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 Under His Shadow." 
 
 TJI^ LAST POEMS 
 
 OF 
 
 FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL. 
 
 ONE HUNDREDTH THOUSAND. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 JAMES NISBET & CO., Eerners Street.
 
 Butler & Tanner, 
 
 The Selwood Priatingr Work* 
 
 Frome, and Londoa.
 
 47Sf 
 HSu. 
 
 "Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched 
 my mouth. And the Lord saia unto me. Behold I 
 have put My words in thy mouth." — jfer. i. 9. 
 
 " Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon 
 which Thou hast caused me to hope." — Fs. cxix. 49. 
 
 I will direct their work in truth." — /sa. IxL 8. 
 
 (Written or. the first pages of F. R, R.'t last 
 Manuscript Books.) 
 
 rsriierTT
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 My dear sister Frances had intended 
 writing an opening poem to this 
 volume, showing why she chose its 
 title of 
 
 "Under His Shadow." 
 
 Only these fragmentary lines, written 
 in pencil, were found : — 
 
 "Faint footsteps tracked the burning sand 
 Far o'er the wild white waste, 
 
 A thirsting band, lessening each hour ; 
 Lost was all energy for hopeful haste, 
 
 Lost e'en despair's convulsive power, 
 Although the dangerous glare 
 Fell fiercely through heat-quivering air.
 
 vi Preface. 
 
 Although the way was strewn with bleach- 
 ing bones, 
 And treasure dropped by hands that could 
 not care 
 For gold or precious stones ; 
 When very life evaporated, and although 
 
 There was no safety in that terrible plain. 
 No point of pause, but death. For swift or slow. 
 Advance or halt, seemed all alike in vain : — 
 
 Happily I have preserved in writing 
 the recollection of a conversation, in 
 which she gave me an outline of what 
 she intended the volume to be. 
 
 Three years ago, when we were in 
 Switzerland, and she was recovering 
 from illness, she said to me : " Marie, 
 I think my third volume of poems will 
 be my ' Nunc Dimittis ' 1 Do you re- 
 member my poem, 'Threefold Praise'? 
 I think my first volume, * Ministry of
 
 Preface. vii 
 
 Song,' was like Haydn ; then * Under 
 the Surface/ like Mendelssohn ; and I 
 want my third volume to be ' Messiah/ 
 all to His praise ! 
 
 " I should like the title to be 
 ' Under His Shadow/ I seem to see 
 four pictures suggested by that : un- 
 der the shadow of a rock in a weary 
 plain ; under the shadow of a tree ; 
 closer still, under the shadow ot His 
 wing ; nearest and closest, in the sha- 
 dow of His hand. Surely that hand 
 must be the pierced hand, that may 
 oftentimes press us sorely, and yet 
 evermore encircling, upholding, and 
 shadowing ! " 
 
 ' Only the day before my dear sister 
 died she asked me to collect and pub- 
 lish all her MS. poems. I said, "Shall 
 the title be 'Under His Shadow'?"
 
 viii Preface. 
 
 and she answered : " Oh, yes ; I am 
 so glad you remembered it." 
 
 And now she more than reaHzes her 
 own words : 
 
 " As we fall c'erawed 
 Upon our faces, and are lifted higher 
 By His great gentleness, and carried nigher 
 Than unredeemed angels, till we stand 
 
 Even in the hollow of His hand : 
 Nay, more ! we lean upon His breast : 
 There, there we find a point of perfect rest 
 
 And glorious safety ! " 
 
 Maria V. G. Havergal. 
 
 Oakhampton, Stourport, 
 November^ 1879.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 An Ii^terlude , . i 
 
 The Thoughts of God 2 
 
 Zenith 22 
 
 The Ministry of Intercession . • • • 53 
 
 The Voice of Many Waters . , ... 60 
 
 " Free to Serve" 66 
 
 Coming to the King ...... 69 
 
 Far More Exceeding . . .... 73 
 
 "The Splendour of God's Will" . ... 78 
 
 The Two Paths 83 
 
 "Vessels of Mercy, prepared unto glory ' . . 87 
 
 Only for Jesus 88 
 
 Daily Afterwards 89 
 
 Sunday Night . 51 
 
 Memorial Names 93 
 
 Precious Things ....... 94 
 
 115. — Miscellaneous. 
 
 Tiny Tokens 105 
 
 Mischief Making 107 
 
 Leaning over the Waterfall 109 
 
 Forest Voices ...,♦.. 112 
 
 The Turned Lesson 113
 
 Contents. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 ToHelga xi6 
 
 In loyal and loving remembrance of Princess 
 
 Alice 117 
 
 Our Red Letter Days 118 
 
 The Awakening . .... . . 118 
 
 Golden Land 121 
 
 April 121 
 
 Mizpah. Messages for Absent Friends . . 125 
 
 51:5. — Leaflets, 
 
 Hymn for March 31, 1873 129 
 
 Reality 131 
 
 Seulement pour Toi 135 
 
 A Song in the Night 137 
 
 What will you do without Him f .... 139 
 
 The Father waits for Thee 143 
 
 Will you not come ? 144 
 
 "The Shining Light," etc 146 
 
 Church Missionary Jubilee Hymn . . . 147 
 
 A Happy New Year to you 148 
 
 Another Year 149 
 
 New Year's Wishes 150 
 
 " Forgiven . . . even until nov/ " . . 152 
 
 5F. — Poems of Earlier Date. 
 
 Matthew xiv. J3 ...... . 157 
 
 Matthew xxvi. 30 159 
 
 To John Henry C , on his third birthday . 163 
 
 " Coming of Age " ...... 164
 
 Conte?its. 
 
 XI 
 
 Evelyn 
 
 Faithful Promises. New Year's Hymn 
 
 To the Princess Royal 
 
 Scotland's Welcome to the Princess Louise. 
 
 PAGE 
 167 
 172 
 
 176 
 
 F.- 
 
 -Latest Poems and Unfinished 
 Fragments. 
 
 Chosen Lessons .... 
 
 
 
 181 
 
 Hitherto and Henceforth . 
 
 
 
 . 181 
 
 Christmas Gifts .... 
 
 
 
 182 
 
 He hath Done it ! . , . 
 
 
 
 183 
 
 What Thou Wilt .... 
 
 
 
 185 
 
 The Key Found .... 
 
 
 
 186 
 
 The Song of a Summer Stream . 
 
 
 
 192 
 
 Hope 
 
 
 
 195 
 
 Fear not 
 
 
 
 196 
 
 "The Scripture cannot be Broken" 
 
 
 
 197 
 
 Nothing to Pay .... 
 
 
 
 198 
 
 " He Suffered " . . 
 
 
 
 199 
 
 Behold your King , 
 
 
 
 200 
 
 An Easter Prayer 
 
 
 
 201 
 
 Easter Dawn .... 
 
 
 
 203 
 
 The Seed of Song . . . . 
 
 
 
 204 
 
 " Behold the Bridegroom cometh !" 
 
 
 
 205 
 
 Unfinished Fragments . 
 
 
 
 206 
 
 " Most blessed for Ever " . 
 
 
 
 208
 
 
 UNDER HIS SHADOW." 
 
 A^r INTERLUDE. 
 
 ^T^HA T part is finished ! I lay down my 
 -^ pen, 
 
 And wonder if the thoughts will flow as fast 
 Through the more difficult detile. For the last 
 
 Was easy, and the channel deeper then. 
 iSIy Master, I will trust Thee for the rest ; 
 Give me just what Thou wilt, and that will be 
 my best ! 
 
 How can / tell the varied, hidden need 
 Of Thy dear children, all unknown to me, 
 
 Who at some future time may come and read 
 What I have written ! All are known to 
 Thee.
 
 " colder His Shaiiozu." 
 
 As Thou hast helped me, help me to the end ; 
 Give me Thy own sweet messages of love to 
 send. 
 
 So now, I pray Thee, keep my hand in Thine, 
 
 And guide it as Thou wilt. I do not ask 
 To understand the "wherefore " of each line ; 
 
 Mine is the sweeter, easier, happier task 
 Just to look up to Thee for every word, 
 Rest in Thy love, and trust, and know that I 
 am heard. 
 
 September llth, 1877. 
 
 The above " Interlude " was written after many of 
 the poems in this volume, and immediately preceding 
 "Zenith."— AT. V. G. H. 
 
 THE THOUGHTS OF GOD. 
 
 THY thoughts, O God ! O theme Divine ! 
 Except Thy Spirit in my darkness shine, 
 
 And make it light. 
 And overshadow me 
 With stilling might. 
 And touch my lips that I may speak of 
 Thee, — 
 How shall I soar
 
 The Thoughts of God. 
 
 To thoughts of Thy thoughts ? and how dare 
 to write 
 
 Of Thine? 
 
 Thou understandest mine 
 Far off and long before. 
 Thou searchest, knowest, compassest ! Thy 
 hand is laid 
 L'pon me. Whither shall I flee 
 From Omnipresence and Omniscience? If I 
 fly 
 To heaven, Thou art there also ! If I take 
 The wings of meaning, and my dwelling 
 make 
 In the uttermost parts of the great sea, 
 Even there Thy hand shall lead me, Thy right 
 hand 
 Shall hold me. If I say 
 Surely the night 
 Shall cover me, it shall be light 
 
 About me. Yea, the shade 
 Of darkness hideth not from Thee, 
 Night shineth as the day ; 
 The darkness and the light are both alike to 
 Thee. 
 Thee I will praise : for I am fearfully 
 And wonderfully made.
 
 " Under J-t'"t Shad oil 
 
 My substance was not hid from Thee 
 
 ^Vhen I was made in secret, curiously wrought 
 
 And yet imperfect. Then 
 
 Thine eyes did see me. In Thy book 
 
 Vv'ere all my members written, when 
 
 Not one of them was into being brought. 
 
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. 
 
 Too excellent, too high. Yet 'tis but one 
 
 Keen ray of Thy great sun 
 Touching an atom in a dusty nook ! 
 
 One ray ! Avhile others traverse depths pro- 
 found 
 Of possible chaos ; and illume 
 The boundless bound 
 Of space ; and vivify worlds all unguessed, 
 To whom 
 Our farthest eastern spark, 
 Caught by the mightiest telescope that ever 
 pierced the dark, 
 
 Is farthest west. 
 
 One ray ! while others overflow 
 The countless hosts of angels with celestial 
 blaze ; 
 
 With still diviner glow. 
 Flooding each heart with adoration sweet ;
 
 The Thoughts of God. 
 
 And yet too glorious for the gaze 
 Of seraphim, who cover face and feet 
 With burning wings, 
 While throuc;h the universe their '* Holy, 
 Holy," rings. 
 
