I flee. 
 
 Oh, when the pilgrim path 
 Leads through, the desert : when my heart is failing ; 
 When doubts are strong, and enemies assailing. 
 Be near, Thou Son of God, do Thou increase my faith ! 
 
 Low at thy feet I fall ; 
 The care, the sins, the wanderings of the past — ■ 
 My shameful burden upon Thee I cast ; 
 Jesus, Thou dying Lamb, Thy blood atones for all. 
 
 For all, for all, my God ! 
 The " It is finish'd " upon Calvary spoken, 
 Thy blood out-pour'd. Thy sacred body broken, 
 These tell of peace and pai-don — Thou hast borne my 
 load. 
 
 Here let my soul abide ! 
 Here at Thy cross take up her lowly station ; 
 Here in Thy death discern her full salvation ; 
 Rock in a weary land, within Thy cleft I hide.
 
 64 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 1"^HAT day liad mournful ending 
 When evening shades descending 
 Soft veil'd tlie mourners bending 
 
 Around the Crucified : 
 His sacred body broken, 
 The " It is finish'd" spoken, 
 Of His true love the token. 
 
 Who lov'd, and liv'd, and died. 
 
 Sad parting gifts they made Him, 
 In linen fair array'd Him, 
 And tenderly they laid Him 
 
 Within His lowly bed : 
 But oh ! how glad the meeting 
 When hearts with rapture beating 
 Rang forth in joyful greeting, 
 
 " He liveth who was dead ! " 
 
 Oh, happy recollection ! 
 Oh, joyful Resurrection ! 
 Oh, day of glad affection, 
 
 Since death is captive led ; 
 Our King has gone before us. 
 Our risen Lord bends o'er us. 
 We swell the joyful chorus — 
 
 " He liveth who was dead ! "
 
 '^ He LivetJi ivJio ivas DcadT 65 
 
 Oh, moui'ners sadly weeping, 
 Your lost ones are not sleeping ; 
 Theii" Sabbath, they are keeping 
 
 With Him in Paradise : 
 To His dear voice they listen 
 Who burst death's gloomy prison ; 
 " He is not here but risen ! " 
 
 Our hearts with Him arise. 
 
 And we with exultation, 
 
 With joyful adoration, 
 
 Would sing His great salvation, 
 
 Our conquering Lord and Head, 
 Until by His fair river 
 Of pleasures failing never 
 He leads us foi'th for ever 
 
 Who liveth and was dead.
 
 66 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 ft 
 
 d ITS hcc^ iin Jf^ast." 
 
 LET us keep the Feast, 
 With joy and gladness, for the fight is won ; 
 With a song of exultation 
 - For the strength of our salvation, 
 From the rising to the setting of the sun. 
 
 Let us keep the Feast ! 
 " Not here, but risen " is our Sacrifice ; 
 
 For ever interceding, 
 
 Our cause for ever pleading — 
 With Thee, risen Saviour, would we rise. 
 
 Let us keep the Feast ! 
 Waiting and watching, as a pilgrim band : 
 
 In each dear memorial-token 
 
 Of a covenant unbroken. 
 We hold an earnest of the Promis'd Land. 
 
 Let us keep the Feast ! 
 
 The night is dark, the shadows gather deep 
 But our lights are trimm'd and burning — 
 We await our Lord's returning — 
 
 The Bridegroom tarries, but we may not sleep.
 
 " Let US keep the Feasts 6/ 
 
 Let us keep the Feast, 
 By these dim tapers, until break of day : 
 
 Till the watchmen sound their waimino- 
 Till the joy come with the morning. 
 Till the Sun shall bid the shadows flee away. 
 
 r "l
 
 68 Chimes auiojig the Shadows. 
 
 % ۤrisfmas Ulessu^c. 
 
 * 
 
 FAR from home thy Christmas keeping, 
 Sad through weariness and pain, 
 Thou, perchance, hast thought with weeping, 
 " Christmas-time has come again!" 
 
 Dreams of well-remembered places 
 
 Fill thy memory to-day ; 
 Longing thoughts of loving faces — 
 
 Thoughts of dear ones far away ; 
 
 Of the little ones who gather 
 
 Hound the fire the boughs to weave, 
 
 Happy homes where mother, father. 
 Keep with them theii' Christmas Eve ; 
 
 Of the days when thou wast singing- 
 Gleeful songs of other times, 
 
 While across the fields came ringing 
 Far and near the Christmas chimes. 
 
 Say'st thou now, " Those joys are over; 
 
 Not for me those home delights ; 
 Dark the clouds that o'er me hover, 
 
 Lone the days and long the nights ? 
 
 • Written for Hospital distribution. 
 
 I
 
 A Christmas Message. 69 
 
 • Chiming bells and happy voices 
 
 Fall but sadly on my ear ; 
 All the world without rejoices ; 
 They are glad — while I am here." 
 
 Are these thy words, oh, mourner ? 
 
 Are these thy thoughts, my friend ? 
 Then listen now to a message 
 
 Which home to thy heart we send, 
 
 In words which the wind came bringing 
 
 From the hush of a quiet room. 
 Where voices were softly singing 
 
 In the twilight's gathering gloom. 
 
 And so sweet and clear was the music 
 
 Of the message tender and true, 
 That now in the Christmas season 
 
 We would sing it forth to you : — 
 
 Song Df Cbrbtmas, 
 
 IS there gladness in the house ? 
 
 Now lift your song once more ; 
 For Christ, the new-born King, 
 Doth joy and gladness bring, 
 And His people praise and sing. 
 
 And joyfully adore I
 
 70 
 
 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 Is there weeping in the house ? 
 
 Oh wearj, weep no more ! 
 For you shines Christmas morn, 
 And Jesus Christ was born 
 To comfort those who mourn 
 
 On sorrow's lonely shore. 
 
 Is there scarceness in the house ? 
 
 Yet rise in hope once more ! 
 Eor Christ, the Lord on high, 
 Who at Christmas time came nigh, 
 Is listening to thy cry, 
 
 And He Himself was poor. 
 
 Is there stillness in the house ? 
 
 A shadow on the floor ? 
 Are there voices hushed and low 
 Where the mourners come and go ? 
 Oh listen ! ye shall know 
 
 Christ, who wept, is at the door. 
 
 Now let our songs arise ; 
 
 And let our hearts adore ; 
 Tor e'en in sorrow's hours, 
 In sunshine and in showers. 
 The Christmas joy is ours. 
 
 Abiding evermore ! 
 
 Thus, my sister, thus, my brother. 
 We to thee would comfort send, 
 
 Softly whisp'ring of Another — 
 Of a nearer, better Friend.
 
 A Christmas Message. "ji 
 
 He who at this season holy 
 
 Came to earth thy grief to heal, 
 Led a sorrowing life and lowly ; 
 
 He hath suffered — He can heal. 
 
 Dost thou weep to be forgiven ? 
 
 From thy load of sins set free ? 
 He, the Lord of earth and heaven, 
 
 Bore their chastisement for thee. 
 
 Dost thou sigfh throusrh ceaseless tossinc: 
 On a couch whence sleep has fled; 
 
 Grief and pain thy future crossing — 
 Thine a wearied, aching head ? 
 
 He has said, who once was weary, 
 " Lean thy head upon My breast ; 
 
 Life for Me was lone and dreary, 
 I know all — yet bring thee rest. 
 
 " I know all ; I stand beside thee ; 
 On My heart thy burden lay ; 
 Safe beneath My wings I hide thee. 
 Keep with thee thy Christmas Day. 
 
 " Trust Me ! I will never leave thee ; 
 Love Me ! for I love thee well ; 
 Whisper forth the thoughts that grieve thee, 
 Fear not sin and care to tell.
 
 'J2 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 " Christmas bells /or ihee are ringing, 
 Christ, thy Lord, to tliee draws near ; 
 Angels hymns for thee are singing. 
 Fear thou not : thy King is here ! 
 
 " Though thy tear-dimmed eyes be holden ; 
 Though My form thou canst not see : 
 I, who dwell in glory golden — 
 I, the Lord, am close to thee !" 
 
 Therefore smile amidst thy weeping ; 
 
 Therefore hope through all thy fears ; 
 Therefore let thy Christmas-keeping 
 
 Bring thee sunshine through thy tears 
 
 Cast on Jesus all thy sorrow, 
 
 On His strength thy weakness stay ; 
 
 Trust Him for a brighter morrow, 
 Keep with Him thy Christmas Day !
 
 n 
 
 DRIFTING seaward, alone and still, 
 Floating out on a waveless sea ; 
 The tide may carry me wMtlier it will, 
 All is quiet and strange for me. 
 
 Distant voices along the shore, 
 
 Echoes of hope and joy and care ; 
 There it was that I dwelt before, 
 
 My life and its short day's work were there. 
 
 Was it strange to be hoping, striving, 
 
 Each day fraught with its joy and sorrow ? 
 
 Is it strange to be dreamily living 
 
 In a passionless day with no thought of morrow ? 
 
 Drifting out and out to sea, 
 
 Out and out in a helmless boat ; — 
 To a far-off coast it, perchance, may be. 
 
 Whither at length my bark may float. 
 
 Soft sweet music of other times 
 
 Vaguely murmurs within my ear : 
 A wafted strain from some far-oflE" chimes, 
 
 BrinsrinGT back words which I used to hear. 
 
 His whose voice was so soft and low 
 
 That the tired and weary ones loved it best ; 
 
 Those words are tender and sweet to me now — 
 " Come unto Me ; I will give thee rest."
 
 74 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 If I should float to that Land unknown, 
 
 Would He stand and meet me upon the shore ? — 
 
 Not with legion hosts, but Himself alone, — 
 And say, " Thou shalt never be weary more ! " 
 
 If my words were only "My Lord, I come ! " 
 
 Would He whisper again, " I will give thee rest ! ' 
 
 Would He quietly, tenderly, take me Home 
 To where all the weary in Him are blest ? 
 
 Not for me at first the full blaze of glory, 
 
 The triumphant notes of ten thousand singing. 
 
 The antiphonal chant of redemption's story 
 For evermore from Heav'n's choirs ringing ; 
 
 Dearer the calm of His quiet smile 
 
 Than the welcoming strain of the Seraphim ; 
 
 I would long to wait for a little while. 
 To wait, and to be alone with Him.
 
 75 
 
 
 S^ 
 
 ^ AY, am I still a cliild ? 
 
 Or is it that old memories return 
 As, by strange thouglits beguil'd, 
 I lino-er where the smould'ring embers burn ? 
 
 In days of long ago. 
 When lighter sports with daylight seem'd to tii-e, 
 
 And shades pass'd to and fro, 
 And one by one we gather' d round the fire, 
 
 Softly our voices fell, 
 And thicker grew the shadows on the wall ; 
 
 A silent, secret spell, 
 With gath'ring darkness stole upon us all. 
 
 And wondrous things we saw : 
 Strange weird-like pictures of the winter's hearth ; 
 
 With a sort of childish awe 
 We gave to dim imaginings their birth ; 
 
 The long cathedral aisle 
 Those glowing embers pictured to our sight, 
 
 And the dark funei-eal pile 
 Illumin'd by a strange unearthly light : 
 
 And caverns lone and deep. 
 With broken rocks and ruin'd columns strew'd; 
 
 And Di'uid altars steep. 
 All in a wild and shadeless solitude.
 
 jG Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 And otlier things were there : 
 Chambers of glory lustrous to behold, 
 
 Lit up by torches' glare, 
 With ceiling and with floor of burnish'd gold ; 
 
 And ships of various form, 
 All niotionless upon a fiery sea — 
 
 A sea without a storm, 
 And glowing in its own intensity. 
 
 With earnest, steadfast gaze 
 Such changing fantasies our souls descried, 
 
 Until the flickering blaze 
 Grew weary of its fitfulness, and died. 
 