 Only one ray ! Yet doth it come 
 So close to us, so very near, 
 Our inmost selves enfolding. 
 Discerning, penetrating, — we, beholding 
 Its terrible brightness, well might fear, 
 But for the glow 
 Of known and trusted Love that pulscth war;n 
 below. 
 
 And so 
 The psalm ariseth, strong and clear, 
 *' How precious are Thy thoughts to me, O 
 God ! 
 
 How great their sum ! " 
 Uncounted, marvellous, and vei-y deep and 
 broad. 
 Unsearchable and high ! 
 
 Infinity 
 Of holiest, mightiest mystery. 
 
 That never sight 
 ")r tongue of mortal seer 
 Coidd see or tell,
 
 Under His Shadow." 
 
 That never flight 
 Of flame-like spirits that in strength excel 
 Hath reached ! The very faith that brings 
 
 us near 
 Reveals new distances, new depths of light 
 Unfathomed, — seas of suns that never eye 
 Created hath beheld, or ever can behold ! 
 
 What know we of God's thoughts? One 
 word of gold 
 
 A volume doth enfold. 
 They are—" Not ours !" 
 Ours ? what are they? their value and their 
 
 powers ? 
 So evanescent, that while thousands fleet 
 Across the busy brain, 
 Only a few remain 
 To set their seal on memory's strange con- 
 sistence. 
 Of these, some worthless, some a life-regi-et, 
 
 That we would fain forget ; 
 And very few are rich and great and sweet ; 
 And fewer still are lasting gain, 
 And these most often born of pain. 
 Or sprung from strong concussion into strong 
 existence.
 
 The Thought J of God. 
 
 What else ? Even in their proudest strength 
 so weak, 
 So isolated and so rootless, 
 
 So flowerless and so fruitless ; — 
 We think, and dare not do, — we think, and 
 cannot speak ! 
 A thought alone is less than breath. 
 Only the shudder of a living death, 
 
 A thing of scorn, 
 A formless embryo in chaos born 
 It must be seized with resolute grasp of will, 
 
 With swiftness and with skill, 
 And moulded on life's anvil, ere it glow 
 With any fire or force ; 
 And wrought with many a blow 
 And welded in the heat by toiling strength 
 With many another, ere it go at length 
 The humblest mission to fulfil. 
 
 And then its tiny might 
 Is not inherent, but alone dependent 
 Upon the primal source 
 And spring of power, First, Sole, Supreme, 
 Transcendent ! 
 
 What else ? So circumscribed in flight ! 
 Like bats in sunshine, striking helpless wings 
 Against the shining things,
 
 8 " Under His Shadow." 
 
 That to their dazzled sight 
 Appear not ; hindered everywhere 
 By unseen obstacles with puzzling pain. 
 Or like the traveller, toiling long to gain 
 
 An Alpine summit, white and fair, 
 With far-extending view ; but still with- 
 held, 
 And to the downward track with fainting step 
 compelled. 
 By an intangible barrier ; for the air 
 Is all too rare. 
 Too keenly pure 
 For valley-dweller to endure. 
 For thus our thoughts rebound 
 From the Invisible-Infinite, on every side 
 
 Hemmed ever round 
 l!y the Impassable, that never mortal pinion 
 Ilath over-soared, that mocks at human 
 
 pride, 
 Imprisoned in its own supposed dominion. 
 
 What else? So mingled, so impure ; 
 So interwoven with the threads of sin, 
 Visible or invisible as the sight 
 
 Is purged to see them in God's light ; 
 So subtle in their changeful forms, now dark, 
 now bright ;
 
 The Thoughts of God. 
 
 Such mystery of iniquity within, 
 That we must loathe our very thoughts, but 
 for the cure 
 He hath devised, — the blessed Tree 
 The Lord hath shown us, that, cast in, can 
 
 heal 
 The fountain whence the bitter waters flow. 
 Divinest remedy 
 Whose power we feel, 
 Whose grace we comprehend not, but we 
 know. 
 
 What else? So fallible, so full of errors, — 
 No certainty ! In aught unproved and new, 
 Treading volcanic soil o'er smothered terrors ; 
 Spectral misgivings rising to the view, 
 
 As each step crushes through 
 Some older crust of truth assumed. And this 
 is all 
 
 That human thoughts can do, 
 Leaning on human strength and reason 
 solely ; 
 Now wrong, now right, now false, now 
 true, 
 
 As may befall ! 
 And even the tniest never reaching wholly 
 Truth Absolute,
 
 10 " Under His Shadow P 
 
 \ Tliat still our touch eludes, 
 
 ' And vanishes in deeper depths when man in- 
 trudes 
 Within her awful solitudes. 
 "Where many a string is mute 
 And many a-wanting, all the rest 
 Imperfectly attuned at best, — 
 We can but Avait for truth of tone, 
 For truth of modulation and expression, 
 With lowliest confession 
 Of utter powerlessness, content 
 To trust His thoughts and not our own, — 
 Until the Maker of the instrument 
 Shall tune it in another sphere, 
 By His own perfect hand and ear. 
 
 Now turn we from the darkness to the 
 
 light, 
 From dissonance to pure and full accord ! 
 " My thoughts are not as your thoughts, saiih 
 
 the Lord, 
 Nor are your ways as My ways. As tlie 
 
 height 
 Of heaven above the earth, so are My ways. 
 My thoughts, to yours ; — out of your sight. 
 Above your praise." 
 Oh, oracle most grand !
 
 The Thoughts of God. 
 
 Thus teaching by sublimest negative 
 What by a positive we could not understand, 
 Or, understanding, live ! 
 And now, search fearlessly 
 The imperfections and obscurity, 
 
 The weakness and impurity, 
 Of all our thoughts. On each discovery 
 Write, "Not as ours!" Then, in every 
 line, 
 
 Behold God's glory shine 
 In humbling yet sweet contrast, as we view 
 His thoughts. Eternal, Strong, aud IJoly, 
 Infinite, and True. 
 
 And now, what have we of these thoughts of 
 God, 
 
 So high, so deep, so broad? 
 What hath He given, and what are we re- 
 ceiving? 
 
 A revelation 
 Dim, pale, and cold 
 Beside their hidden fire, yet gorgeously en- 
 scrolled 
 
 Upon His wide Creation. 
 He would not all withhold. 
 His children in the silent darkness leaving ;
 
 " Umur His Shadow:' 
 
 Nur would He overwhelm our heart 
 
 And strike it dumb ; 
 And so He hath enfolded some 
 In fair expressions for the eye and ear ; 
 Though faint, yet clear; 
 Such as our powers may apprehend in 
 part. 
 
 Thus hath He wrought 
 The dazzling swiftness of the thought 
 That veiled itself for mortal ken in light. 
 And thus the myriad-handed might 
 Of that from which the million-teeming ocean 
 fell, 
 
 No greater toil to Him, 
 From silent depth to surfy rim. 
 Than the small ciystal drop which fills a rosy 
 shell. 
 And thus the Infinite Ideal 
 Of perfect Beauty, (only real 
 In Him and through Him, pure concep- 
 tion 
 Too exquisite for our perception.) 
 He hath translated, gi%'ing us such lines 
 
 As we can trace. 
 In mountain grandeur and in lily grace, 
 In sunset, cloudland, or soul-moulded face. 
 Such alphabets and signs
 
 The Thoughts of God. 
 
 As we, His little ones, may slowly, softly read, 
 Supplying thus a deep, true spirit-need. 
 
 What know we more ? One thought He 
 hath expressed 
 
 lu that great scheme 
 Of which we, straining, catch a glimpse or 
 
 gleam 
 In light or shadow ; — scheme embracing all, 
 Star-system cycles and the sparrow's fall ; — 
 Scheme all-combining, wisest, grandest, best. 
 \Ve call it Providence. And each may deem 
 Himself a tiny centre of that thought ; 
 
 For how mysteriously enwrought 
 Are all our moments in its foMs of might, 
 
 Our own horizon ever bcuuding 
 And yet not limiting, but still surrounding 
 Our lives, while reaching far beyond our 
 quickest sight. 
 A thought of consummated harmony ! 
 Each life is one note in that symphony. 
 Without which w^ere its cadence incomplete : 
 Yet each note complex, formed of many a 
 reed -, 
 And each reed quivering with vibrations pass- 
 ing count, 
 
 And each Tibration blending
 
 14 " Under His Shadow^ 
 
 In mystic trinities ascending 
 Through weird harmonics that recede 
 Into the unknown silences, or meet 
 In clashing thrills unanalysed, and mount 
 In tangled music, yet all plain and clear 
 
 Unto the Master's ear. 
 O thought of consummated melody 
 And perfect rhythm ! though its mighty beat 
 Transcend angelic faculty, 
 
 And though its mighty bars 
 May be the fall of worlds, the birth of stars, 
 Its measure — all eternity — 
 
 One echo, calm and sweet, 
 Our clue to this great music of God's plan, 
 Sounds on in ever- varying repeat — 
 Glory to God on high, peace and goodwill to 
 man ! 
 
 What have we more ? Scan we the blinding 
 blaze 
 
 Of the refulgent rays 
 Outpoured from the Very Fount of Light ? 
 One thought cf God in undiluted splendour. 
 Flashed on our feeble gaze, 
 Were never borne by mortal sight. 
 He knew it, and He gave, 
 In mercy tender,
 
 T]ie TJiojigJits of God. 15 
 
 All that the soul unwittingly doth crave, 
 
 All that it can receive. He robed 
 In finite words the sparkles of His thought, 
 The starry fire englobed 
 In tiny spheres of language, shielding, soften- 
 ing thus 
 The living, burning glory. And He brought 
 
 Even to us 
 This strange celestial treasure that no prayer 
 
 Had asked of Him, no ear had heard, 
 Nor heart of man conceived. He laid it 
 
 there. 
 Even at our feet, and said it was His Word, 
 O mystery of tender grace ! 
 
 We find 
 God's thoughts in human words enshrined, 
 God's veiy life and love with ours entwined. 
 All wonderingly from page to page we 
 
 pass. 
 Owning the darkening yet revealing glass ; 
 In every line we trace, 
 In fair display, 
 Prismatic atoms of the glorious bow 
 Projected on the darkest cloud that e'er 
 O'ergloomed the world that God had made 
 
 so fair, 
 The rainbow of His covenant ; each one
 
 1 6 " Under His Shadon'.'" 
 
 Receding perfectly a sevenfold ray, 
 Shot from the sun 
 Of His exceeding love, 
 Strong and serene above, 
 Upon a tremulous drop of tearful life below. 
 