 And closer still we drew, 
 As those fair visions vanish'd one by one ; 
 
 And the red light paler grew — 
 Then pass'd away, and darkness reign'd alone. 
 
 Thus childhood's hopes depart ! 
 Joy-born imaginings of bliss and fame 
 
 Which dwell in every heart. 
 Rising and falling like the flick'ring flame. 
 
 And as our years roll by 
 We lose the light of many a bright ideal ; 
 
 Youth's earth-born visions die. 
 For time is short, and life is very real.
 
 By the Fire. ' yy 
 
 Sucli musings come and go, 
 As now alone I linger by the fire ; 
 
 Musings of joy and woe, 
 And of fair hopes which time has seen expire : 
 
 Until I take my stand 
 Where I may gaze upon the outspread sky, 
 
 And on a glorious baud 
 Of steadfast stars in solemn company. • 
 
 A still unbroken calm 
 Over the woods, and o'er the meadows reigns; 
 
 As though an ev'ning psalm 
 Of silent praise were chaunted o'er the plains. 
 
 And a voice within my heart 
 Whispers of hopes irrevocably mine ; 
 
 Life's flickering joys depart ; 
 But everlasting is the light divine.
 
 78 Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 Z\n (ilLT ^}tm anb i\n gtto. 
 
 HUSH ! the year is dying, 
 Soft, without a sound ; 
 Snow-flakes, shroud-like, lying 
 
 On the earth around : 
 All its strivings over, 
 All its story done ; 
 
 Now — its mem'ries hover 
 O'er a year begun. 
 
 Some of us were lonely 
 
 In its brightest hours ; 
 Sadly whispering, " Only 
 
 Let Thy will be ours!" 
 Some of us were tired 
 
 In its summer days : 
 Weary, we desired 
 
 Gladder, brighter ways. 
 
 We but seemed repeating 
 
 Changeless rounds of life, 
 Daily, hourly meeting 
 
 Well-known cares and strife. 
 Life a little colder, 
 
 Fewer loving feces, 
 We but growing older 
 
 In familiar places.
 
 The Old Year and the Nciv. /g 
 
 Now the year is over, 
 
 Let us braver stand, 
 Seeking to discover 
 
 His — our Father's — hand : 
 Let us " follow wholly," 
 
 Though our sight be dim : 
 He would make us holy 
 
 For a life with Him. 
 
 Every day He sends us 
 
 He Himself prepares ; 
 He Himself attends us 
 
 Through its joys and cares ; 
 His true love beseechinsr. 
 
 Let us, then, draw near ; 
 Seeking guidance, teaching, 
 
 For the op'ning year.
 
 8o Chimes among the Shadows. 
 
 romctb.'" 
 
 WATCHMAN, what of the night ? 
 The earth is dark and cold : 
 And but faint is the starry light 
 
 Which our waiting eyes behold. 
 "Will the morning never come, 
 With its beacons in the sky, 
 To dissipate the gloom 
 
 Ere the Bridegroom shall draw nigh ? 
 Watchman, what of the night ? 
 
 " Oh, slumber not nor sleep. 
 
 Though the night be dark and long ; 
 But your solemn vigils keep 
 
 Through the Church's even-song : 
 Arise, and watch, and pray, 
 For we see the light afar 
 That heralds in the day 
 
 Of the bright and morning star : 
 Watch and pray ! " 
 
 We have pray'd and waited on 
 For our absent King's return ; 
 
 But the hours have come and gone, 
 And our tapers dimly barn :
 
 " TJie Watchman said, ' T/ic Morning cometJiT' 8i 
 
 Still dark is the midniglit sky, ■ 
 
 There are enemies abroad, 
 And we hear the heathen cry 
 
 Saying, " Where is now their God ? !' 
 Watchman, what of the night ? 
 
 " watching and waiting band, 
 I^ow lift ye your heads on high, 
 For the morning is near at hand, 
 
 And the Bridegroom is drawing nigh. 
 When the tapers are burning dim 
 
 We know that the night is o'er ; 
 
 And the chant of the morning hymn 
 
 Shall echo from shore to shore : 
 
 Watch and pray ! " 
 
 We have wash'd our garments white 
 
 From the stains of an evil world, 
 And we wait for the sun in his might, 
 
 And the banner of God unfurl'd. 
 We are looking to Zion's hill. 
 
 And we know that the day is near; 
 But we watch for the summons still. 
 
 And the voice that we long to hear. 
 
 Watchman, what of the night ? 
 
 "There are banners of red and gold, 
 Far out in the shining east ; 
 The curtains of night are uproll'd 
 For the morn of the marriage-feast.
 
 82 Chimes among the S/iadozus. 
 
 Still wait for the Bridegroom's voice, 
 Then go ye forth to meet Him ; 
 
 Let the hearts of His saints rejoice 
 As they lift their song to greet Him : 
 Watch and pray ! " 
 
 J
 
 Ill 
 CHIMES FROM HEATHER-BELLS; 
 
 AND OTHERS 
 
 Gales from Heaven, if so He will, 
 Sweeter melodies can wake 
 
 On the lonely mountain rill 
 
 Than the meeting waters make. 
 
 Who hath the Father and the Son 
 May be left, but not alone. — Keble. 
 
 G 'J
 
 «5 
 
 (H^k ifirst Sacrumcnt of iln Scformalion. 
 
 [The ruined Castle Campbell, once the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, 
 commands one of the most picturesque glens among the Ochills. A 
 special interest attaches to it from its having been the scene of John 
 Knox's preaching ; tradition indicating the moated court-yard as the 
 site of the first Sacrament of the Scotch Keformation.] 
 
 WHERE clamour'd forth in the olden time 
 The echoes of war aud spoil, 
 Where the stately Ochills lift their crests 
 
 Like ancient lords of the soil, — 
 Brooding apart o'er the vale beneath, 
 
 Dark frowning o'er sunnier lands, 
 Where the rocks are reft with a mighty cleft 
 Old Castle Campbell stands. 
 
 Deep moated round by the fell and flood, 
 
 It has mock'd at the foeman's blast ; 
 But Time has stealthily cross'd the moat, 
 
 Full sure of his prey at last ; 
 And as warriors of old plough'd the conquer'd site, 
 
 For the harvest they sowed in scorn, 
 He has planted the towers with lichen flowers, 
 
 And the bastions with moss-grown thorn. 
 
 And long fern-banners droop and wave 
 Where the standard was rais'd of yore ; 
 
 Aud the storm-wind's blast mocks the bug^le-call 
 Of the proud McCullum More ;
 
 86 Oiimcs from Heather-Bells. 
 
 And where revels rang and where minstrels sang 
 
 Holds the night-bird lone possession ; 
 And the white mist creeps up the castle steeps 
 
 Like the wraith of a dead procession. 
 
 But the breath of the thyme comes soft and sweet 
 
 O'er this bed of mountain-sorrel ; 
 And below, the waters still part aud meet 
 
 Like hearts in a lover's quarrel ; 
 While the rocks look down with the same stern frown 
 
 They have worn for ever and ever, 
 And the breeze flits by, with a low sad sigh, 
 
 To the sunbeam's nest on the river. 
 
 Full many a legend of knightly deeds 
 
 Might those furrow'd rocks record. 
 Of war and truce, of the times of the Brace, 
 
 Of the clash of the foeman's sword ; 
 But chiefly I hold the tradition of old 
 
 Encircling this grassy knowe. 
 And set forth my rhyme of the troubled time 
 
 Three centuries ago. 
 
 When sullenly echoed from o'er the tide 
 
 The roll of the Lateran thunder ; 
 And the voice of the North liurl'd defiance forth, 
 
 And fetters were snapp'd asunder ; 
 When the ice of a thousand years broke up, 
 
 And the torrent ran full and free ; 
 And men dared to think, and men dared to drink 
 
 Of the truth which brings liberty.
 
 TJic First Sacrament of the Reformation. 87 
 
 A rendezvous rang from the castle walls, 
 
 And the clansfolk came" thronging together, 
 By moor and fen, and from distant glen, 
 
 And over the purple heather : 
 " And wherefore," they said, " hath the summons sped, 
 
 Brinsrinff hither each true-born vassal ? 
 No war-echoes float o'er the castle moat, — 
 
 Ko war-flag flies from the castle." 
 
 They stood on the crest of the wood-girt hill, 
 
 Where the black rocks rise to the north. 
 And each head was bent and each eye intent 
 
 As the great Argyll came forth ; 
 And beside him one who with solemn mien 
 
 Gaz'd round where the clansmen stood ; 
 Then bade all draw near and with rev'rence hear 
 
 The words of the Book of God. 
 
 As the river's voice is soft and low 
 
 When its first sweet tale is told, 
 So his words fell clear on each list'ning ear 
 
 As he spoke of the days of old : — 
 Of the old, old time when the Son of God 
 
 Trod the wine-press of wrath alone. 
 And the fight was fought and the vict'ry wrought. 
 
 And the crown of the Conqueror won. 
 
 As the river awakens the echoing hills 
 When its voice in the torrent is heard, 
 
 So his tone grew loud, and his gesture proud 
 As he held up the written Word,
 
 88 Chimes from Heather-Bells. 
 
 And spake of the triumpli of Anticlirist, 
 
 Of the mystical Babylon, 
 All drunk with the blood of the saints of God, 
 
 Afar on her seven-hill'd throne. 
 
 " I gaz'd," he cried, " from yon mountain's side, 
 
 And I mark'd how the eagle bold 
 With but one wild whoop, and with one fell swoop, 
 
 Tore the lamb from the shelter'd fold : 
 I look'd out on the sky as the storm drew nigh, 
 
 And deepened the black'ning night ; 
 And faintly and far glinimer'd one sweet star 
 
 Till the storm-cloud had quench'd her light ; 
 
 " Where the waters well'd up in their rocky cup 
 Heard I traitors murm'i'iug low ; 
 And the stream in its course from a poison'd source 
 
 Did the work of the deadly foe. — 
 Who hath torn the lambs of the Shepherd true ? 
 
 Hid the light with a pall accurst ? 
 Who hath poison'd the spring which should healins. 
 bring, 
 And life to the soul athirst ? 
 
 " Hear, Lord, the complaints of the martjrr'd saints 
 
 Whose souls from Thine altar call ! 
 Like the northern lights of these northern nights 
 
 Let the rays of Thy promise fall : 
 Let the stream of Thy truth renew our youth 
 
 For the battle Thy sword must win, 
 As we spurn on the sod which our fathei'S trod 
 
 The yoke of the Man of Sin !
 
 The First Sacrament of the Reformation. 89 
 
 And je who stand in this fatherland, 
 
 The land of the hill and flood, 
 For defence of your rights on these mountain heights 
 
 Take oath on the Word of God ; 
 In fi'ont of the everlasting hills, 
 
 Here — under God's free sky, 
 For the truth which we hold dearer far than gold 
 
 Make promise to live or die I " 
 
 He paus'd : and the wind came up the glen 
 
 And stirr'd in the sycamore trees ; 
 And men murmur'd low and with knitted brow, 
 
 Saying soft " What words are these? " 
 Then deep as the voice of the river is heard 
 
 When it nears the waiting ocean, 
 His accents swell'd, and each heart was quell'd 
 
 In the flood of that stern devotion ; 
 
 And faint was the sob of the dying blast, 
 
 And they listen'd with parted lips 
 While his speech went on of the great Avhite throne 
 
 In St. John's Apocalypse ; 
 Of the noontide blaze of the Ancient of Days, 
 
 Which shall burst on a sin-stain'd world. 
 When the armies of light shall go forth in their might 
 
 'ISTeath the banner of God unfurl'd. 
 
 Of the welcoming hymn of the bright Seraphim 
 
 For them that have overcome ; 
 Of the victor's palm, of the conqueror's psalm ; — 
 
 Of a judgment of wrath and doom ;
 
 90 Chimes from Hcatiicr-Bclls. 
 
 And heads were bow'd in that list'ning crowd, 
 And wild hearts were still'd in pray'r ; — 
 
 " Lamb of God, who hast borne our load, 
 Be Thou our refuge there ! " 
 
 Then a silence deep wrapp'd the castle-steep. 
 
 And men girded their souls for strife ; 
 And full many a heart that had thirsted apart 
 
 Drank there of the well of life: 
 And again the voice of the preacher rose 
 
 As he spake unto souls set free 
 Of the living faith that must conquer death 
 
 In the Off'ring of Calvary. 
 
 Then look'd he around, and with sudden thought 
 
 Bade the true in heart draw near ; 
 "For wherefore," he said, " should the children's bread 
 
 Be withheld from the children here ? 
 N'ot with priestly rite, not by tapers' light. 
 
 Come nigh on this mountain shrine, 
 For each soul releast, here may keep the feast, 
 
 And partake of the bread and wine." 
 
 The words are spoken ; the bread is broken ; 
 
 The blood-red wine outpour'd. 
 And hush'd is each breath with a hush like death 
 
 In the presence of the Lord ; 
 And with heads made bare, and with silent pray'r 
 
 Men meet in the solemn tryst ; 
 Wliile in type are giv'n to heirs of heaven 
 
 The Body and Blood of Christ.
 
 The First Sacyaincnt of tJic Reformation. 91 
 
 'Neath the stately pile of the great Argyll 
 
 Was never such feast prepar'd, 
 Nor within the walls of those ancient halls 
 
 Was ever such banquet shar'd ; 
 For when life meets death, and when earth meets 
 heav'n, 
 
 And time, eternity, 
 Glad angels throng with exultant song 
 
 O'er souls which the Lord makes free. 
 
 No mystic cathedral arches, 
 
 No altar with cloth of gold. 
 No chaunted Gregorian music 
 
 Of hidden mysteries told ; 
 But a Gloria in excelsis 
 
 Rose from the hills around, 
 And the waters' voice bade the earth rejoice 
 
 And ring with a gladsome sound : 
 
 And the beacon of truth enkindled 
 
 On the brow of this castle heio'ht 
 Hath never set, but is burning yet 
 
 With a brighter and fuller light ; 
 So, with many a thoughtful musing, 
 
 I stand on the grassy knowe 
 Where the brave John Knox wuk'd the echoing rocks 
 
 Three centuries ago.
 
 g2 Chimes from Hcathcr-Bells. 
 
 c Cairn. 
 
 THE Tap o' the hill ! 
 
 -'- The Tap o' the hill ! 
 The wind rules there at its own wild will ! 
 The wind that I left on its keen sea- watch 
 I met on the mountain, talking Scotch ; 
 Singing Highland songs in the corries and dells, 
 And chiming a welcome in purple bells. ] 
 
 1 
 
 We told out our tales as we whispered together, \ 
 
 And it brouo-ht me a kiss from the Ochill heather j 
 
 Instead of a moan from the troubled sea : \ 
 
 And I sang for joy as it sang to me ' 
 A wild hill strain at its own good pleasure ; 
 
 For little the wind recks of time or measure ■ 
 
 When it shouts from the cairn, " I am free ! I am free ! " ; 
 
 The Tap o' the hill ! j 
 
 The Tap o' the hill ! ! 
 The mountains stand round it, stately and still, 
 
 Frowning loftily down while the gale makes spoi't, \ 
 
 Or murmurs sedition in their high court. \ 
 
 A high court of Parliament ! who would not tremble \ 
 
 To scoff where those senators grave assemble ? j
 
 The Cairn. 93 
 
 Grand old chiefs, witli their graniie boulders, 
 Each looking over the others' shoulders 
 To see what the workaday world is about, 
 While the wind hears their secrets, and whispers them 
 out. 
 
 The Tap 0' the hill ! 
 The Tap o' the hill ! 
 The wind sounds a bugle-blast piercing and sbrill ; 
 And the trumpet is echoed from far Schihallion, 
 And the clouds come up marshalled in solemn battalion. 
 And the pines throw their branches aloft in alarm 
 At the loud war-wlioop which foretelleth the storm. 
 The sentinel heights look so grim and black 
 When the note of defiance comes echoing back. 
 That the wind makes league with some dark hanging 
 
 cloud 
 For a pall funereal their crags to enshroud ; 
 Or loops up the mist like a white curtain'd veil. 
 That the storm and the floods may make wassail and 
 
 riot, 
 Whilst the blindfolded giants, loud mocked by the gale, 
 Though they thunder remonstrance, stand sullenly 
 
 quiet. 
 And aloft from Ben Lawers streams the banner of war, 
 The black flag of cloud spreading terror afar. 
 
 Then the deep rolling storm-oratorio is sounded, 
 And the eagle shrieks back to its eyrie astounded.
 
 94 Chimes from HcatJicv-Bclls. 
 
 And wild wind-instruTiients make the hills wonder, 
 And the rocks echo back the loud roar of the thunder, 
 Till the bandmaster stops, like some strange dilettante, 
 And changes the tone to a mournful andante : 
 Then, hurrying afar where the loud torrents dash, 
 Wakes up the wild waters, and ends with a crash. 
 
 The Tap o' the hill I 
 
 The Tap o' the hill ! 
 Only the sound of the mountain rill ; 
 The wild-bird's note, with its strange clear thrill. 
 For we hear no tempest — all, all is still. 
 
 Stretching afar, we behold unfurl'd 
 Our own little bit of the map of the world : 
 Far off the blue mountains of royal Braemar, 
 With their knight in armour, stern Lochnagar ; 
 Away and away the wild sea of the North 
 Comes rolling its tide up the Firth of Forth, 
 As if to do homage, like some pi'oud vassal, 
 Where frowns o'er the waters the grim old castle. 
 
 Whilst the great Bass Rock, 
 
 That has stood the shock 
 Of the waterfloods' siege for six thousand years, 
 
 Still bears their brunt 
 
 With his stalwart front. 
 And his storm-battered casque to the sky uprears. 
 And blue are thy waters, bonnie Loch Leven, 
 And silver thy windings, stream of Glen Devon ! 
 Each bill has its legend, each brook-side its ditty, 
 Woven in with the chronicled lore of the city.
 
 The Cairn . 95 
 
 We have known them apart, now we know thcni to- 
 gether, 
 
 As they blend in the light of the clear summer 
 weather, 
 
 While we stand where the cairn lifts its head from the 
 heather. 
 
 The Tap o' the hill ! 
 
 The Tap o' the hill ! 
 Thoughts come like the wind at their own wild will ; 
 They came to me there, and they come to me still. 
 
 At the end of the dav, at the close of the fisrht. 
 Ere faith be eternally lost in sight. 
 
 Shall we wond'ring attain to some mountainous height ; 
 And retrace the rough way that we knew but in part, 
 Its " waters of comfort," its " waters of strife," 
 Out-roll'd in the sunlight, a far-reaching chart. 
 The marvellous wlioJe of the map of our life ? — 
 O'er the ways that perplexed us, each slow-winding track. 
 That seemed as we trod it a maze and a mystery. 
 Shall we ever, enlightened, serenely look back. 
 And, outspread, read the meaning and plan of our his- 
 tory ? 
 
 Bring a stone, bring a stone for the top of the cairn ! 
 I must lay it thereon with my own two hands, 
 And throw one more glance on these outstreteh'd lands. 
 And depart with a long, long lesson to learn. 
 Perchance, in the time of the storm-spirit's power, 
 This stone may give refuge to some frail flower ;
 
 96 Chimes from HcatJia'-Bclls. 
 
 Some tempest-blo\yn quivering insect-thing 
 
 May shelter beneath it its rainbow wing : — 
 
 I know not ; — but yet, with a thought of my own, 
 
 I leave on the cairn-side this old gray stone ; 
 
 And a moss shall grow round it which none shall see — 
 
 The invisible lichen of memory ; 
 
 And my thought shall link closely the mountain to me 
 
 When the wild wind and I shall have met by the sea.
 
 97 
 
 Cl^« Cinilbron: ITtnit. 
 
 [The peculiar characteristic of this Fall is the suddenness with 
 which, after a winding and smiling course through the valley, the 
 waters of the Devon are precipitated into the abyss beneath. The 
 similarity of the darkly shadowed basin to a boiling cauldron has 
 given its name to the Linn.] 
 
 THE summer sky is fair, 
 And incense ev'rywhere 
 From the soft green hill-side ascendeth unto heav'n ; 
 And the little children play 
 Who would fain entrap the ray 
 Light sporting in thy stony bed, bright rock-cradled 
 Devon. 
 
 O waters, hush'd and still 
 
 'Neath the shadows of the hill, 
 For a brief while reposing your rock-barriers within, 
 
 Your fate is drawing near, 
 
 The cataract I hear, 
 The deep rolling thunders of the dark Cauldron Linn. 
 
 Now solemnly and slow, 
 Now murm'ring as ye go, 
 Now headlong and impetuous into darkness and to 
 gloom. 
 
 With a sudden wild despair. 
 With a roar that fills the air. 
 Ye are rushing onward, onward to the sealing of your 
 doom. 
 
 H
 
 98 Chimes from Hcather-Bclls. 
 
 Like the vengeance of the Lord 
 Swiftly, suddenly outpour'd 
 When the measure of His wrath is full for arrogance 
 and sin ; 
 
 Like the thunders pealing loud 
 From high battlements of cloud, 
 Crash the wild surging waters of the dark Cauldron 
 Linn. 
 
 Where the grim rocks blacken 
 Waves the long green bracken. 
 
 Drooping tearfully its plumage by the dark waters' grave; 
 And the wild ash weeps 
 O'er the stern unfathom'd deeps. 
 
 Like the pitying love of woman — fond, though power- 
 less to save. 
 
 They rest not day and night 
 
 Those thunders of the height, 
 The solemn hills for ages past have echoed forth their 
 din ; 
 
 No storied key unlocks 
 
 The secrets of those rocks — 
 The deep hidden mysteries of the dark Cauldron Linn. 
 
 Yet, when the day is done, 
 
 I have heard that the red sun 
 In haste, ere his setting, throws a sunbeam away, — 
 
 Which, falling on the flood. 
 
 Like a messenger from God, 
 Sheds a brief rainbow light ere it dies with the day.
 
 The Cauldron Linn. 99 
 
 And thus, child of man, 
 
 For a brief, brief span 
 The current of thy life serene and tranquilly may roll ; 
 
 But beware, ah beware ! 
 
 For a warning voice is there, 
 And dark, drear, and stormy are the conflicts of the 
 soul. 
 
 Yet, when the hour has come 
 
 Of fearfulness and gloom, 
 When help fails without, and when heart fails within, 
 
 May a rainbow light of love 
 
 Bring thee hope from above. 
 Like the sun's parting smile on the dark Cauldron Linn ! 
 
 H 2
 
 lOO Chimes from Hcather-Bclls. 
 
 ' ' Who hatii divided a watercoiirse for the overflowing of waters, 
 
 to cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is ; on the 
 
 wilderness, wherein there is no man ; to satisfy the desolate and waste 
 .sround ; and to cause the hud of the tender herb to spring forth?" 
 
 " He satisfieth the longing soul." 
 
 FROM lone and desert places, 
 From silent mountain sod, 
 The happy wild flowers' praises 
 Rise secretly to Grod. 
 
 Thougli all unseen, and hidden 
 
 From distant passer-by, 
 The sunbeams bright are bidden 
 
 To cheer them from on high. 
 
 And early in the morning 
 
 There falls the dewy rain, 
 Which sunbeams home returning 
 
 Will carry back again. 
 
 And rills in secret flowing 
 
 For ev'ry thirsty stem, 
 And the mountain breezes blowing. 
 