 One thought, His thought of thoughts. 
 
 awakes our song 
 Of endless thanks and marvelling adoration 
 More than aught else. For Providence, 
 
 Creation, 
 All He hath made and all He doth pi-epare, 
 Thoughts grand and wise, and strong, 
 Thoughts tender and most fair. 
 Are pale beside the glory of Salvation, 
 Redemption's gracious plan and glorious reve- 
 lation : — 
 The focus where all rays unite ; 
 Each attribute arrayed in sevenfold light, 
 Each adding splendour to the rest. 
 The meeting blest 
 Of His great love and foreseen human woe 
 Struck forth a mighty fire, that sent a glow 
 Throughout the universe ; — an overflow 
 To the dim confines that none know 
 Save He who traced them ; lit up gloriously 
 The farthest vistas of Eternity ;
 
 The Thoughts oj God. 17 
 
 And, flooding heaven itself with radiance 
 new, 
 Revealed the heart of God, all-merciful, all- 
 true. 
 
 Thus are the thoughts of God made known 
 to men. 
 Yet is all revelation bounded 
 First by its vehicle, and then 
 By its reception. Unseen things 
 Remain unfathomed and unsounded. 
 And hidden as the springs 
 Of an immeasurable sea, 
 Because His thought, sublime and gre it, 
 No language finds commensurate 
 With its infinity ; 
 And when compressed in any finite mould, 
 'Tis but a fraction that the mind of man 
 Receiveth. For we hold 
 But what we span, 
 We only see 
 What feeble lenses and weak sight may scan. 
 And thus a double lessening, double veiling 
 Of the unimagined glory of a thought of I lim 
 Who dwells between the cherubim ! 
 First, suffering and paling
 
 1 8 '• Undo- His Shadow:' 
 
 By its necessitate transition 
 lom Infinite to Finite, for that all expression 
 Is by its nature finite ; then the vision 
 Which angels might receive straightway, 
 Unshorn of any ray, 
 And hold in full possession, 
 Must enter by the portal 
 Of faculties sin-paralyzed and mortal ; 
 And in the human breast's low- vaulted gloom 
 It finds no room 
 For any high display. 
 
 This is no guess-work. It is even so 
 "^Vith our poor thoughts. For they are 
 
 always riioiC 
 Than any form or language can convey. 
 We know 
 Things that we cannot say; 
 We soar, 
 Where we could never map our flight. 
 We see 
 Flashes and colourings too quick and bright 
 For any hand to paint. We meet 
 Depths that no line can sound. We hear 
 S'.range far-off mental music, all too sweet, 
 Too great for any earthly instrument ; 
 Gone, if we strive to bring it near.
 
 The TJioiights of God. 19 
 
 For who that knows 
 The sudden surging and the startling throes 
 Of subterranean soul-fires with no vent, 
 
 That seek an Etna all in vain ; — 
 Or the slow forming of some grand, fail 
 thought, 
 Willi exquisite lingering outwrought, 
 Only to melt before the touch of effort or of 
 pain : — 
 (Like quivering rose- fire 'neath a filmy veil 
 In mountain dawn, 
 That grows all still and pale 
 When the transparent silver is withdrawn.) 
 Oh ! who that knows but owns the meagre 
 dower 
 Of poor weak language married to thouglu's 
 royal power — 
 Oh ! who that knows but needs nmst 
 own, 
 
 If it be thus 
 Even with us, 
 Groping and tottering alone 
 Around the footstool of His throne, 
 With limited ideas and babe-like powers, 
 What must it be with Him, whose thoughts 
 are not as ours ! 
 
 L.
 
 20 " Under His SJu 
 
 And now 
 
 We only bow, 
 
 And gaze above 
 In raptured awe and silent love ; 
 
 For mortal speech 
 
 Can never reach 
 A word of meetly-moulded praise 
 For one glimpse of the blessed rays, 
 Ineffable and purely brigln, 
 Outflowing ever from the Unapproached Light. 
 
 They say there is a hollow, safe and still, 
 A point of coolness and repose 
 Within the centre of a flame, where life migltt 
 
 dwell 
 Unharmed and unconsumed, as in a luminous 
 shell, 
 Which the bright walls of fire enclose 
 In breachless splendour, barrier that no ibes 
 Could pass at wilh 
 
 There is a point of rest 
 \ At the great centre of the cyclone's force, 
 
 I A silence at its secret source ; — 
 
 I A little child mi^ht slumber undistressed.
 
 The TJioiights of God. 
 
 Without the ruffle of one fairy curl, 
 In that strange central calm amid the mighty 
 whirl. 
 
 So, in the centre of these thoughts of God, 
 Cyclones of power, consuming glory-fire, — 
 
 As we fall o'erawed 
 Upon our faces, and are lifted higher 
 By His great gentleness, and carried nigher 
 Than unredeemed angels, till we stand 
 Even in the hollow of His hand. 
 Nay, more ! we lean upon His breast — 
 There, there we find a point of perfect rest 
 And glorious safety. There we see 
 His thoughts to usward, thoughts of peace 
 That stoop intenderest love ; that still increase 
 With increase of our need ; that never change, 
 That never fail, or falter, or forget. 
 O pity infinite ! 
 O royal mercy free ! 
 O gentle climax of the depth and height 
 Of God's most precious thoughts, most won- 
 derful, most sti'ange ! 
 " For T am poor and needy, yet 
 The Lord Himself, Jehovah, thinketh upon meP^
 
 " Uvder His Shadoi. 
 
 ZENITH. 
 
 I. 
 
 WE watched the gradual rising of a star, 
 Whose delicate, clear light outshone 
 the crowd, 
 Gleaming between the rifts of parting 
 cloud, 
 Brighter above each dusky veiling bar : 
 The fairy child, the glimpse of girlish face. 
 Rising to woman's dower of fairest, fullest grace. 
 
 And still she rose, and still she calmly shone, 
 Walking in brightness ever brightening 
 
 still, 
 Gladdening, attracting at her queenly will, 
 With starlike influence. The years wore on, 
 And Isabel, the star, the pearl, the flower. 
 Could not but know her gift, the secret of her 
 power. 
 
 " Never so lovely as to-night," they said, 
 Again and yet again ! There came a night 
 When many owned afresh the royal might 
 Of beauty, as she came with snowfall tread, 
 And summer smile, and simple maiden dress. 
 Crowned only with the Ught and her own 
 loveliness.
 
 ZenitJi. 23 
 
 And the next day she was a little tired, 
 And the next night the rose had somewhat 
 
 paled ; 
 The fair pearl glistened, yet it somewhat 
 failed 
 
 Of the past gleam, the radiance all-admired, j 
 From the soft emerald of the wind-waved grass, ■ 
 How soon the diamond sparkle of the dew must 
 pass! 
 
 And the next week ^ the sunbeams vainly 
 sought 
 An entrance, where their merry rival lay 
 Fevered and weary ; while, from day to 
 day, 
 The quick pulse wasted what short slumber 
 brought 
 Of slow renewing. So the dark mist fell, 
 And hid the starry fire that all had loved so 
 well. 
 
 Again she shone, vlen from that dark mist 
 freed, 
 But with that singular radiance never 
 
 more ; j 
 
 The brightening upward path so quickly 1 
 
 o'er, I 
 
 The solemn westward curve befrun indeed ! J
 
 24 " U}ider His Shadow r 
 
 The unconscious zenith of her lovely light 
 For ever left behind on that gay triumph- 
 night ! 
 
 Ho ! for the Alps ! The weary plains of 
 France, 
 And the night shadows, leaving far be- 
 hind. 
 For pearl horizons with pure summits 
 lined, — 
 On through the Jura-gorge, in swift advance 
 Speeds Arthur, with keen hope and buoyant 
 
 glee,— 
 On to the mountain land, home of the strong 
 and free ! 
 
 On ! to the morning flush ot gold and 
 rose ; 
 On ! to the torrent and the hoary pine ; 
 On ! to the stillness of life's utmost line ; 
 On ! to the crimson fire of sunset snows. 
 Short starlit rest, then with the dawn's first 
 streak, 
 
 I On ! to the silent crown of some lone icy 
 I peak !
 
 Zenith. 
 
 'Twas no nerve-straining effort, then, for 
 him 
 To emulate the chamois-hunter's leap 
 Across the wide rock-chasm, or the deep 
 And darkly blue crevasse with treacherous 
 rim ; 
 Or climb the sharp arete, or slope of snow, 
 With Titan towers above, and cloud-filled 
 gulfs below. 
 
 It was no weariness or toil to count 
 
 Hour after hour in that weird white realm, 
 With guide of Alp-renown to touch the 
 helm 
 Of practised instinct ; rocky spires to mount, 
 Or track the steepest glacier's fissured length, 
 In the abounding joy of his unconquered 
 strength. 
 
 But it was gladness none can realize 
 
 Wlio have not felt the wild Excelsior 
 
 thrill, 
 The strange exhilarate energies, that fill 
 The bounding pulses, as the intenser skies 
 Embrace the infinite whiteness, clear and fair» 
 Inhaling vigorous life with that quick crystal 
 air.
 
 " Under His Shadow J' 
 
 That Alpine witcheiy still onward lures 
 Upward, still upward, till the fatal list 
 Grows longer of the early mourned and 
 missed ; 
 Leading where surest foot no more ensures 
 The life that is not ours to throw away 
 For the exciting joys of one brief summer day. 
 
 For there are suddea dangers none fore- 
 know ; 
 The scarlet-threaded rope can never mock 
 The sound-loosed avalanche, frost-cloven 
 rock, 
 Or whirling storm of paralyzing snow. 
 But Arthur's foot was kept ; no deathward 
 
 slips 
 Darkened the zenith of his strength with dire 
 eclipse. 
 
 So year by year, as his rich manhood filled, 
 He revelled in health-giving mountain feats ; 
 Spuming the trodden tracks and curious 
 streets. 
 As fit for old men, and for boys unskilled 
 In Alpine arts, not strong nor bold enough 
 To battle with the blast and scale the granite 
 bluff.
 
 Ze7iith. 
 
 One glowing August sun went forth in might, 
 And smote with rosy sword each snowy 
 
 brow, — 
 Bright accolade of grandeur ! Now, oh 
 now, 
 Amid that dazzling wealth of purest light. 
 His long ambition should be crowned at last, 
 And every former goal rejoicingly o'erpast ! 
 
 For ere the white fields softened in the glow, 
 He stood upon a long-wooed virgin peak, 
 One of the few fair prizes left to seek ; 
 Each rival pinnacle left far below ! 
 He stood in triumph on the conquered 
 
 height : 
 And yet a shadow fell upon his first delight ! 
 
 For well he knew that he had surely done 
 His utmost ; and that never summer day 
 Could bring a moment on its radiant way 
 Like the first freshness of that conquest, 
 won 
 Where all had lost before. A sudden tear 
 Veiled all the glorious view, so grand, so calm, 
 so clear !
 
 " U7ider His Shadow^ 
 
 III. 
 
 An hour of song . of musical delight 
 
 To those whose quick, instructed ear could 
 
 trace, 
 Through complex harmonies, the artistic 
 grace. 
 The finest shades of meaning, and the miglit 
 Of order and of law. Nor less to those 
 Who loved it as we love the fragrance of the 
 rose. 
 
 And Cecil stood, with all the added ease 
 Of ripe experience and of sure success ; 
 With all her glad instinctive consciousness 
 Of natural gift that could not fail to please ; 
 With all her rich maturity of tone, 
 Like sun-glow of the South on purple clusters 
 thrown. 
 
 She sang rejoicing in her song,— each bar 
 A separate pulse of pleasure. Were there 
 
 none 
 T-^ listen and applaud, or only one, 
 As freely she had poured it. For a star 
 Shines, not because we watch it ! Only blaze 
 Of artificial light reserves its measuied rays.
 
 Zeiiit]L. 
 
 Yet who, that ever tasted, does not know 
 The witchery of any phase of power, 
 Ascendancy unsought, magnetic dower 
 Of influence ? And Cecil found it so, 
 And though but vaguely conscious of her 
 
 might, 
 Lived in her o\^^a strong spell, a glamour of 
 delight. 
 
 Nor only joy of power and joy of song 
 To fill the singer's chalice were com- 
 bined ; 
 But sympathetic influences of mind, 
 Acting, re-acting, as the charmed throng 
 Followed the wave of her swift magic wand, 
 Vet lured her ever on to fair heights still 
 beyond. 
 
 And so the song passed to its dying fall. 
 As the electric interchanges crossed. 
 What marvel that the closing chord was 
 lost 
 In rush of quick applause and fond recall ! 
 And Cecil rose once more, and poured again. 
 From fuller gushing fount, the doubly welcomed
 
 30 " Ujider His Shadow" 
 
 HiLjher and higher rose the glorious song, 
 Deeper and deeper grew the silence 
 
 round ; 
 All unrestrained the free, full notes resound, 
 In splendid carol-gladness ; holding long 
 Unwearied listeners in chains unseen, 
 As willing captives led by their victorious 
 queen. 
 
 Tribute of wondering smile was freely paid; 
 And then, as subtle modulation wrought 
 Soft shadows in the sunny strain, some 
 brought 
 The deeper homage of a tear, and, swayed 
 Beyond confession, strove in vain to hide 
 The unconquerable rush of sweet emotion's tide. 
 
 Then once again the clear tones rose and 
 swelled, 
 While flashed the singer's eye with inward 
 
 fire ; 
 And still the spirit of the song soared 
 higher. 
 Until the closing cadei;re, as she held 
 All hearts entranced, till like a sunset ray 
 l"he last, long, sweet note thrilled, and softly 
 died away.
 
 ZeiiitJi. 
 
 And all was over ! Ah, she had not guessed 
 That she had touched the zenith of her 
 
 song, 
 That gradual declining, slow and long, 
 Must mark thepavu now trending to the west! 
 No boundary line is seen, and yet we cross 
 In one veiled hour, from gain, to sure though 
 lingering loss. 
 
 She often sang again. But oftener fell 
 Apologies of unaffected truth. 
 There was more effort, yet less power, in 
 sooth ! 
 The ringing tone less like a golden bell, 
 •* Not quite in voice of late. I '11 do my best ; 
 Do not expect too much ; — I think my voice 
 needs rest." 
 
 So one by one the songs no more were seen 
 That called for grandest tone and clearest 
 
 trill. 
 And when she sang, though old friends 
 loved it still. 
 The stranger wondered what the spell had 
 been. 
 And then they spoke of how she used to sing ! 
 Passing or passed away is every earthly thing.
 
 •^2 " Under His Shadow." 
 
 IV. 
 
 A silent house beneath a dome of stars ; 
 A deeply shaded lamp, a lonely room ; 
 A fire whose fitful whispers through the 
 gloom 
 In rhythmic cadence leapt athwart the bars ; 
 Abroad, worn desk; a broad, worn, bending 
 
 brow ; 
 Vei a bright eye beneath, full of strange bright- 
 ness now. 
 
 A rapid hand, that wrote swift words of 
 flame, 
 Far-glowing words to kindle other fires; 
 Words that might flash along Time's 
 mystic wires. 
 And thrill the ages with a deathless name ; 
 Barbed words, that fasten where they fall, and 
 
 stay 
 I >eep in the souls of men, and never pass away. 
 
 Little recked Theodore of fame that night, 
 And less of gold. The current was too 
 
 strong 
 For such vain barques to launch. It 
 swept along,
 
 Zenith. 33 
 
 Whither he hardly knew ; the impulse 
 bright — 
 Passing at every turn some opening view, 
 Some echoing mountain height, some vista 
 far and new. 
 
 Lost memories trooped in amid the crowd 
 Of happiest images : ethereal forms 
 Of weirdly prescient fancy, spectral 
 swarms, 
 Before him in oppressive beauty bowed, 
 And beckoned him, with gleaming hands, to 
 
 grasp 
 Their fleeting loveliness in firm and joyous 
 clasp. 
 
 And inward music rose, and wreathed 
 around 
 Each thought that shaped itself to outline 
 
 clear ; 
 The royal chimes rang on, more sweet, 
 more near. 
 With every gust. He caught the silver 
 sound. 
 And cast its fairy mantle o'er the flow 
 Of his melodious lines, in all their fiery 
 glow.
 
 34 " Under His Shadow." 
 
 Such times are but the crystallizing hours 
 That make the rainbow -bearing prism. 
 
 They change 
 Long-seelhing soul-solutions into strange 
 And startling forms ; — new properties and 
 powers 
 And beauties hardly dreamt, yet latent there, 
 The poet-touch evokes, strong, marvellous, 
 and fair. 
 
 For there are long, slow overtures before 
 Such bursts of song; much tension un- 
 
 confessed. 
 Much training and much tuning, — years 
 compressed. 
 Concentrated in ever-filling store ; 
 Till thoughts, that surged in secret deep 
 
 below, 
 Rise from volcanic fount in sudden overflow. 
 
 Much living to short writing ! such the law 
 Of living poems, that have force to reach 
 Depths that are sounded by no surface 
 speech, 
 And thence the s}'Tnpathetic waters draw, 
 With golden chain of m^ny a fire-forged link. 
 Gently, yet mightily, up to the pearly brink.
 
 Zenith. 35 
 
 Was it the stillness of the lonely night 
 That set his spirit free, with wizard hand, 
 Opening the gates of more than fairy- 
 land? 
 Oft had he known the pulse of poet-might. 
 But never quite the free, exultant power. 
 In which he revelled now tlirough that en- 
 chanted hour. 
 
 Was it not rather that the harvest-time, 
 After the sowing and the watering long, 
 Was fully come ; the golden sheaves of 
 song 
 Falling in fulness, and that royal chime 
 Pealing the harvest-home of wealth unseen. 
 Where the remaining years might only come 
 and glean ? 
 
 At length the last page lay beneath the 
 light, 
 From wavering erasure free, and wrought 
 Too perfectly for any after-thought. 
 He rose, threw up the sash, and on the 
 night,— 
 The brilliant, solemn night, — looked forth and 
 
 sighed, 
 And felt the immediate ebb of that unwonted 
 tide.
 
 36 " Utider His Shadow" 
 
 For it %vas over ! and the work was done 
 For which his life was lived ! unconscious 
 
 yet ! 
 The blossom fell because the fruit was 
 set; 
 The standard furled because the field was 
 won. 
 And, with the energy, the gladness passed. 
 And left him wearied out and sorrowful at last. 
 
 For only work that is for God alone 
 Hath an unceasing guerdon of delight, 
 A guerdon unaffected by the sight 
 Of great success, nor by its loss o'erthrown. 
 All else is vanity beneath the sun. 
 There may be joy in doing, but it palls when 
 done. 
 
 Once more. A battle-field of mental might, 
 A broad arena for the utmost skill 
 Of world-famed gladiators, echoing still 
 AVith praise or cruel blame, beyond the sight 
 Of each day's keen spectators, to the verge 
 Of widest continents and ocean's farthest
 
 Zenith. 37 
 
 A great arena, whence the issues flow 
 
 Not only through an empire, but a world, 
 
 Moulding the centuries : wherein are hurled 
 
 Thunders whose ultimate havoc none can 
 
 know, 
 
 Striking not names but nations : — such the 
 
 scene 
 Of conflict and renown, long entered by 
 Eugene. 
 
 Many a time his weighty sword he threw 
 Into the scale of victory, and swayed 
 The critical turns, the great events that 
 made 
 The era's history. For well he knew 
 Each subtle art of eloquence, combined 
 With rarest gifts of speech, and native powers 
 of mind, 
 
 I lis patriotism earned a noble meed 
 
 Of trust and honour, more than any fame. 
 
 And sweeter. Yet some thought his hard 
 
 won claim 
 
 Not meetly recognised. Perchance indeed 
 
 The shadow crossed his own thought, as he 
 
 found 
 Less kingly orators with heavier laurels 
 crowned.
 
 38 " Under His S ha dour 
 
 At length a contest of long doubtful end 
 Drew to a climax : and his soul was 
 
 stirred, 
 And every generous faculty was spurred 
 To utmost energy. For he could spend 
 His very self upon the cause that seemed 
 Clear justice and clear right ! or rather, so l)e 
 deemed ! 
 
 P'or there are few who care to analyse 
 The mingled motives, in their complex 
 
 force, 
 Of some apparently quite simple course. 
 One disentangled skein might well surprise. 
 Perhaps a "single heart " is nez'er known, 
 Save in the yielded life that lives for God 
 alone, — 
 
 And that is therefore doubted, as a dream, 
 By those who know not the tremendous 
 
 power 
 Of all-constraining love ! So in that hour 
 Of fierce excitement, 'mid the flashing gleam 
 Of measured glaive, I will not dare to say 
 That Eugene's purest zeal no party claim 
 might sway-
 
 Zenith. 
 
 Still, all combined to bid the eagle smr 
 Beyond the common clouds, the Siiilting 
 
 mists 
 Of eveiy-day debate, the very lists 
 Of strong opponents strengthening him the 
 more. 
 As the strong pinion finds the opposing breeze 
 The very means of rising over land and seas. * 
 
 So Eugene rose in his full manly strength, 
 Reining at first the fiery courser in, 
 That with calm concentration he might win 
 The captious ear ; — reserve of power at length. 
 At the right moment from the wise curb freed, 
 Triumphantly burst forth with grand impe- 
 tuous speed. 
 
 And as the great speech mounted to a pause 
 Some ioes were silenced, some wei-e wholly 
 
 gained, 
 And all were spellbound, stilled, and 
 marvel-chained, 
 And, more than all the clatter of applause, 
 The cause was won ! " Eugene was at his best 
 To-night ! " So much they knew ! They did 
 not know the rest ! 
 