 Make melody for them : 
 
 For deep in clefts and valleys 
 
 Soft christ'ning founts are stor'd 
 
 Whence each low flow'ring chalice 
 Is water'd by the Lord.
 
 Hidden Ones. loi 
 
 Oh, sad and weary-hearted, 
 
 Who think'st thyself alone, 
 New strength shall be imparted, 
 
 Thine ev'ry need is known : 
 
 Fresh streams of heav'nly blessing, 
 
 And radiance from on high, 
 The loneliest life, possessing. 
 
 Hath joys which never die.
 
 1 02 Chimes from Heather-Bells. 
 
 Jfarffajcll fa i\t #djiils. 
 
 FAREWELL to Fossaway ! thus they are over 
 The glad summer hours all link'd with the past ; 
 E'en now the long hill I but faintly discover, 
 
 Yet give one more look, and that look is the last. 
 
 No more shall my eyes to the hill-side awaken, 
 No more shall I hear the low song of the burn ; 
 
 No more shake the dew from the heather and bracken, 
 Or seek in the kirkyard deep lessons to learn. 
 
 E'en now, as our path skirts the shores of Loch Leven, 
 And winds thro' the valley all tranquil and lone, 
 
 ]\Iy heart turns anew to the braes of Glen Devon, 
 And mem'ry retraces bright days that are gone. 
 
 Farewell to the Ochills ! now sunshine and show'rs 
 Are wed in the rainbow which hangs in their sky ; 
 
 Past joys shed their radiance o'er sad parting hours, 
 And gladness and sorrow are link'd in " good-bye ! "
 
 10- 
 
 LET us softly bid tliem welcome, 
 Toucli them with gentle fingers : 
 They meet our eyes like a glad surprise, 
 While the snow on the hill-side lingers. 
 
 White and green on their crests they wear, 
 Each tender and shy new-comer ; 
 
 White for a token of winter bare, 
 
 And green for the spring and summer. 
 
 But oh, they are quiet, and cold, and still, 
 
 Almost too calm for gladness ; 
 Snowy watchers beneath the hill, 
 Are ye silent for joy or sadness? 
 
 The lily's far-breathed fragrance 
 
 Her tender story tells ; 
 But the snowdrops keep their secrets 
 
 Like pale white sentinels. 
 
 Is it the Christmas secret, 
 
 Bequeath' d from winter rose. 
 Which bows each head to its lowly bed 
 
 Mid February snows ? 
 
 Or is it that the seasons 
 
 Will iH'ing with joy their sorrows. 
 And the snowdrops droop in tender group 
 
 'Neath the shadow of to-morrows ?
 
 104 Chimes from Heather-Bells. 
 
 Yet have they each a message 
 Which we may understand, 
 
 We who because of spring-time 
 Are glad throughout the land : 
 
 They, in their fragile whiteness, 
 The firm tradition keep 
 
 From year to year, in season di-ear, 
 Of waking after sleep : 
 
 And we with living voices, 
 
 With glad and bright affection, 
 
 E'en here may sing of a better spring 
 Of life and resurrection. 
 
 :i
 
 10 = 
 
 ^ITcbtr ^im. 
 
 C:^' 
 
 THE storm-cloud and the darkness came together up 
 the channel, 
 As the watchman at the lighthouse fired his beacons 
 for the night ; 
 And from every bright reflector and each slow revolving 
 panel 
 Gleamed forth to vessels far and near a warning from 
 the height. 
 
 The helmsman of the stately ship doing battle in the 
 distance, 
 The fisherman who turned his boat before the storm 
 to flee, 
 Knew the light which from the rock-bound shore 
 burned bright for his assistance, 
 And women blessed the beacon-fire who prayed for 
 those at sea. 
 
 Now tell me," said the stranger who looked forth 
 
 bes-ide the master, 
 " Failed ye never through the months and years the 
 
 warning-lamps to trim P "
 
 1/ 
 
 io6 Chimes from Heather-Bells. 
 
 Then came there o'er the other, as with shadow of 
 disaster, 
 A thought of woe and shipwreck should the light- 
 house fires burn dim. 
 
 " But for a single hour did the beacon-lamp shine 
 dimly, 
 Though weeks and months should pass away, the tale 
 would come at last 
 Of reckonings lost, and stranded boats, and seamen 
 fighting grimly 
 For the refuge and the harbour in the darkness over- 
 past. 
 
 " Night by night throughout the year goes forth the 
 lonely lighthouse keeper, 
 As the storm-wind, fiercely raging, sounds its bugle- 
 call to him ; 
 Dark were the morning's waking at his post were he a 
 sleeper : 
 No, never for an hour may the lighthouse fire burn 
 dim." 
 
 Through the night of sin and darkness there are 
 thousands roaming blindly. 
 Who, wandering and tempest-tost, no guiding-star 
 have known ; 
 One only light, one beacon lamp, with warning ray and 
 kindly. 
 Revealing all the danger, makes the only refuge 
 known.
 
 Never Dim. 107 
 
 Are we liolding forth the Word of Life to want.erers in 
 the distance ? 
 Are we telling of His love who calls the tempest-tost 
 to Him ? 
 Father of lights ! to Thee we pray ; now grant ns 
 Thine assistance ; 
 Keep Thou our hearts from failing, and our lamps 
 from burning dim !
 
 u 
 
 1 08 Chimes from Heather-Bells. 
 
 Job ^xtxd Morks axt gone. 
 
 WE are not here for holidays ; our lives ai'e not for 
 dreaming, 
 While toiling bands and busy hands are lab'ring all 
 around ; 
 Men are stirring, wheels are whirring, fires gleaming, 
 vessels steaming. 
 There is work on land and on ocean, and in regions 
 underground : 
 And full often, as I ponder o'er some lofty pile up 
 springing, 
 On triumphant deeds accomplished, on some mighty 
 victory won, 
 I find that in my ears a chime of thought has been set 
 
 ringing ; 
 
 " All great works are made- v/p of little worTcs well 
 done.'''' 
 
 Let us stand upon the shore, and hear afar the people 
 cheering, 
 See the vessel at her moorings, proudly waiting for 
 the launch ! 
 In eager flocks from all the docks the workmen are 
 appearing. 
 Who laid her planks in busy ranks with labour true 
 and staunch.
 
 How Great Works arc Done. 109 
 
 The plate-layers, and iron smiths, the carpenter with 
 hammer. 
 The sawyers and the armourers, and craftsmen one 
 by one, 
 With ready glee give three times three, and swell the 
 joyful clamour. 
 Their " great work was made up of little works well 
 done ! " 
 
 How grew the great cathedral pile, her buttresses and 
 towers ? 
 Whose hands laid the foundations deep, and raised 
 the walls on his:h ? 
 While slowly the grey arches rose, long days of working 
 hours, [by. 
 
 And years of busy working days, in patient toil went 
 Not the architects alone, not only earnest master- 
 builders, 
 But the men who hewed the timbers, and who 
 quarried forth the stone ; 
 The masons and the sculptors, and the carvers and the 
 gilders; [done ! " 
 
 " The great work was made up of little works well 
 
 Be in earnest ! be in earnest I our lives are not for 
 
 trifles, [lost : 
 
 In God's great building-army here no efforts can be 
 
 The victories of our Leader are not won with swords 
 
 and rifles, 
 
 But noiseless deeds and secret prayers oft spread the 
 
 triumph most :
 
 no Chimes from HeatJier-Bells. 
 
 Thro' all the land, let every hand give service for the 
 Master ; 
 They work who best remember that " well prayed is 
 well begun ; " 
 Each loving thought with action fraught will speed the 
 victory faster, 
 For " great works are made up of little works well 
 done ! "
 
 Ill 
 
 6atbcrci5 hj tbe Ulan. 
 
 ON a hill-side path in a distant land,* 
 A little branch from a vine- stem lay ; 
 It had dropp'd by chance from some gardener's hand, 
 
 And was withering fast in the burning day : 
 Faded, and dusty, and cast aside, 
 As the sua arose it must soon have died, 
 But for a maiden who pass'd that way. 
 
 She was weary, and very poor ; 
 
 But she stoop'd to gather the lonely bough ; 
 And bore it on to her cottage door, 
 
 And planted it tenderly, bending low : 
 And with care, as if for some flowering gem, 
 She watered and tended the wounded stem, 
 
 And the showers and sunshine bade it grow. 
 
 Years pass'd on, and a stately vine 
 
 Of choicest growth, and of branches fair, 
 
 Embower'd the maiden, who oft would twine 
 Its delicate leaves in her flowing hair ; 
 
 And who, smiling betimes, as she thought of the day 
 
 When the faded bough on the roadside lay, 
 Was rich from the wealth of the fruit it bare. 
 Which they sought from afar for its clusters rare. 
 
 * California.
 
 1 1 2 Chimes from Heather-Bells. 
 
 You and I, like that far-off maiden, 
 
 In a path which sometimes seems rough and rude, 
 In a world with trouble and sorrow laden, 
 
 May gather up openings for doing good : 
 A smile may lighten some weary heart, 
 A word may courage and hope impart ; 
 
 A whisper — " Thy sorrow is understood ! " 
 
 Some soul forgotten, perchance, by all. 
 
 Is ready to perish on life's rough way ; 
 We may stretch forth our hands where the faint ones 
 fall, 
 
 We may raise them up, we may love and pray ; 
 We see not the fruit of our planting now, 
 We know not whither this thing may grow. 
 
 But we work and wait for a coming Day.
 
 113 
 
 ACOIv'QU'KOR wept ! 'tis chronicled in story- 
 How he who won his fame o'er prostrate foes 
 On high embattled pinnacle of glory 
 
 Wept in unwelcome hour of forced repose. 
 " N"ow no more worlds to conquer !" was his cry ; 
 " And nouglit remains for victors but to die ! " 
 
 Another conqn'ror wept : — o'er one fair city, 
 
 Which He full fain had sheltered 'neath His wings, 
 
 He shed strong tears of tenderness and pity 
 
 Whom earth refus'd, whom Heav'n called King of 
 kings : 
 
 Then dying for the foes He yearned to save, 
 
 He vanquished death, and triumph'd o'er the grave.
 
 1 14 Chimes from Hcathei'-Bells. 
 
 Si^pij^mbcr. 
 
 THE earth has shaken her lap of treasure, 
 Her children are cared for; her work is done 
 She smiles upon them in quiet leisure, 
 And goes to dress for the afternoon. 
 
 Clad in gold brocade, and in purple stately, 
 With shimmering mist she will veil her brow ; 
 
 Then calm and tranquil will rest sedately 
 Till winter shall bring her a cap of snow. 
 
 Oh the rest after working hours ! 
 
 Oh the hush of the afternoon ! 
 Would we know that stillness and peace for ours, 
 
 Let us up and be doing ; — the light falls soon.
 
 115 
 
 Cbc |lit[c-Iog. 
 
 WE have gathered the logs for the Chinstmas fire ; 
 Where are the chiklren to bring them in ? 
 Pile them steadily, higher and higher I 
 
 Here is the youngest ! let him begin ! 
 Not a finer Yule-loo' burns in all the shire 
 
 Than this, which the woodman has toiled to win, 
 
 Christmas was o-lorious in Eno-land olden : 
 
 So they tell us in ancient rhymes ; 
 Let us make the age that we live in golden ! 
 
 For days to come live out " s^ood old times : " 
 Our hist'ries, Heav'n's message to Earth nnfolden. 
 
 Our gladness an echo of Christmas chimes. 
 
 Let us throw on the flames of our kindling fire 
 Harsh remembi^ance and thought of feud ; 
 
 Vengeful feeling, self-will 'd desire. 
 
 All that was bitter and coarse and rude ; 
 
 And now, while the blaze rises higher and higher, 
 Let our Christmas hearth be a holy rood ! 
 