 * See Duke of Argyll's "Reign of Law."
 
 40 " Under His Shadow. 
 
 For they who watched with envy or dehght 
 The moment of his zenith Httle knew 
 It was the moment of his setting too ; 
 For fell paralysis drew near that night. 
 Never again Eugene might proudly stand, 
 And sway the men who swayed the sceptre of 
 his land. 
 
 VI. 
 
 A simple Christmas-Day at home ! And yet 
 It was the very zenith of two stars 
 That rose together through the cloudy 
 
 bars, 
 In bright perpetual conjunction met, 
 A day whose memory should never cease, — 
 A Coronation-day of Love and Joy and Peace. 
 
 The culmination of two lives that passed 
 Through many a chance and change of 
 
 chequered years. 
 Each shining for the other, hopes and 
 fears 
 Centred within their home ! And now at last 
 They gazed upon a clear, calm sky around, 
 And rested in their love, that day serenely 
 crowned.
 
 Ze)iith. 4 1 
 
 Bernard and Constance had no wish beyond 
 
 Each other's gladness, and the fuller good 
 
 Of those beloved ones who blithely stood 
 
 Around the Christmas fire, — the fair and fond, 
 
 Tiie strong and merry, sons and daugliters 
 
 grown 
 In closest unity, — rich treasures all their own. 
 
 Bright arrows of full quiver ! still unshot 
 By ruthless bow of Time and scattered 
 
 wide, 
 Still in the sweet home-bundle tightly tied, 
 Though feathered for the flight from that 
 safe spot. 
 Fhght when? and whither? Ah me! who 
 
 might say 
 What should befall before another Christmas- 
 Day ! 
 
 Closer they clustered in the twilight fall, 
 And talked of pleasant memories of the 
 
 year, 
 And then of pleasant prospects far and 
 near ; 
 Each name responding at each gleeful call. 
 The merry mention of a dear name there 
 Had never yet been hushed by any empty chair.
 
 42 " Under Nh Shadow." 
 
 But, most of all, the gladness and the pride 
 Circled around the eldest brother's name ; 
 His first success, hi? rising college fame. 
 Made merriest music at that warm fireside ; 
 And in the parent-hearts deep echoes thrilled, 
 As the repeated chord proclaimed fond hopes 
 lulfilled. 
 
 No dim presentiment of sorrow fell 
 Upon that zenith hour of happiness, 
 Perhaps the brightest that could ever bless 
 A merely earthly lot ; the purest well 
 Of natural joy, unselfish, undefiled. 
 Up-springing to the day, while heaven above it 
 smiled. 
 
 And so the evening hours sped swiftly by, 
 And Christmas carols closed the happy time. 
 And Christiuai hells, in sweet wind-wafted 
 chime, 
 Stole softly through the shutters. Not a sigh 
 With music of the gay good -night was blent. 
 No discord in that full, harmonious content. 
 
 What then ? Bernard and Constance wake- 
 ful lav
 
 Zenith. 43 
 
 A long, long while, unwilling each to tell 
 
 That, as the midnight tolled, it seemed the 
 
 knell 
 
 Of the great gladness of that Christmas- Day- 
 
 " Oh, what if it should prove too bright to last. 
 
 Clear shining that precedes the wild and rainy 
 
 blast ! " 
 
 And they were right. It co2ild noX. come again ! 
 Sickness, and scattering, and varied woe, 
 Yet nothing but the lot of most below, 
 Soon marred the music of that perfect strain. 
 And though the westering path had many a 
 
 gleam. 
 That zenith joy was but an oft-remembered 
 dream. 
 
 VII. 
 
 A soft spring twilight. Cherry blossoms white 
 
 Whispered about the summer they were told 
 
 Was coming, when the beech trees would 
 
 unfold 
 
 Their horny buds, and chestnuts would be 
 
 dight 
 
 In great green leaves. *' What will become of 
 
 us?" 
 They wondered ! And they shivered as tliej 
 questioned thus.
 
 44 " Under His Shadoiu." 
 
 For the east wind came by, with curfew bell 
 Upon his wings, and touched them 
 
 stealthily, 
 Shrivelling the tender leaves. And silently 
 In their sweet white array the blossoms fell. 
 Ah for the zenith of the cherry tree ! 
 Yet is it past, although the snowy glories be? 
 
 Wait for the shining of the summer day ; 
 Wait for the crimson glow amid the green ; 
 Wait for the wealth of ruby ripeness, seen 
 After the fitful spring has passed away. . 
 Wait till the Master comes, with His own hand 
 To find His pleasant fmit in clusters rich and 
 grand. 
 
 Yes, soft spring twilight ! And a bowing 
 liead ; 
 A kneeling form amid the shadows grey ; 
 A heart from which the hopes had passed 
 away. 
 That made life exquisite as the blossoms 
 shed 
 Around that open M'indow ; — and a throb 
 Of dull grey pain, that rose, and forced one low 
 deep sob.
 
 ZejiitJi. 
 
 Only the zenith of his youtli had passed, 
 And scarcely that. Yet perhaps the 
 
 saddest time 
 Is while the echo of the matin chime 
 Has hardly died away in silence vast : 
 Sadder to realize the noonday height, 
 Than the slow-gathering shades of long im- 
 pending night. 
 
 It did not seem that there could ever be 
 Another zenith, different, and bright 
 With grander hopes, and far more glorious 
 light 
 Than all the spells of syren minstrelsy, 
 And all the love and gladness that entwined 
 The merry paths of youth for ever left behind. 
 
 For Godfrey had no special powers to spar 
 To emulation in the great world-race, 
 No special gifts or aims ; — the open 
 space 
 A possible joy had filled — the dream of her 
 Who might have been and yet was not to be 
 Queen of his life ! and now — the dark-draped 
 throne was free !
 
 46 " Under His Shadow." 
 
 Free ! Yet Another claimed that empty 
 throne, 
 And in the twilight He was drawing near, 
 'Mid all those shadows of dim grief, and fear. 
 And sense of vanity. The King unknown. 
 Unrecognised as yet, was come to reign. 
 And yet to crown the life that owned its life 
 was vain. 
 
 And while the spring airs trembled through 
 the trees, 
 The gracious Wind that bloweth where it 
 
 lists 
 Dispersed the fallacies, the world -breathed 
 mists 
 That hid unseen realities. That Breeze 
 Unveded the mysteries of hidden sin, 
 And let the all-searching Light flash startlingly 
 within. 
 
 Then the vague weariness was roused indeed 
 And passed away for ever, as he saw 
 The nearer lightnings of ihe holy law 
 Through suddenly deepening darkness ; then 
 the need, 
 More of a Saviour than mere safety, dawned 
 In lurid daybreak, as he glimpsed the gulf that 
 yawned
 
 Zoiiih. 47 
 
 Close at his feet — those careless feet that trod 
 So merrily a harmless-seeming course 
 Of merely useless pleasure, by the force 
 Of custom, and yet never came to God, 
 Never yet stepped upon the Living Way, 
 That only leads to life and everlasting day. 
 
 Again that holy Breeze swept by in might, 
 And fanned each faint desire to stronger 
 
 flame ; 
 He said, *' O bid me come to Thee ! " 
 He came, 
 Just as he was, that memorable night ; 
 And lo ! the King, who waited at the door, 
 Entered to save, to reign, and to go out no 
 more. 
 
 And then he saw those awful lightnings fall 
 Through the cleft heavens upon a lonely 
 
 Tree 
 That stood upon a mount called Calvary, 
 And knew that stroke had spent the fiery 
 ball: 
 And then the earthquake closed the gulf below. 
 While he stood all unscathed, safe from the 
 overthrow.
 
 U7ider His Shadow." 
 
 " Stood," said I? Nay ! in wonder and in 
 love 
 As on that more than vision Godfrey 
 
 gazed, 
 
 lie fell at his Deliverer's feet, and praised 
 
 With a new sweetness, sweet as harps above, 
 
 The Glorious One, whose royal grace had saved 
 
 The aimless wanderer, who never grace had 
 
 craved. 
 
 Far in the night this wondrous watch he kept 
 With the unslumbering Shepherd, while a 
 
 The first he ever knew without alloy, 
 Filled all his soul with light. At last he 
 slept, 
 Wrapped in this strange new peace, whose 
 
 steady beam 
 Made all his past life seem a sinful, troubled 
 dream. 
 
 What then ? It was no zenith, though the 
 
 star 
 Of life shone out at radiant height, that 
 
 dimmed 
 Each previous gleam to gloom that barely 
 
 rimmed
 
 Zenith. 49 
 
 The shifting clouds, with something, that, 
 
 from far. 
 Might have been fancied hght, yet only made 
 The darkness more discerned, the spirit more 
 
 afraid. 
 
 Rather it was the rising ! the first hour 
 Of the true shining, that should rise and 
 
 rise 
 From glory unto glory, through God's 
 skies. 
 In strengthening brightness and increasing 
 power. 
 A rising with no setting, for its height 
 Could only culminate in God's eternal light. 
 
 The feeble glimmer of the former days. 
 The hope, the love, the very glee, that 
 
 paled 
 Just at their seeming zenith, and then 
 failed 
 Of fuller sparkling, — all the scattered rays 
 Were caught up and transfigured, in the blaze 
 Of the new life of love, and energy, and 
 praise.
 
 50 " Under His ShadowT 
 
 The joy of loyal service to the King 
 
 Shone through them all, and lit up other 
 
 lives 
 \Yith the new fire of faith, that ever 
 strives, 
 Like a swift-kindling beacon, far to fling 
 The tidings of His victory, and claim 
 New subjects for His realm, new honour for 
 His Name. 
 
 And so the years flowed on, and only cast 
 Light, and more light, upon the shining 
 
 way. 
 That more and more shone to the perfect 
 day; 
 Always iiitenser, clearer than the past ; 
 Because they only bore him, on glad wing. 
 Nearer the Light of Light, the Presence of the 
 King. 
 
 Who recks the short recession of a wave 
 In the strong flowing of a tide ? And so 
 Without a pang could Godfrey leave below 
 Successive earthly zeniths, while he gave 
 A glad glance upward to the rainbow Throne, 
 And joyously pressed on to nobler heights 
 alone.
 
 Z£7iith. 5 1 
 
 Or if awhile a looming sorrow-cloud 
 
 He entered, still he found the Glory 
 
 there, 
 Shechinah-brightness resting still and fair 
 Within the holy curtains, as he bowed 
 Before the Presence on the Mercy-seat ; 
 Then forth he came with sound of golden bells 
 most sweet. 
 
 And then the music floated on the wind, 
 A constant carol of glad tidings told, 
 Of how the lives the One Life doth unfold 
 Are ever with that Life so closely twined, 
 That nought can separate, below, above, 
 And life itself is one long miracle of love. 
 