 Let us warm our hearts while we Avarm our fincers, 
 
 Peace and goodwill holding gentle thrall ; 
 
 I 2
 
 ii6 Chimes from Heather-Bells. \ 
 
 While the Angels' psalm on our memory lingers 
 
 Let kindly words tell of love to all. •; 
 
 Open the door to the carol singers ! 
 
 Let the Bethlehem hymn sound from hearth and hall. ' 
 
 ] 
 
 1 
 
 Thou hast no frown for us, cold December! : 
 
 Care and trouble aside we leave ; 
 Golden the light of each glowing ember, j 
 
 While our voices we blend, and glad hopes we weave : 
 And for absent friends, whom we all remember, ; 
 
 Let us breathe a prayer on this Christmas Eve ! '
 
 ii; 
 
 W\n unb Iju. 
 
 WE must leave it for a wliile, 
 The seed wbicli we have sown ; 
 The spring-tide will not smile 
 
 Until wintry months have flown : 
 The land is not asleep 
 
 'Neath the mantle of her snows ; 
 And roots are striking deep 
 
 While the storm of winter blows : 
 When April comes to earth, 
 
 Clouds and sunshine in her sky, 
 The seedling will spring forth ; 
 
 We shall see it by and by. 
 
 We stand upon the shore 
 
 Whence the stately ships go forth 
 From the East to bring us store, 
 
 And full cargoes from the North ; 
 But years may come and go 
 
 While the watchers look in vain. 
 Till the children murmur low, 
 
 " They will ne'er return again !" , 
 And o'er the j^athless sea 
 
 Their mother strains her eye. 
 Saying, " We must patient be ! 
 
 They are coming by and by ! "
 
 Ii8 Chimes from HcatJicr-Bclls. 
 
 The message that we sent 
 
 To call the wanderer home, — 
 We wearied till it went ; 
 
 But the answer has not come. 
 And early in the day, 
 
 And in the evening late, 
 Hoping still, we softly say, 
 
 " We must trust and we must wait ! ' 
 And at each glad New Year 
 
 We whisper with a sigh, 
 " The spring will bring him here ; 
 
 We shall see him by and by ! " 
 
 We must work and we must wait 
 
 With patient heart and will. 
 Though the harvest may be late, 
 
 Though tlie promise tarry still ; 
 Though no vessel we discern 
 
 Bringing tidings to our shore, 
 Of the wanderers' return 
 
 Through the message which it bore, 
 Yet, not seeing, we believe 
 
 In a word which cannot die ; 
 Our times with God we leave ; 
 
 We must wait till by and by.
 
 119 
 
 DAT awaking, 
 Morning- breaking, 
 Reapers' toil : 
 Sickles gleaming, 
 Sunligkt streaming. 
 
 O'er tlie soil : 
 Harvest golden, 
 Nought withbolden 
 Of the spoil, 
 
 Noon-glare blinding. 
 Reapers binding 
 
 Yellow grain : 
 Yonder grouping, 
 Yonder drooping 
 
 On tlie plain : 
 When soft even 
 Veils the heaven 
 Rest is given — 
 
 Not till then. 
 
 Stealing shadows, 
 Dewy meadows. 
 
 Gathering gloom :
 
 1 20 Chimes from Heather-Bells. 
 
 Twilight falling, 
 Cliildren calling, 
 
 Father, come ! 
 Tired reapers, 
 Quiet sleepers. 
 
 Rest and Home.
 
 121 
 
 '' %i i\t fast." 
 
 WHEN the twilight gathers fast, 
 With a quiet still and deep, 
 When the busy day has past. 
 
 And the weary " falls on sleep ;" 
 When the life-long toil is o'er, 
 
 At the setting of the sun, 
 Comes joy for evermore 
 
 With the Master's word " Well dune ! " 
 
 'Mid the tread of many feet, 
 'Mid the hurry and the throng, 
 
 In the burden and the heat. 
 
 Have the working hours seemed long r 
 
 Softly the shadow falls. 
 
 And the pilgrim's race is run ; 
 
 While throuo-h celestial halls 
 
 o 
 
 Resounds the glad " Well done I " 
 
 D 
 
 Well worth the daily cross ; 
 
 Well worth the earnest toil ; 
 Well woi'th reproach and loss, 
 
 The fight on stranger soil ! 
 Let us lift our hearts, and pray, 
 
 And take our journey on ; 
 Work while 'tis call'd to-day 
 
 With the thought of that " Well done .' "
 
 122 Chimes from HcatJier-Bells. 
 
 IITITH eclioing cliime, in the miduiglit time, 
 YY The good old year will end ; 
 And with earnest care and with loving prayer, 
 I think of thee, ray friend. 
 
 Thine be joy in the year before thee. 
 
 Thine be love from thy loved ones round ; 
 
 Hope's glad sunlight stream brightly o'er thee, 
 Rest and calm in thy home abound ! 
 
 Be it thine in the year beginning, 
 
 Grief to lessen — to lighten care ; 
 Thine to shine on the sad and sinning 
 
 With loving deeds, and with earnest prayer ; 
 
 Thine to know, amid shades descending. 
 
 One, whose presence shines bright and clear 
 
 Thine a gladness that knows no ending, — 
 The changeless joy of a changeless year 
 
 Thus I think of thee, thus I pray for thee, 
 
 Now at the old year's end : 
 Heaven's blessing light up thy way for thee ! 
 
 1 wish thee joy, my friend.
 
 IV 
 
 CHIMES OF CHILD-LAND 
 
 " My Lord God, how well this life and play of children must jjlease 
 Thee ! Little children have such choice thoughts of God ; how He is 
 in heaven, and their owu dear Father." — Maktin Luther. 
 
 " Great reverence is due to a child." — Latin Proverb. 
 
 \
 
 125 
 
 THERE came a little Child to earth 
 Long ago : 
 And the angels of God proclaimed His birth, 
 
 Hisrh and low. 
 Out on the night so calm and still 
 
 Their song was heai^d, 
 For they knew that the Child on Bethlehem's hill 
 Was Christ the Lord. 
 
 Far away in a goodly land, 
 
 Fair and bright, 
 Children with crowns of glory stand. 
 
 Robed in white ; 
 In white more pure than the spotless snow, 
 
 And their tongues unite 
 In the psalm which the angels sang long ago 
 
 On Christmas night. 
 
 They sing how the Lord of that world so fair 
 
 A Child was born, 
 And that they might a crown of glory wear, 
 
 Wore a crown of thorn : 
 And in mortal weakness, in want, and pain, 
 
 Came forth to die. 
 That the children of earth might for ever reign 
 
 With Him on high.
 
 126 CJdnics of Child- Land. 
 
 • He has put oa his Kingly apparel now, 
 
 In that goodly land : 
 And He leads to where fountains of water flow 
 
 That chosen band : 
 And for evermore, in their garments fair 
 
 And undefil'd. 
 Those ransom'd children His praise declare 
 
 Who was once a Child.
 
 12/ 
 
 "forb, bbat imli Ckii bah Pc in Jlar' 
 
 I. 
 
 COULD I have been in the Holy Land 
 When our dear Lord Christ was there, 
 Could I have been one of the chosen band 
 
 Appointed His path to share, 
 My chief delight both by day and by night 
 Had been for His wants to care. 
 
 I could not have flown upon angel's wings 
 
 His ministry to fulfil ; 
 I could not have brought Him costly things ; 
 
 But with reverent heart, and still, 
 I would daily have stored each sacred word 
 
 Declarino' the Master's will. 
 
 o 
 
 And I mio-ht have souq-ht through the fields of corn 
 
 For the ripest and richest grain ; 
 He would not have looked on my gift with scorn, 
 
 ISTor have spurned it with cold disdain ; 
 But He would have smiled on the eager child 
 
 Whose oifering was not in vain. 
 
 Or I would have journeyed with willing feet 
 
 To the hills of the trailing vine, 
 And the richest clusters, purple and sweet. 
 
 Would have brought to their Lord and mine, — 
 In words repeating their lowly greeting, 
 
 " The fruits of the earth are Thine ! "
 
 128 Chimes of CJiild-Land. 
 
 And oh, if my Lord had been passing near 
 
 In the glare of the noon-tide heat, 
 "With cool well-water, sparkling and clear, 
 
 I had waited His steps to meet ; 
 And with loving word, saying, "Drink, my Lord," 
 
 Would have knelt at the Saviour's feet. 
 
 But the earth was orphaned when Jesus went ; 
 
 I wish we could see Him here ! 
 Or at least that a message to me were sent. 
 
 That an angel might once appear, 
 Who with gracious speech would appoint to each 
 
 Some work for the Master here ! 
 
 IL 
 
 A message has come from the Holy Land, 
 From the King who once dwelt below, 
 
 A message for all who obedient stand. 
 And are waiting to serve Him now ; 
 
 Christ our Lord, speak Thou the word, 
 Be it ours Thy will to know ! 
 
 " I am walking still on the distant earth 
 Where I once had my sad abode : 
 Not in easy paths, not in scenes of mu'th, 
 
 Not in pleasure's ensnaring road, 
 But in lonely ways and through weary days. 
 Still wanders the Son of Grod.
 
 ^^ Lord, what ivilt Thou have Mc to Do?" 129 
 
 " Men pass me by and they know me not, 
 Tliougli their welcome I still implore 
 
 In many a dreary and desolate spot 
 By the voice of the sad and poor : 
 
 Who will not hear when their feet draw near 
 Is turning Christ from the door. 
 
 Speak loving words by the lowly bed 
 
 Of her who in sorrow lies ; 
 With tender hand raise the drooping head 
 
 And bring light into tearful eyes ; 
 Still the Master needs such gentle deeds, 
 
 And such lowly sacrifice. 
 
 The bread of life to the weary soul 
 The Saviour still bids thee break ; 
 
 And living water which maketh whole 
 To the thirsty in spirit take : 
 
 Such olTei-ings meet lie at Jesu's feet, 
 When given for His dear sake. 
 
 " From thee let the tidings spread abroad 
 Of the love which brings sinners nigh ; 
 
 That He who once bow'd 'neath our sorrow's load 
 Still heals as He passes by ; 
 
 That life is given, and hope and Heaven, 
 To all who for mercy cry.
 
 130 Chimes of Child-Land. i 
 
 I 
 
 " Thus do His will while thy path still lies i 
 
 Through the earth which He trod for thee, — ! 
 
 For a little while, till thy waking eyes j 
 
 Shall the King in his beauty see ; i 
 
 And the glad sweet word be in glory heard | 
 
 ' Tliou last done it unto Me .' ' "
 
 131 
 
 l^tto gear's gtormng. 
 
 WE made our plan by the fire's red light, 
 As we sat on the hearth-rvig, Janie and I ; 
 We wanted so much to sit up last night, 
 To sit up, and to see the old year die. 
 
 We thought how much we should like to hear 
 If the clock sounded just as at other times, 
 
 And to wish each other a Happy New Year 
 
 As the last stroke died of the midnight chimes. 
 
 But they all of them shook their heads, and said, 
 How long we should both of us have to wait ; 
 
 And that birds in their nests go so soon to bed, 
 And how cross we should grow if we sat up late. 
 
 Yet, once we stayed up until half-past ten. 
 
 When we went to the feast at the harvest-home ; 
 
 We haven't been much more cross since then, 
 And it's very seldom that New Years come. 
 
 But we couldn't get them to give us leave. 
 Though they let us stay until nearly nine ; 
 
 And then — the last thing on our New Year's eve — 
 We peeped out to see if the night was fine. 
 
 We waited until we were left alone, 
 
 And then in the darkness Ave raised the blind ; 
 To have wakened and found the old year gone 
 
 Without one good-bye, would have been unkind. 
 
 K 2
 
 132 Chimes of Child- Land. 
 
 It seemed to us that tlie world outside 
 
 Had never before been so full of sighing — 
 
 As if down the valley, and far and wide, 
 Everything knew that the year was dying. 
 
 Round the church, from across the meadows, 
 The wind was sounding like burial marches ; 
 
 A.nd where house-lights glimmered the muffled shadows 
 Seemed stealing past towards the old grey arches. 
 
 And two stars like funeral tapers shone 
 
 Through the clouds which had gathered across the 
 sky; 
 Heavy cloud-blinds which would be let down, 
 
 We said, when the good old year should die. 
 
 Then we promised each other to lie awake. 
 And we tried very hard the watch to keep 
 
 But Janie's eyes would grow heavy, and ache, 
 And at last we both of us fell asleep. 
 
 And now, and now it is New Year's day, 
 
 And the snow has fallen all white and glistening, 
 
 Over the meadows and far away, 
 
 A spotless robe for the New Year's christening. 
 
 Have angels or fairies been here by night. 
 
 To where earth and leaves were aU brown and sod- 
 den ? 
 
 I want Janie to wake and look out at the sight. 
 At the pure white glitter of snow untrodden.
 
 Nezv Year's Morning. 133 
 
 Untrodden now ! — o'er the meadows hoary, 
 
 Soon many feet will pass to and fro : 
 At the end of the day we shall read its story 
 
 In foot-prints left on the spotless snow. 
 
 Every one who comes through the garden, 
 Must leave his track on the path to-day ; 
 
 A track which the clear sharp frost will harden, 
 Till the sun shall have melted the ice away. 
 
 I think I am glad,— it seems almost right 
 
 That things this morning should happen so, — 
 
 That the world without should be hung in white, 
 And not a foot-print have marked the snow. 
 
 I suppose they would call it a childish dreaming, 
 Which grown-up people can't stay to hear. 
 
 But the things outside in the world are seeming 
 Like a picture to me of the opening year. 
 
 I mean, that it seems as if, like the snow. 
 
 An unwritten page were beibre us spreading ; 
 
 The year is new and unsullied now — 
 
 The path which we all shall so soon be treading. 
 
 A path in which each of us leaves a track, • 
 In which foot-prints of children's feet remain ; 
 
 A path over which we can't travel back. 
 For old years never are new again.
 
 134 Chimes of Child-Land. 
 
 I think that the months pass so very slowly, 
 
 Though one's parents say that they fly too fast : 
 
 I wish I could keep this New Tear holy, 
 Better by far than I kept the last ! 
 
 • 
 
 I can't, without Him for my one true Guide, 
 Whose face the children in heav'n behold : 
 
 Where the snow is untrodden, the path untried, 
 He, only, aright can my steps uphold. 
 
 He can make me walk as His loving child. 
 
 He can teach me to work for Him here below ; 
 
 And oh, when my ways have been sin-defil'd, 
 He Himself can wash me whiter than snow. 
 
 Janie, I've been the first to waken. 
 
 And oh ! such beautiful things are here ! 
 
 The mists and darkness their flight have taken, 
 And I want to wish you a Happy New Year. 
 
 Wake lip, Janie, and see the sight ! 
 
 Wake up, Janie, and look at the snow ! 
 The good old year died at twelve last night, 
 
 It's a happy New Year to us, Janie, now !
 
 135 
 
 ''gou man ^ich tljc §uisus/' 
 
 I OFT-TIMES wonder men should sigh 
 For great and costly treasure, 
 For some exalted destiny, 
 
 For earth's forbidden pleasure : 
 And wistful memories return 
 
 Of childhood's happy hours, 
 And of a lesson children learn— 
 A lesson from the flowers. 
 
 When Spring has come to the waiting earth, 
 
 And buds peep forth to greet her, 
 And new-born flowers in waking mirth 
 
 Uplift their heads to meet her, 
 In the full joy of Easter-tide, 
 
 A thousand choirs are singing ; 
 And children's voices far and wide 
 
 In happy notes are ringing 
 
 They raise their eyes to the glittering banks, 
 
 Where choicest fliowers ai'e blowing ; 
 And they linger where in shining ranks 
 
 Earth's beautiful things are growing;. 
 Then falls upon each list'ning ear 
 
 The well-known voice parental. 
 And the little childi'en stay to hear 
 
 Its accents low and gentle.
 
 136 Chivies of Child- Land. 
 
 " Not where the blossoms choice and rnre 
 
 In bright array are shining, 
 In shelter'd nook and gay parterre 
 
 Their tendrils intertwininsr. 
 But where the flower of low degree 
 
 Its snowy head upraises, 
 There, children, let your footsteps be, 
 
 For you may pick the daisies." 
 
 In every heart there is a cell 
 
 Fenced round by deep affections, 
 Where, hidden from the world, there dwell 
 
 Our childhood's recollections : 
 And we can each recall the voice 
 
 In well-remember'd places. 
 Which bade us leave the flow'rets choice, 
 
 And stoop to pick the daisies. 
 
 That well-known voice no more is heard. 
 
 Those childish days are over. 
 Yet may we in that simple word 
 
 A deeper tone discover: 
 For as around their earthly guide 
 
 The little children gather, 
 So we our ways to Him confide 
 
 Who bids us say, " Our Father." 
 
 He leads us in a lowly path, 
 
 His love is true and tender, 
 And He bids us with a trusting faith 
 
 Our all to Him surrender ; 

 
 " Yoti may Pick the Daisies." 137 
 
 And every sigh for fair estate 
 
 And earthly joy, resigning, 
 With willing heart on Him to wait, 
 
 And follow nnrepining. 
 
 Tet, wheresoe'er onr Father leads, 
 
 Throughout life's wild'ring mazes, 
 The children's flow'rets lift their heads, 
 
 And "we may pick the daisies." 
 Our home delights, the smiles of friends. 
 
 The tranquil joys and lowly. 
 Which day by day His goodness sends, 
 
 With love which makes them holy ; 
 
 The countless gifts His hand supplies, 
 
 No needful thing denying, 
 Should bid us yield e'en what we prize, 
 
 For all on Him relying. 
 We are His children ! Be it ours 
 
 Through life to tune His praises ; 
 To leave untouch'd forbidden flow'rs, 
 
 And stoop to pick the daisies.
 
 138 
 
 ^t gcK-birb. 
 
 [These birds are, perhaps, more numerous than any others in the in- 
 terior of Australia. A recent traveller writes thus : " Never did the 
 bell-bird's note fall on our ears there but as the harbinger of good, for 
 never did we hear Ix, but we were sure to find water nigh at hand : 
 and many a time has it raised my drooping spirits, and those of my 
 companions, when in almost hopeless search for springs." 
 
 The little bell-bird always flies to water at sunset, and its ringing 
 note proclaims to all around where the precious treasure may be had.] 
 
 THE BIRD WHICH CALLS TO THE WATER. 
 
 WHEN far in the West the red sun is descending, 
 When the flowers on the breeze breathe a sigh for 
 the rain, 
 When, seeking for water, the traveller is wending 
 His wearisome way o'er the summer-dried plain, 
 A clear note comes ringing, 
 Its glad promise bringing, 
 A message of hope never sounded in vain. 
 
 No longer seek sadly in channel and hollow 
 
 The draught which so fain the lone trav'ller would 
 see ; 
 But the clear-sounding note of the sunset-bird follow, 
 It will guide to the stream flowing freshly and free : 
 The bell-bird is calling, 
 And water is falling. 
 Is falling, travel-worn wand'rer, for thee.
 
 The Bell-bird. 139 
 
 Afar thro' the world there roam, helpless and friendless, 
 
 Souls thirsting for water, hearts weary with care ; 
 Till some guiding-note reach them their search must be 
 endless ; 
 To the waters of life let us bid them repair : 
 The daylight is going, 
 But the fountain is flowing, 
 And all who are weary its blessings may share. 
 
 " Oh, wand'ring and helpless ones, come to the waters ! " 
 
 Let the cry echo forth to each far distant shore : 
 " The fountain is here for your sons and your daughters, 
 Come now, ere the sunlight of welcome be o'er I 
 Full, free, and for ever 
 Flows life's brimming river, 
 Who comes unto Jesus shall never thirst more ! "
 
 140 C J limes of CJiild-Land. 
 
 THE violets in the hedgerows, 
 And the bees in chorus humming, 
 And a fragrance rare in the sunny air. 
 And a breath of summer coming ; 
 
 And a Saturday half-holiday, 
 
 And all of us together 
 Making long yards of daisy-chain 
 
 In the happy April weather. 
 
 We wander'd up towards the church, 
 
 Fresh violets to gather ; 
 For every Sunday morning 
 
 There's a knot of flowers for father : 
 
 And as a nest of blossoms white, 
 
 Half-hidden, met my eye, 
 We heard a step and a pleasant voice, 
 
 And our clergyman came by. 
 
 And he spoke to us so kindly 
 
 As we curtsied in the lane. 
 That I offer'd him my flowers, 
 
 And show'd our daisy-chain. 
 
 His hair is white as silver. 
 
 And he stroked me with his hand, 
 Then half-aloud spoke words like these. 
 
 Which I scarce could understand : —
 
 Daisy Chains. 141 
 
 " These make their chains of daisies, 
 And some forge chains of gold, 
 And those there are whom prison chains 
 From light and hope withhold : 
 
 "And, children, you may daily, 
 By lowly deeds of love, 
 With tender care and secret prayer 
 And sunlight from above, 
 
 "Weave chains that ne'er are riven, 
 Entwining heart with heart, 
 And linking earth and heaven, 
 Which seem so far apart." 
 
 And then he cross'd the churchyai'd. 
 And I thought he look'd and sigh'd 
 
 As on the Sunday after 
 
 Our sweet Miss Alice died : 
 
 Miss Alice, whom the village call'd 
 
 The fairest of its flowers. 
 But who now lies still beneath the hill. 
 
 And will never more be ours. 
 
 And as I weave my chain, and take 
 The path by which he went, 
 
 With every link I think and think, 
 And wonder what he meant.
 
 142 Chimes of Child-Land. 
 
 CIjc (faster 6ospcI. 
 
 HARK ! the Easter bells are ringing, 
 Flinging music far and wide ; 
 All the world with life upspringing, 
 Welcomes in our Easter-tide. 
 
 Joyfully in earth and heaven 
 Echoes the triumphant lay, 
 
 " Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, 
 Jesus Christ is risen to-day." 
 
 Well do I remember still 
 
 Easter joys of other days, 
 Our grey church upon the hill, 
 
 Notes of resurrection praise ; 
 
 And how in the glad spring weather 
 Op'ning blossoms seemed to say, 
 
 " Let us all rejoice together ! 
 Children, this is Easter Day! " 
 
 How we listened for the choir, 
 And the anthem's joyful strain ; 
 
 Higher rose the notes and higher. 
 Praises of the Lamb once slain : — 
 
 " Jesus here on earth despised. 
 
 Now in heav'n our King and Priest, 
 Christ for us is sacrificed, 
 
 Therefore let us keep the Feast !"
 
 The Easter Gospel. 143 
 
 All the outer woi^ld was singing ! 
 
 Even when the music eeas'd, 
 On and on the words seemed rins-ino- 
 
 " Therefore let us keep the Feast ! " 
 
 While we heard with childish awe 
 That strange tale of Israel's flight. 
 
 And in solemn vision saw 
 
 "Wonders of the Paschal night ; 
 
 While with tenderer affection, 
 
 Later still we listened on, 
 Hearing of the resurrection 
 
 From the Gospel of Saint John, 
 
 Angel voices still seemed telling- 
 
 Of the King from death releast. 
 And the answering chorus swelling, 
 
 " Therefore let us keep the Feast ! " 
 
 And of all those Easter glories 
 
 One for me outshone the rest, 
 And of all the Easter stories, 
 
 That of John I loved the best ; 
 
 Telling how with love and pity- 
 Women watched, and wept, and prayed. 
 