 At last the gentle tone was heard, that falls 
 In all-mysterious sweetness on the ear 
 That long has listened, longing, without 
 fear, 
 Because so well it knows the Voice that 
 calls ; 
 Though only once that solemn call is heard, 
 While angel-songs take up the echoes of the 
 word.
 
 52 " Under His ShadoivP 
 
 " Friend, go up higlier ! " So he took that 
 night 
 The one grand step, beyond the stars of 
 
 God, 
 Into the splendour, shadowless and broad, 
 Into the everlasting joy and light 
 The zenith of the earthly life was come ; 
 What marvel that the lips were for the moment 
 dumb ! 
 
 What then ? Eye hath not seen, ear hath 
 not heard ! 
 Wait till thou too hast fought the noble 
 
 strife, 
 And won, through Jesus Christ, the crown 
 of life ! 
 Then shalt thou know the glory of the word, 
 Then as the stars for ever — ever shine. 
 Beneath the King's own smile, — perpetual 
 Zenith thine ! 
 
 September nth, 1S77.
 
 The Ministry of Intercessio7i. 53 
 
 THE MINIS TR V OF INTERCESSION. 
 
 THERE is no holy service 
 But hath its secret bliss : 
 Yet, of all blessed ministries, 
 
 Is one so dear as this? 
 The ministry that cannot be 
 
 A wondering seraph's dower, 
 Enduing mortal weakness 
 
 With more than angel- power ; 
 The ministry of purest love 
 Uncrossed by any fear. 
 That bids us meet At the Master's fet-t 
 And keeps us very near. 
 
 God's ministers are many, 
 
 For this His gracious will. 
 Remembrancers that day and ni:;ht 
 
 This holy office fill. 
 While some are hushed in slumber. 
 
 Some to fresh service wake, 
 And thus the saintly number 
 
 No change or chance can break. 
 And thus the sacred courses 
 
 Are evermore fulfilled, 
 The tide of grace By time or place 
 
 Is never stayed or stilled.
 
 54 " Under His Shadoiu:' 
 
 Oh, if our ears were opened 
 
 To hear as angels do 
 The Intercession-chorus 
 
 Arising full and true, 
 We should hear it soft up-welling 
 
 In morning's pearly light ; 
 Through evening's shadows swelling 
 
 In grandly gathering might ; 
 The sultry silence filling 
 
 Of noontide's thunderous glow, 
 And the solemn starlight thrilling 
 
 With ever-deepening flow. 
 
 We should hear it through the rushing 
 
 Of the city's restless roar, 
 And trace its gentle gushing 
 
 O'er ocean's crystal floor : 
 We should hear it far up-floating 
 
 Beneath the Orient moon, 
 And catch the golden noting 
 
 From the busy Western noon ; 
 And pine-robed heights would echo 
 
 As the mystic chant up-floats, 
 And the sunny plain Resound again 
 
 With the myriad-mingling notes. 
 
 Who are the blessed ministers 
 Of this world-gathering band?
 
 TJie Ministry of Intercession. 55 
 
 All who have learnt one language, 
 
 Through each far-parted lard ; 
 All who have learnt the story 
 
 Of Jesu's love and grace, 
 And are longing for His glory 
 
 To shine in every face. 
 All who have known the Father 
 
 In Jesus Christ our Lord, 
 And know the might And love the light 
 
 Of the Spirit in the Word. 
 
 Yet there are some who see not 
 
 Their calling high and grand, 
 Who seldom pass the portals. 
 
 And never boldly stand 
 Before the golden altar 
 
 On the crimson-stained floor, 
 Who wait afar and falter, 
 
 And dare not hope for more. 
 Will ye not join the blessed rank? 
 
 In their beautiful array ? 
 Let intercession blend with thajiks 
 
 As ye minister to-day ! 
 
 There ai'e little ones among them, 
 
 Child-ministers of prayer, 
 White robes of intercession 
 
 Those tiny servants wear.
 
 S6 " Lhider His ShadoivP 
 
 First for the near and dear ones 
 
 Is that fair ministr)', 
 Then for the poor black children. 
 
 So far beyond the sea. 
 The busy hands are folded^ 
 
 As the little heart uplifts 
 In simple love, To God above,. 
 
 Its prayer for all good gifts. 
 
 There are hands too often weary 
 
 With the business of the day. 
 With God-entnisted duties, 
 
 Who are toiling while they pi^iy. 
 They bear the golden vi-als, 
 
 And the golden harps of praise. 
 Through all the daily trials, 
 
 Through all the dusty ways. 
 These hands, so tired, so faithful^ 
 
 With odours sweet are filled, 
 And in the ministry of prayes 
 
 Are wonderfully skilled. 
 
 There are ministers unlettered. 
 Not of Earth's great and wise, 
 
 Vet mighty and unfettered 
 Their eagle-prayers arise. 
 
 Free of the heavenly storehouse ! 
 For they hold the master-key
 
 Ths Minist}y of Intercession. 57 
 
 That opens all the fnlness 
 
 Of God's great treasuiy. 
 They bring the needs of others, 
 
 And all things are their own, 
 For their one grand claim Is Jesu's name 
 
 Before their Father's throne. 
 
 There are noble Christian workers, 
 
 The men of faith and power. 
 The overcoming wrestlers 
 
 Of many a midnight hour ; 
 Prevailing princes with their God, 
 
 Who will not be denied^ 
 Who bring down showers of blessing 
 
 To swell the rising tide. 
 The Prince of Darkness quail eth 
 
 At their triumphant way, 
 Their fervent prayer availelh 
 
 To sap his subtle sway. 
 
 But in this temple service 
 
 Are sealed and set apart 
 Arch-priests of intercessioii. 
 
 Of undivided heart. 
 The fulness o-f anointing; 
 
 On these is doubly sheet, 
 The consecration of their God 
 
 Is on each low-bowed head.
 
 58 " Under His Shadow" 
 
 They bear the golden vials 
 
 With white and trembling hand ; 
 In quiet room Or wakeful gloom 
 These ministers must stand, — 
 
 To the Intercession-Priesthood 
 
 Mysteriously ordained, 
 When the strange dark gift of sufferini 
 
 This added gift hath gained. 
 For the holy hands uplifted 
 
 I.>i suffering's longest hour 
 Are truly Spirit-gifted 
 
 With intercession-power. 
 The Lord of Blessing fills them 
 
 With His uncounted gold, 
 An unseen store, Still more and more 
 
 Those trembling hands shall hold. 
 
 Not always with rejoicing 
 
 This ministry is wrought, 
 For many a sigh is mingled 
 
 With the sweet odours brought. 
 Yet every tear bedewing 
 
 The faith-fed ahar fire 
 May be its bright renewing 
 
 To purer f^ame, and higher. 
 But when the oil of gladness 
 
 God graciously outpours,
 
 Tlie Ministry of Intercession. 59 
 
 The heavenward blaze, With blended praise 
 More mightily upsoars. 
 
 So the incense-cloud ascendeth 
 
 As through calm, crystal air, 
 A pillar reaching unto heaven 
 
 Of wreathed faith and prayer. 
 For evermore the Angel 
 
 Of Intercession stands 
 In His Divine High Priesthood, 
 
 With fragrance-filled hands, 
 To wave the golden censer 
 
 Before His Father's throne, 
 With Spirit-fire intenser, 
 
 And incense all His own. 
 And evermore the Father 
 
 Sends radiantly down 
 All -marvellous responses. 
 
 His ministers to crown ; 
 The incense cloud returning 
 
 As golden blessing- showers, 
 We in each drop discerning 
 
 Some feeble prayer of ours, 
 Transmuted into wealth unpriced, 
 
 By Plim who giveth thus 
 The glory all to Jesus Christ, 
 
 The gladness all to us ! 
 
 September, 1877.
 
 6o " Under His Shadoivr 
 
 THE VOICE OF MAXY WATERS. 
 
 FAR away I heard it, 
 Stealing through the pines^ 
 Like a whisper saintly, 
 Falling dimly, faintly, 
 Through the terraced vines. 
 
 Freshening breezes bore it 
 
 Down the mountain slope ; 
 So I turned and listened. 
 While the sunlight glistened 
 
 On the snowy cope. 
 
 Far away and dreamy 
 
 Was the voice I heard ; 
 Vet it pierced and found me. 
 Through the voices round me — 
 
 Song without a word. 
 
 All the life and turmoil. 
 
 All the busy cheer, 
 Melted in the flowing 
 Of that murmur, growing, 
 
 Claiming all my ear. 
 
 What the mountain message 
 I could never tell ;
 
 The Voice of Many Waters. 6i 
 
 Such yEolian fluting 
 Hath no language suiting 
 What we write and spell. 
 
 Rather did it enter 
 
 Where no words can win, 
 Touching and unsealing 
 Springs of hidden feeling 
 
 Slumbering deep within. 
 
 Voice of many waters 
 
 Only heard afar ! 
 Hushing, luring slowly, 
 With an influence holy, 
 
 Like the Orient star. 
 
 Following where it leadeth, 
 
 Till we stand below, 
 While the noble thunder 
 Wins the hush of wonder, 
 Silent in its glow. 
 
 Light and sound triumphant 
 
 Fill the eye and ear, 
 Every pulse is beating 
 Quick, unconscious greeting 
 To the vision near.
 
 62 " U7ider His Shadow." 
 
 Rainbow flames are wreathing 
 
 In the dazzling foam, 
 Fancy far transcending, 
 Power and beauty blending 
 In their radiant home. 
 
 All the dreamy longing 
 
 Passes out of sight, 
 In a swift surrender 
 To the joyous splendour 
 Of this song of might. 
 
 Self is lost and hidden 
 
 As it peals along ; 
 Fevered introspection, 
 Paler-browed reflection 
 
 Vanish in the song. 
 
 For the spirit, lifted 
 
 From the dulling mists, 
 Takes a stronger moulding, 
 As the sound, enfolding, 
 Bears it where it lists. 
 
 Voice of many Avaters ! 
 
 Must we turn away 
 From the crystal chorus 
 j Now resounding o'er us 
 
 Through the flashing spray?
 
 The Voice of Many Waters. 63 
 
 Far away we hear it, 
 
 Floating from the sky ; 
 Mystic echo, falling 
 Through the stars, and calling 
 
 From the thrones on high. 
 
 There are voices round us, 
 
 Busy, quick, and loud; 
 All day long we hear them. 
 We are still so near them, 
 
 Still among the crowd. 
 
 Yet amid the clamour 
 
 Falls it, faint and sweet, 
 Like the softest harp-tone 
 Passing every sharp tone 
 
 Down the noisy street. 
 