 And within the Holy City 
 
 Through the Sabbath sadly stayed ;
 
 144 Chimes of Child-Land. 
 
 And how Mary, who departed 
 To the grave ere break of day, 
 
 Weeping stood, and broken-hearted, 
 At the place where Jesus lay : 
 
 Where the white-robed angels kept 
 Solemn guard beside the tomb : 
 
 How I longed, that while she wept 
 Christ, her risen Lord, would come ! 
 
 Longed to hear the story faster, 
 With its " Mary I " low and sweet. 
 
 With its cry, " Rabboni ! " Master ! 
 As she worshipp'd at his feet ; 
 
 Longed to share that wondrous greeting, 
 Longed to worship and adore ; 
 
 Still with new-born joy repeating, 
 " Jesus lives for evermore !" 
 
 Now, though childish days are over, 
 
 Still I love that story best ; 
 Still new meaning can discover 
 
 In the risen Lord's behest : 
 
 "Go, and tell my waiting brothers 
 That their Lord to heaven ascends ; 
 Mary, go and bring to others 
 
 Tidino:s which the Master sends." 
 
 -"o^
 
 The Easier Gospel. 143 
 
 Is for us that charge intended ? 
 
 Was for us that message meant ? 
 Has the great commission ended, 
 
 First by weeping Mary sent ? 
 
 May not toe on Easter morning, 
 
 Bending o'er the open grave, 
 Hear a voice of love and warning 
 
 From His lips who died to save ? 
 
 "If ye love me, tell my brothers 
 
 Of the Life, the Truth, the Way ; 
 Go, and spread abroad to others 
 All the joy of Easter day." 
 
 Let us each, then, live to carry 
 
 Tidings of a risen Christ ; 
 Let us each, like happy Mary, 
 
 Be His glad Evangelist : 
 
 Till redeemed, transformed, forgiven, 
 Through his death from death relejist, 
 
 'Mid the Easter joys of heaven 
 We for ever keep the Feast.
 
 146 Chimes of CJiild-Land. 
 
 SOWERS went throughout the land, 
 In the time of autumn leaves ; 
 Each "svith full and ready hand, 
 
 Each with thought of harvest sheaves. 
 Let us thus be doing 
 
 Work, God, for Thee ! 
 Daily, hourly, sowing 
 For Eternity. 
 
 Husbandmen through winter cold. 
 
 Showery spring, and summer drought, 
 Kept their watch o'er weald and wold, 
 To the fields their labour brought. 
 Heavenly Father, make us 
 Husbandmen for Thee ! 
 For Thy workers take us, 
 Thine the glory be ! 
 
 Reapers now in golden fields 
 Bind apace the heavy corn ; 
 Earth her willing tribute yields, 
 Joyful shines the harvest morn. 
 
 Slumb'ring souls and sleeping, 
 
 Master, dost Thou see ? 
 Let the thought of reaping 
 Waken us for Thee.
 
 Harvest Hymn. 147 
 
 Now the close of work has come, 
 
 Garner'd is the golden grain ; 
 Glad the song of Harvest Home 
 Echoes through the fields again. 
 Hear us, O our Father- 
 Let Thy kingdom come ; 
 Then Thy children gather 
 To the Harvest Home ! 
 
 L 2
 
 148 Chimes of CJiild-Land. 
 
 WHEN" the harvest is over in English fields, 
 And the reaper has garner'd liis latest sheaves, 
 And autumn secrets in copse and wood 
 
 Flush out from glowing September leaves, 
 Then ripe for the gath'ring and fair in growth, 
 Lie the trellised vines of the sunny South. 
 
 Gleaming soft in purple and gold, 
 
 From under the bowers of leafy green, 
 
 The clustering grapes in their own fair homes 
 Tender, and shy, and bright are seen : 
 
 1^0 treasures on earth have so fair a shrine 
 
 As the bounteous grapes of the southern vine. 
 
 Many a trav'ller with weary tread 
 
 Will rejoice because of the cluster sweet 
 
 Many an one on a couch of pain 
 
 The purple spoil with a smile will greet ; 
 
 The children laugh in their Italian homes, 
 
 And sing for joy when the vintage comes. 
 
 Thus it is throughout all the earth 
 
 That our Father works unto fruitful ends, 
 
 His dews and show'rs, and man's hard toil, 
 Crowning with blessing the gifts He sends ; 
 
 With loving care and with wise design. 
 
 Still the Master turns water into wine.
 
 The Vintage Gatherers. 149 
 
 Each of us, if we live for Him, 
 
 If we work in the vineyard for Christ our Lord, 
 May look for His blessing day by day 
 
 On each lowly effort, each Christ-like word ; 
 May our voices echo the welcoming strain, 
 When the Lord of the vineyard shall come again !
 
 150 Chimes of Child- Laud. 
 
 #ur Bunt. 
 
 I WONDER what we in the dale would do 
 Without our burn of the valley, 
 Wliich forth from its cradle high up in the hills 
 Comes leaping with smile and sally, 
 
 Till it eddies soft where the green bank dips, 
 
 Its waters in shadow darkling, 
 While Johnny and Harry sail their ships, 
 
 Their eyes with gladness sparkling. 
 
 Where high in the dale the miners toil, 
 
 Hard earning their daily bread. 
 Our burn comes down like a sou of the soil, 
 
 And works away at the lead : 
 
 It turns the wheels, it makes the steam, 
 
 It washes the ore with zest. 
 And does the work of a cart and team 
 
 In carrying off the rest. 
 
 It sings all the time while the rollers turn, 
 
 It's first in the field on Monday, 
 And six good days in ihe week works the burn. 
 
 Then runs clear and bright on Sunday. 
 
 Clear and bright ; and when church is done, 
 
 We wander among its daisies. 
 And mark how its waters reflect the sun. 
 
 With a Sunday song of praises.
 
 Our Burn. ^5^ 
 
 It turns the mill- wheel furtliev down ; 
 
 It grinds the flour for bread ; 
 It wo^'rks at a trade in the nearest town, 
 
 Besides its craft in lead : 
 
 It makes a leap with a bright cascade 
 
 To help in the dalesmen's quarry ; 
 It murmurs soft where the sick are laid, 
 
 And whispers low, " I'm sorry 
 
 I " 
 
 And by and by it falls in with the Wear, 
 Which visits through half the county ; 
 
 Many a tale, both far and near, 
 Is told of the river's bounty ; 
 
 But we of the dale all know full well, 
 That otiT burn, with nameless waters. 
 
 Swells the busy flood, and, unknown, brings good 
 To earth's toiling sons and daughters. 
 
 Come Harry, Johnny ; it's getting late ! 
 
 You must bring your ships to port ; 
 The light fades early across the moors, • 
 
 For the days are growing short. 
 
 You want a story ! no, not to-night ; 
 
 You've enough with our burn's own teaching 
 An ev'ning's sermon for you and me. 
 
 Its voice is steadily preaching : —
 
 1 52 Chimes of Child-Land. 
 
 " Listen ! " it says, on its busy wav, 
 " Be earnest, and brave, and true ; 
 And set to work without any delay, 
 Wherever there's work to do. 
 
 " In giving forth the burn of the north 
 Finds freshness, life, and gladness ; 
 His hand receives who freest gives. 
 And most brings hope to sadness. 
 
 " On Sundays leave your work behind, 
 And sing wdth glad thanksgiving, 
 For Sunday praise lights up other days, 
 And joy brings life to living. 
 
 " And let your stream, unknown, unseen. 
 Swell wider streams of pity ; 
 We must work and pray, not play and dream, 
 In village and town and city. 
 
 " Many an one in pain and fear. 
 For the water of life is pining. 
 Many a land in darkness drear 
 Awaits the true light's shining. 
 
 " Our Father dear would have your hearts 
 To His glad service given ; 
 From the mountain burn let the children learn 
 On earth to live for heaven." 
 
 RookliOT^e.
 
 IS: 
 
 |ii 11k .Sluing. 
 
 THE picture-book days of the year are over, 
 The waving flowers, the flush of June ; 
 The harvest-reaping, the purple clover, — 
 We shall be talking of Christmas soon ! 
 
 Even the gold of our calm October 
 
 Has faded at last into brown and gray ; 
 
 I, with the year, must be growing sober, 
 Eor I do not care to swing high to-day. 
 
 Backwards and forwards ! slower and slower !— 
 There fly the rooks to the top of the spire ! 
 
 The November clouds drop lower and lower, 
 While they whirl solemnly higher and higher. 
 
 Are you chattering there of the fortunate swallows, 
 Who afar to the summer-lands have flown ? 
 
 To orange gardens and vine-clad hollows, 
 
 Till our winter days shall have passed and gone. 
 
 Or, architect birds, are you holding a meeting 
 For settling repairs of the winter nests ? 
 
 Each in his owai solemn voice repeating 
 His sage decree and his grave behests. 
 
 Wise old rooks at the top of the steeple ! 
 
 You only caw while the other birds sing : 
 I think you are rather like grown-up people. 
 
 Who have to look on while we young ones swing.
 
 154 Chivies of Child-Land. 
 
 Grown-up people ! I sometimes wonder 
 
 When I hear thein talking of days gone by, 
 
 Whether they ever sit still and ponder 
 On the year which only grows up to die. 
 
 Is it because they have known so many 
 
 That they speak of dead years as familiar things ? 
 
 I, who scarcely remember any, 
 
 Wonder at all that each season brings. 
 
 It seems almost sad that when sowing and reaping, 
 And the beautiful work in the world is done, 
 
 The earth should wake always from rest in sleeping 
 To find quite a strange new year begun. 
 
 I was thinking on Sunday, half through the sermon, 
 Of the short sweet Psalm that was read before, — 
 
 Of the hill of Zion, and dews of Hermon, 
 And the blessing promised for evermore : 
 
 Was thinking how sure is the firm foundation 
 Of the hills that are round about us here, 
 
 And God says that as sure is His great salvation, 
 And the blessing which does not die with the year. 
 
 Then a breath of the Autumn wind passed, sighing, 
 And pushing aside the heavy church door ; 
 
 I saw it had left a dead leaf lying 
 
 On our Grade's arrave in the chancel floor.
 
 In tJic Siviiig. 155 
 
 Only last Spring ! I so well remember 
 
 Her quiet smile and tlie kiss I gave ; 
 It was April then — and it's now November, 
 
 And the withered leaf lies on Gracie's grave. 
 
 Wlien Christmas comes we shall feel so lonely : — ■ 
 She was our Christmas gift one year : 
 
 I long for her often and often ; — only 
 Heaven is better than being here. 
 
 " We all do fade as a leaf" was engraven 
 On the marble stone under which she lies ; 
 
 But she is a beautiful flower in Heaven — • 
 Our baby Grace with the happy eyes. 
 
 Books say that the life we live every minute 
 
 Is like the year as it travels past — 
 Spring, and Summer, and Autumn in it, 
 
 And — "we all do fade as a leaf" — at last. 
 
 I suppose that my fading will happen one day 
 (Though things in books are not always true) ; 
 
 And I was wishing in church on Sunday 
 
 For the promised blessing which falls as dew. 
 
 For spring-time and sowing should come together ; 
 
 I may be having a seed-time now ; 
 Scattering grains which in harvest weather 
 Into some blossoming ears may grow.
 
 156 Chimes of Child-Land. 
 
 A child's hand, even, can plant a daisy ; 
 
 And the dew falls even where daisies grow 
 I always long, when I think of Gracie, 
 
 To be doing something for Jesus now : 
 
 For Jesus Christ whom she sees in Heaven, 
 Who took her tenderly while she smiled ; 
 
 For Him in whose name we have been forgiven. 
 Who knew what it was to be a child. 
 
 I should like, in the day when the angel-reapers 
 Shall gather the children their Lord to greet, 
 
 And shall gently awaken the quiet sleepers, 
 To lay some gift at the Master's feet. 
 