 To the soul-recesses 
 
 Cleaving then its way, 
 Waking hidden yearning, 
 Unwilled impulse turning 
 
 To the Far-away. 
 
 Far away and viewless, 
 
 Yet not all unknown — 
 In the murmur tracing 
 Soft notes interlacing 
 
 With familiar tone. V
 
 64 " Undet His Shadoz 
 
 So we start and listen 
 
 While the murmur low 
 Falleth ever clearer, 
 Swelleth ever nearer 
 In melodious flow. 
 
 Voice of many waters 
 
 From the heights above t 
 Hushing, luring slowly 
 With its influence holy, 
 With its song of love. 
 
 Following where it leadeth. 
 
 Pilgrim feet shall stand, 
 Where the holy millions 
 Throng the fair pavilions 
 In the Glorious Land ; 
 
 Where the sevenfold " Worthy 
 
 Hails the King of kings, 
 Blent with golden clashing 
 Of the crowns, and flashing 
 Of cherubic wings ; 
 
 Rolls the Amen chorus, 
 Old, vet ever new :
 
 The Voice of Many Waters. 65 
 
 Seal of blest allegiance, 
 Pledge of bright obedience, 
 Seal that God is true. 
 
 Through the solemn gluiy 
 
 Alleluias rise, 
 Mightiest exultation, 
 Holiest adoration, 
 
 Infinite surprise. 
 
 There immortal powers 
 
 Meet immortal song ; 
 Heavenly image bearing, 
 Angel-essence sharing, 
 
 Excellent and strong. 
 
 Strong to bear the glory 
 
 And the veil-less sight, 
 Strong to swell the thunders 
 And to know the wonders 
 
 Of the home of light. 
 
 Voice of many waters ! 
 
 Everlasting laud I 
 Hark ! it rushes nearer, 
 Every moment clearer. 
 
 From the Throne of God. 
 
 January \%th, 1878.
 
 66 " Under His Shadoiu: 
 
 ''FREE TO serve:' 
 
 SHE chose Hisservice. Forthe Lord of Love 
 Had chosen her, and paid the awful price 
 For her redemption ; and had sought her out, 
 And set her free, and clothed her gloriously, 
 And put His royal ring upon her hand, 
 And crowns of lovingkindness on her head. 
 She chose it. Yet it seemed she could not 
 
 yield 
 The fuller measure other lives could bring ; 
 For He had given her a precious gift, 
 A treasure and a charge to prize and keep, 
 A tiny hand, a darling hand, that traced 
 On her heart's tablet words of golden love. 
 And there was not much room for other lines, 
 For time and thought were spent, (and rightly 
 
 spent. 
 For He had given the charge,) and hours and 
 
 days 
 Were concentrated on the one dear task. 
 
 But He had need of her. Not one new 
 
 gem 
 But many, for His crowTi; — not one fair sheaf. 
 But many, she should bring. And she should 
 
 have
 
 ^'' Free to Serve." 67 
 
 A richer, happier harvest-home at last, 
 Because more fruit, more glory and more praise, 
 Her life should yield to Him. And so He 
 
 came, 
 The Master came Himself, and gently took 
 The little hand in His, and gave it room 
 Among the angel-harpers. Jesus came 
 And laid His own hand on the quivermg heait, 
 And made it very still, that He might write 
 Invisible words of power — "Free to serve !" 
 Then through the darkness and the chill He 
 
 sent 
 A heat-ray of His love, developing 
 The mystic writing, till it glowed and shone 
 And lit up all her life with radiance new, — 
 The happy service of a yielded heart. 
 With comfort that He never ceased to give 
 (Because her need could never cease) she filled 
 The empty chalices of other lives. 
 And time and thought were thenceforth spent 
 
 for Him 
 Who loved her with His everlasting love. 
 
 Let Him write what He will upon our hearts 
 With His unerring pen. They are His own, 
 1 [ewn from the rock by His selecting grace, 
 Prepared for His own glory. Let Him write !
 
 68 " Under His Shadow^ 
 
 Be sure He will not cross out one sweet word 
 But to inscribe a sweeter, — but to grave 
 One that shall shine for ever to His praise, 
 And thus fulfil our deepest heart-desire. 
 The tearful eye at first may read the line 
 " Bondage to grief!" but He shall wipe away 
 The tears, and clear the vision, till it read 
 In ever-brightening letters "Free to serve!" 
 For whom the Son makes free is free indeed. 
 
 Nor only by reclaiming His good gifts, 
 But by withholding, doth the r^Iaster write 
 These words upon the heart. Not always needs 
 Erasure of some blessed line of love 
 For this more blest inscription. Where He 
 
 finds 
 A tablet empty for the " lines left out," 
 That " might have been " engraved with 
 
 human love 
 And sweetest human cares, yet never bore 
 That poetry of life. His own dear hand 
 Writes "Free to serve!" And these clear 
 
 characters 
 Fill with fair colours all the unclaimed space, 
 Else grey and colourless. 
 
 Then let it be 
 The motto of our lives until we stand
 
 Coming tn tJie King. 69 
 
 In the great freedom of Eternity, 
 
 Where we '■^ shall serve Him" while we see 
 
 His face, 
 For ever and for ever " Free to serve." 
 
 COMING TO THE KING. 
 2 Chronicles ix. 1-12. 
 
 I CAME from very far away to see 
 The King of Salem ; for I had been told 
 Of glory and of wisdom manifold, 
 And condescension infinite and free. 
 How could I rest, when I had heard His fame, 
 In that dark lonely land of death from whence 
 I came ? 
 
 I came, (but not like Sheba's queen,) alone! 
 No stately train, no costly gifts to bring ; 
 No friend at court, save One, that One the 
 King! 
 I had requests to spread before His throne, 
 And I had questions none could solve for me, 
 Of import deep, and full of awful mystery.
 
 70 " Under His ShadozuP 
 
 I came and communed with that mighty King, 
 And told Him all my heart; I cannot say, 
 In mortal ear, what communings were they. 
 But wouldst thou know, go too, and meekly 
 bring 
 All that is in thy heart, and thou shalt hear 
 His voice of love and power, His answers sweet 
 and clear. 
 
 O happy end of every weary quest ! 
 He told me all I needed, graciously ; — 
 Enough for guidance, and for victory 
 O'er doubts and fears, enough for quiet rest ; 
 And when some veiled response I could not 
 
 read, 
 It was not hid from Him, — this was enough 
 indeed. 
 
 His wisdom and His glories passed before 
 My wondering eyes in gradual revelation; 
 The house that He had built, its strong 
 foundation, 
 Its living stones ; and, brightening more and 
 more, 
 Fair glimpses of that palace far away, 
 Where all His loyal ones shall dwell with Him 
 for aye.
 
 Coming to the King. ji 
 
 True the report that reached my far-off land 
 
 Of all His wisdom and transcendent fame ; 
 
 Yet I believed not until I came, — 
 
 Bowed to the dust till raised by royal hand. 
 
 The half was never told by mortal word ; 
 
 My King exceeded all the fame that I had heard! 
 
 Oh, happy are His servants ! happy they 
 Who stand continually before His face, 
 Ready to do His will of wisest grace ! 
 My King ! is mine such blessedness to-day? 
 For I too hear Thy wisdom, line by line, 
 Thy ever brightening words in holy radiance 
 shine. 
 
 Oh, blessed be the Lord thy God, who set 
 Our King upon His throne ! Divine delight 
 In the Beloved cro^\^ling Thee with might. 
 Honour, and majesty supreme ; and yet 
 The strange and Godlike secret opening thus, — 
 The kingship of His Christ ordained through 
 love to us ! 
 
 What shall I render to my glorious King? 
 
 I have but that which I receive from Thee ; 
 
 And what I give, Thou givest back to me. 
 Transmuted by Thy touch ; each worthless 
 thing
 
 Under His Shadow.''^ 
 
 Changed to the preciousness of gem or gold, 
 And by Thy blessing multiplied a thousand fold. 
 
 All my desire Thou grantest, whatsoe'er 
 I ask ! Was ever mythic tale or dream 
 So bold as this reality, — this stream 
 Of boundless blessings flowing full and free ? 
 Vet more than I have thought or asked of 
 
 Thee, 
 Out of Thy royal bounty still Thou givest me. 
 
 Now I will turn to my own land, and tell 
 What I myself have seen and heard ol 
 
 Thee, 
 And give Thine own sweet message, 
 " Come and see !" 
 And yet in heart and mind for ever dwell 
 With Thee, my King of Peace, in loyal rest. 
 Within the fair pavilion of Thy presence blest. 
 
 " Surely in what place my Lord the King shall be, 
 whether in death or life, even there also wil thy 
 servant be." — 2 Savi. xv. 21. 
 
 "Where I am, there shall also My servant be." — 
 John xii. 26.
 
 Far More Exceeding. 73 
 
 FAR MORE EXCEEDING. 
 Kad' vT€p^o\riv els VTrepl36\riv. — 2 Cor. iv. 17. 
 
 "T7R0M glory unto glory !" Thank God, 
 X^ that even here 
 
 The starry words are shining out, our heaven- 
 ward way to cheer ! 
 
 That e'en among the shadows the conquering 
 brightness glows, 
 
 As ever from the nearing Light intenser radi- 
 ance flows. 
 
 " From glory unto glory !" Shall the grand 
 
 progression fail 
 When the darkling glass is shattered as we pass 
 
 within the veil ? 
 Shall the joyous song of " Onward !" at once 
 
 for ever cease, 
 And the swelling music culminate in monotone 
 
 of peace ? 
 
 Shall the fuller life be sundered at the portal of 
 
 its bliss, 
 From the principle of growth entwined with 
 
 every nerve of this ?
 
 74 " Under His Shadow^ 
 
 Shall the holy law of progress be hopelessly 
 
 repealed, 
 And the moment of releasing see our sum of 
 
 glory sealed ? 
 
 The tender touch of moonlight, with an orbit 
 quickly run, 
 
 The lustre of the planet, circling slowly round 
 the sun, 
 
 The mighty revolutions of its million-heated 
 blaze, 
 
 " From glory unto glory " lead our far-expand- 
 ing gaze. 
 
 Then onward, ever onward, through the un- 
 explored abyss, 
 
 (Dark barrier between the suns of other worlds 
 and this,) 
 
 Until the measure-unit mocks the grasp of 
 human thought, 
 
 And space and time commingle while the clue 
 is feebly sought. 
 
 Till, in that wider ocean, deep calleth imlo 
 deep. 
 
 Star-glories with attendant worlds, forth-flash- 
 ing as they sweep
 
 Far More Exceeding. 75 
 
 Around their unseen centre, that point of mystic 
 
 power, 
 In unimagined cycles, where an age is but an hour . 
 