 Some little efforts and offerings lowly 
 
 I even now unto Him may b 'ing, 
 His love in taking them makes them holy — 
 
 He vrould not like me to waste my Spring. 
 
 Backwards and forwards — slower and slower — 
 I hear the pattering drops begin : 
 
 The clouds have been falling lower and lower ; 
 I think it is time to be going in !
 
 o/ 
 
 Jobcmber. 
 
 " THE winter is comirig ! " the children cry, 
 
 -L And are thinking of frozen fingers : 
 " Onl}^ here and there do the red leaves lie 
 
 While the beautiful autumn lingers ; 
 The days are growing so short and drear, 
 
 And it's cold getting up in the morning : 
 We wish that the summer were always here, 
 
 Our gardens and fields adorning ! " 
 
 The wind passes over the field forlorn 
 
 And sighs out its tale of trouble : 
 " I once was a field of golden corn, 
 
 And now I'm a field of stubble ! " 
 The birds have flown to the sunny South, 
 
 And the Robin is grave and steady. 
 As if not caring to open his mouth 
 
 Till his Christmas songs are ready. 
 
 Cheer up, children ! behind the bars 
 
 The fire glows in the twilight ; 
 A few more weeks, and the Christmas stars 
 
 Will be winking down through the skylight 
 There's a message for all of us, — you and me, 
 
 In this brown and gray November ; 
 There's woik for which we must all agree 
 
 Ere the twenty-fifth of December.
 
 158 Chimes of Child-Land. 
 
 See, bright are the garlands November weaves, 
 
 For the year so quickly dying ; 
 Let us gather up crimson and golden leaves 
 
 Which here on the ground are lying : 
 Let us gather up many an earnest thought 
 
 Which we had when the year was younger ; 
 Shall we let them wither and come to nought, 
 
 Or, living them, make them stronger. 
 
 And wreathe them now in the autumn drear. 
 
 My little sisters and brothers, 
 Into deeds which shall gladden the fading 3'ear, 
 
 Into gentle care for others ? 
 There are many whose sorrows our love may lighten. 
 
 The lonely, the sad, the weary ; 
 And those who for others the way would brighten 
 
 Will not find the winter drei.ry.
 
 159 
 
 (!!bristmas. 
 
 ECHO forth the Christmas carol, 
 Now the holly garland weave ; 
 Deck the church with green apparel, 
 In the liffht of Christmas Eve. 
 
 For Christmas comes with a song, 
 And with words of holy cheer ; 
 With children's laughter in happy throng, 
 And with hopes for a glad New Year ! 
 
 Brighten, with the Christmas greeting. 
 Eyes through pain and weeping dim : 
 To the sad in heart repeating 
 Echoes of the angels' hymn. 
 
 For their Christmas comes with a sigh, 
 
 And with thoughts of other times; 
 And many a dream of the past floats by 
 With the sound of the midnight chimes. 
 
 Think of those who still are ours, 
 
 Though in regions far away ; 
 Sunny skies and starry flowers 
 They would give for home to-day : 
 
 For their Christmas comes where they roam 
 
 With a thought of over the sea ; 
 And with tender dreams of the friends at home, 
 And a soft—" Will they think of me .?"
 
 i6o Chimes of Oiild-Land. 
 
 Now, while friend with friend is meeting, 
 
 While the glistering boughs they wreathe. 
 Send I forth for thee mj greeting, — 
 Loving prayers for thee I breathe : 
 May thy Christmas come with a song, 
 
 With the light of the Christmas Star ; 
 May visions bright o'er .thy pathway throng. 
 
 And joys from a Land afar ! 
 Such hopes for thee I weave. 
 
 While the bells chime full and clear ; 
 And oh, may the light of thy Christmas Eve 
 Shine soft o'er a glad New Tear !
 
 i6i 
 
 Waiting for i\n ^nsto^r. 
 
 (not wholly an imagination.) 
 
 T'HE Year had joined hands with stern Winter at 
 •J- parting, 
 
 Only feeling the grasp of his fingers still ; 
 The jubilant Earth, from his fetters upstarting, 
 
 Wore buds in the valley, and lights on the hill. 
 
 Tremulous airs, prophetic with cadence, 
 
 Thrill'd forth the promise of joys to come ; 
 
 Breathing soft round the glad little holiday maidens 
 Who in greenwood and copse discerned Spring in the 
 loom. 
 
 High up to heaven the clear morning hymn rose, 
 As we claimed treasure-trove from each low-leaved 
 nest, — 
 
 Here a first violet, there a shy primrose, — 
 
 And held up our trophies with " Mine's the best ! " 
 
 I can remember the sheltered hollow, — 
 I called it my arbour — half up the hill ; 
 
 And the hidden path which I loved to follow, 
 I knew it so well I could find it still. 
 
 I had reached it alone ; — the red cliffs were under, 
 The blue waves dreamily murmuring ; 
 
 And I was wond'ring as children wonder 
 At the marvellous miracle-play of Spring. 
 
 M
 
 1 62 Chimes of Child-Land. 
 
 I said, " Does Grod, who is always holding 
 This breathing Earth in His mighty hand, 
 
 Himself stoop to care for each blossom unfolding, 
 As He weaves oiit the greenness thro' all the land ? 
 
 " Or do flow'rs come forth, and the feathery grasses, 
 
 And every lovely and beatitiful thing. 
 When high up in heav'n the Royal Act passes, 
 
 And God says mightily, ' Let there be Spring ! ' " 
 
 I heard some one talk, till my brain grew weary. 
 Of His glorious will as " a Great First Cause ; " 
 
 And in words which to me sounded cold and dreary, 
 Of "Nature's outworking of stern fixed laws." 
 
 But I like to think that He loves each flow'r ; 
 
 That He paints the soft tendrils of every leaf; 
 That He plans the downfall of every show'r. 
 
 To each stem athirst that He sends relief. 
 
 He knows the fowls on the foreso mountains, 
 
 On a thousand hills are His cattle fed ; 
 And He tells us how waters of springs and fountains 
 
 To the desolate wilderness herbs are led. 
 
 And yet — oh, it sometimes seems very hard. 
 
 Yes, very hard to be understood 
 "Why He lets His beautiful works be marr'd, 
 
 Which we know He makes perfect and " very good." 
 
 The angry gale and the storm- wind rushing, 
 
 Destroy full many a flowery wreath ; 
 Last week a whole pile of the cliff fell, crushing 
 
 The fast-budding chestnuts which grew beneath.
 
 Waiting for the Anszvcr. 163 
 
 When the blossom is out in our orchard-meadows, 
 Like a rose-tinted veil all over the land, 
 
 The east-wind comes up with its blighting shadows, 
 As if some bad fairy had waved his wand. 
 
 If our Father knows of each sparrow falling, 
 
 Why do the young ones so often fall ? 
 Since He hears the voice of His creatures calling. 
 
 Why sometimes in vain do they seem to call ? 
 
 Is it wrong ? is it right ? to have thoughts like these, 
 When God is so good, and His world so fair ; 
 
 With the bay gleaming bright thro' these low-branch- 
 ing trees, 
 On this happy spring day, in this glad spring air r* 
 
 There are so many things that I want to be learning. 
 
 So many questionings go and come ; 
 These thoughts which are ever and aye returning 
 
 I shall take to our father when we 2:0 home. 
 
 O" 
 
 I think that he knows almost everj^thing ; 
 
 And has read all the books on the study slielves ; 
 And hard questions which sometimes to him we bring 
 
 He helps us to find out all by ourselves. 
 
 They are calling ! yes, yes, I have flowers to gather, — 
 " I am here ! don't you see me ? I'll come ! I'll 
 come ! " 
 
 Spring flowers for mother ; questions for father ; 
 Head full and hands full for going home !
 
 164 Chimes of Child-Land. 
 
 He scarcely saw me -when first I entered, 
 And stole with white violets into the room ; 
 
 On some vellumed folio his thoughts were centred, 
 Till he looked up, breathing the sweet perfume. 
 
 And I said, " These are letters for you, dear father! 
 
 They are sent by the spring-time from under the trees ; 
 And some questions came with them, hard questions, 
 rather, 
 
 May the postman wait for the answer, please ? " 
 
 I knew I might stay, when he laid down his book, 
 The black-lettered page, with its margin wide ; 
 
 And the low brown stool from the hearth I took. 
 And told out my tale, nestling close to his side. 
 
 And he threw his arm round his little daughter, 
 And I felt his hand as he stroked my hair, 
 
 While we both looked forth to where, over the water. 
 Our Devonshire hills stood out green and fair. 
 
 And I knew that away his thoughts had travelled, 
 Until, after a time, he looked down and smil'd, 
 
 Saying softly, " The skein is not here unravelled : 
 I cannot answer you now, dear child. 
 
 " These are only the fring-ings of deeper wond'rings. 
 Which have baffled heads wiser by far than mine ; 
 
 Infinite problems, and mighty pond'rings, 
 Concerniag the ways and the plans Divine."
 
 Waiting for the Anszver. 165 
 
 And then lie went on,— not, I felt, recollecting 
 His hearer, who followed with grave surprise ; 
 
 For I listened wond'ring, not half suspecting 
 
 That for questions of mine would come words so 
 wise : — 
 
 " Inscrutable problems of sin and sorrow, 
 
 God's grand ' very good ' by their discords jarr'd ; 
 
 To-day's hopes crushed by a harsh to-morrow, 
 
 To our eyes, His plans and His workings marr'd ; 
 
 " And above the floods. Love and Pow'r conceiving 
 
 Their fusion into eternity's plan ; 
 From sin and from sorrow one Hand outweaving 
 
 Glory to God and goodwill towards man. 
 
 " When our eyes shall behold Him, the Ancient of Days, 
 The work will be ended ; peace wrought out of 
 strife ; 
 
 And, in grand vindication of fathomless ways, 
 Out of death, resurrection, — unchangeable life." 
 
 Then to mo he said, " As my child gTOWS older. 
 And looks round on a world of want and care, 
 
 May her Father in heav'n with love enfold her. 
 And keep her near Him in faith and pray'r ! 
 
 " There is much that wo here cannot understand ; 
 
 His dealings and plans are not ours to know ; 
 But no thread ever falls from His mighty hand : 
 
 We but see the reverse of the pattern now.
 
 1 66 CJiimes of Child-Land. 
 
 " Our sword and. our sliield must be kept from rusting 
 And tho' many liard questions our faith may prove, 
 
 We must trust our Father to keep us trusting, 
 And answer all doubtings with ' God is love ! ' 
 
 " He Himself is our surety : His Son was giv'n 
 To redeem this fair earth from its lost estate ; 
 
 But till all is made clear in the sunlight of heav'n, 
 My child and her father must learn to wait." 
 
 Many a year has pass'd away 
 
 Since our flower- exploits on that green hill-side ; 
 But the vision still lives of that fair spring day, 
 
 And the childish ponderings have not died. 
 
 In the orjDhan'd home, by the vacant chair, 
 
 In the want and the woe which Christ's messeno-ers 
 meet, 
 
 In what seem to us times of unanswered prayer. 
 In the rush and the throng of the city street ; 
 
 When the causes of right and of truth seem lost. 
 When sin is triumphant, and wrong unredrest. 
 
 When by grey disappointment life efforts are cross' t, 
 When the many are needing, the few finding, rest ; 
 
 When the labourer fails, and his work, forsaken, 
 Is exchanged for long days and lone nights of pain. 
 
 Though faith be unclouded and trust unshaken, 
 The old, old questions return again ;
 
 Waiting for the A nszver. 1 67 
 
 And for me gleam ouee more the clear lights tliro' the 
 
 wild wood ; 
 To my ear the low ripplings of blue waves come ; 
 And I answer my thoughts with the thought of my 
 
 childhood, 
 " My Father will tell me when I go Home." 
 
 Woodfall & Kinder, Printers, Milford Lane. Strand, Lon<ion. VV.C".
 
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