 Then ! onward and yet onward ! for the dim 
 
 revealings show 
 That systems unto systems in grand succession 
 
 grow, 
 That what we deemed a volume but one golden 
 
 verse may be, 
 One rhythmic cadence in the flow of God's 
 
 great poetry. 
 
 That what we deemed a symphony was one all- 
 thrilling bar 
 
 Through aisles of His great temple resounding 
 full and far ; 
 
 That what we deemed an ocean was a shallow 
 by the shore ! 
 
 Then ! onward yet, in eagle flight, through the 
 Infinite we soar — 
 
 "From glory unto glory," till the spirit fails ; 
 
 and then 
 Illimitable vistas still opening to our ken. 
 Mysterious immensities of order and of light, 
 Stretch far beyond our farthest thought, as 
 
 thought beyond our sight.
 
 76 " Under His Shadow^ 
 
 But the starting-point in heaven shall be no 
 
 " glory of the moon," 
 No planet gleam, no stellar fire, no blaze of 
 
 tropic noon ; 
 From "glory that excelleth " all that human 
 
 heart hath known. 
 Our " onward, upward," shall begin in the 
 
 presence of the Throne. 
 
 "From glory unto glory " of loveliness and 
 
 light. 
 Of music and of rapture, of power and of 
 
 sight, 
 " From glory unto glory " of knowledge and 
 
 of love, 
 I Shall be the joy of progress awaiting us above. 
 
 "From glory unto glory" that ever lies 
 before, 
 
 Still wondering, adoring, rejoicing more and 
 more, 
 
 Still following where He leadeth, from shining 
 field to field, 
 
 Himself the goal of glory, Revealer and Re- 
 vealed !
 
 Far More Exceediiig. 77 
 
 " From glory unto glory" with no limit and 
 
 no veil, 
 With wings that cannot weary and hearts that 
 
 cannot fail ; 
 Within, without, no hindrance, no barrier as 
 
 we soar ; 
 And never interruption to the endless "more 
 
 and more " ! 
 
 For infinite outpourings of Jehovah's love and 
 
 grace, 
 And infinite unveilings of the brightness of His 
 
 face. 
 And infinite unfoldings of the splendour of His 
 
 will. 
 Meet the mightiest expansions of the finite 
 
 spirit still. 
 
 Saviour, hast Thou ransomed us from death's 
 unknown abyss. 
 
 And purchased with Thy precious blood such 
 everlasting bliss ? 
 
 Art Thou indeed preparing us, with love ex- 
 ceeding great. 
 
 And preparing all this glory in such "far 
 
 exceeding weight " ? 
 I
 
 78 " Under His Shadow^ 
 
 Then let our hearts be surely fixed where truest 
 
 joys are found, 
 And let our burning, loving praise, yet more 
 
 and more abound ; 
 And, gazing on the " things not seen," eternal 
 
 in the skies, 
 "From glory unto glory," O Saviour, let us 
 
 rise ! 
 
 THE SPLENDOUR OF GOD'S WILL. 
 
 IN the freshness of the springtime, 
 In the beauty of the May, 
 When the swift-winged breezes carolled. 
 
 And the lambs were all at play, 
 And the birds were blithe and busy. 
 Upon her couch she lay. 
 
 Like a lily bmised and drooping, 
 
 Before its early flower 
 Had fully opened to the sun. 
 
 Or reached a noontide hour ; 
 Broken and yet more fragrant 
 
 For the heavy-beating shower.
 
 " The Splendour of God's Will." 79 
 
 It was not the first springtime 
 Passed without one glad sight 
 
 Of a starry primrose growing, 
 Or a brooklet swift and bright, 
 
 And without one bounding footstep 
 On a field with daisies white. 
 
 It was not the first springtime ; 
 
 And it might not be the last 
 In weariness and suffering 
 
 Thus to be slowly passed ; 
 For when the young feet cannot move 
 
 Months do not travel fast. 
 
 And yet she saw what others 
 
 Have never sought or seen, 
 A splendour more than spring-light 
 
 On fair trees waviiig green, 
 And more than summer sunshine 
 
 On Ocean's silver sheen. 
 
 Her pencil, tracing feebly 
 
 Words that shall echo still. 
 Perchance some unknown mission 
 
 May joyously fulfil : — 
 **I think I just begin to see 
 
 The splendour of God's will !"
 
 So '• Under His Shadozu.'' 
 
 O words of golden music 
 
 Caught from the harps on high, 
 
 Which find a glorious anthem 
 Where we have found a sigh, 
 
 And peal their grandest praises 
 Just where ours faint and die ! 
 
 O words of holy radiance 
 
 Shining on every tear, 
 Till it becomes a rainbow, 
 
 Reflecting, bright and clear, 
 Our Father's love and glory 
 
 So wonderful, so dear ! 
 
 O words of sparkling power. 
 Of insight full and deep ! 
 
 Shall they not enter other hearts 
 In a grand and gladsome sweep, 
 
 And lift the lives to songs of joy 
 That only droop and weep ? 
 
 For her, God's will was sufferinj. 
 
 Just waiting, lying still ; 
 Days passing on in weariness, 
 
 In shadows deep and chill ; 
 And yet she had begun to see 
 
 The splendour of God's will !
 
 " The splendour of God's Will." 8i 
 
 And oh, it is a splendour, 
 
 A glow of majesty, 
 A mystery of beauty, 
 
 If we will only see ; 
 A very cloud of glory 
 
 Enfolding you and me. 
 
 A splendour that is lighted 
 
 At one transcendent flame. 
 The wondrous Love, the perfect Love, 
 
 Our Father's sweetest name ; 
 For His very Name, and Essence, 
 
 And His will, are all the samt. 
 
 A splendour that is shining 
 
 Upon His children's way, 
 That guides the willing footsteps 
 
 That do not want to stray, 
 And that leads them ever onward 
 
 Unto the perfect day. 
 
 A splendour that illumines 
 
 The' abysses of the Past 
 And marvels of the Future, 
 
 Sublime and bright and vast ; 
 While o''^" our tiny Present 
 
 A tloort of light is cast.
 
 I 82 " Under His Shadow.'' 
 
 No twilight falls upon it, 
 
 No shadow dims its ray, 
 No darkness overcomes it, 
 
 No night can end its day ; 
 It hath unending triumph 
 
 And everlasting sway. 
 
 Blest will of God ! most glonous. 
 
 The very fount of grace, 
 WTience all the goodness floweth 
 
 That heart can ever trace — 
 Temple whose pinnacles are love, 
 
 And faithfulness its base. 
 
 Blest will of God ! whose splendour 
 
 Is dawning on the world, 
 On hearts in which Christ's banner 
 
 Is manfully unfurled, 
 On hearts of childlike meekness 
 
 With dew of youth impearled. 
 
 O Spirit of Jehovah, 
 
 Reveal this glory still ! 
 That many an empty chalice 
 
 Sweet thanks and praise may fill. 
 When, like this "little one," they see 
 
 "The splendour of God's will":
 
 The Two Paths. 83 
 
 That faith may win the vision 
 
 That hers hath early won, 
 And gaze upon the splendour, 
 
 And own the cloudless sun, 
 And join the seraph song of love, 
 
 And sing "Thy will be done!" 
 
 1874- 
 
 THE TWO PATHS. 
 Via Dolorosa and Via Giojosa. 
 
 [Suggested hy a Pictures^ 
 
 MY Master, they have wronged Thee ami 
 Thy love ! 
 They only told me I should find the path 
 A Via Dolorosa all the way ! 
 Even Thy sweetest singers only sang 
 Of pressing onward through the same sharp 
 
 thorns, 
 With bleeding footsteps, through the chill dark 
 
 mist, 
 Following and struggling till they reach the 
 
 light, 
 The rest, the sunshine of the far beyond. 
 The anthems of the pilgrimage were set
 
 84 " Ufider His Shadow:' 
 
 In most pathetic minors, exquisite, 
 Yet breathing sadness more than any praise ; 
 Thy minstrels let the fitful breezes make 
 ^olian moans on their entrusted hai-ps, 
 Until the listeners thought that this was all 
 The music Thou hadst given. And so the steps 
 That halted where the two ways met and 
 
 crossed, 
 The broad and narrow, turned aside in fear. 
 Thinking the radiance of their youth must pass 
 In sombre shadows if they followed Thee ; 
 Hearing afar such echoes of one strain, 
 The cross, the tribulation, and the toil. 
 The conflict, and the clinging in the dark. 
 What wonder that the dancing feet are stayed 
 From entering the only path of peace ! 
 Master, forgive them ! Tune their harps anew, 
 And put a new song in their mouths for Thee, 
 And make Thy chosen people joyful in Thy 
 
 love. 
 
 Lord Jesus, Thou hast trodden once for all 
 The Via Dolorosa, — and for us ! 
 No artist power or minstrel gift may tell 
 The cost to Thee of each unfaltering step, 
 When love that passeth knowledge led Thee on, 
 Faithful and true to God, and ti-ue to us.
 
 The T%uo Paths. 85 
 
 And now, beloved Lord, Thou callest us 
 To follow Thee, and we will take Thy word 
 About the path which Thou hast marked for us. 
 Narrow indeed it is ! Who does not choose 
 The narrow track upon the mountain side, 
 With ever- widening view, and freshening air, 
 And honeyed heather, rather than the road. 
 With smoothest breadth of dust and loss of 
 
 view, 
 Soiled blossoms not worth gathering, and the 
 
 noise 
 Of wheels instead of silence of the hills. 
 Or music of the waterfalls ? Oh, why 
 Should they misrepresent Thy words, and make 
 " Narrow" synonymous with *' very hard " ? 
 
 For Thou, Divinest Wisdom, Thou hast said 
 Thy ways are ways of pleasantness, and all 
 Thy paths are peace ; and that the path of him 
 Who wears Thy perfect robe of righteousness 
 Is as the light that shineth more and more 
 Unto the perfect day. And Thou hast given 
 An olden promise, rarely quoted now,* 
 Because it is too bright for our weak faith : 
 " If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend 
 Days in prosperity, and they shall spend 
 
 • Job xxxvi. II.
 
 86 " U?ider His Shadoiur 
 
 Their years in pleasures." All because Thy 
 
 days 
 Were full of sorrow, and Thy lonely years 
 Were passed in grief's acquaintance — all for us ! 
 
 Master, I set my seal that Thou art true, 
 Of Thy good promise not one thing hath failed ! 
 And I would send a ringing challenge forth, 
 To all who know Thy name, to tell it out, 
 Thy faithfulness to every written word. 
 Thy lovingkindness crowning all the days, — 
 To say and sing with me : ' ' The Lord is good, 
 His mercy is for ever, and His truth 
 Is written on each page of all my life ! " 
 Yes ! there is tribulation, but Thy power 
 Can blend it with rejoicing. There are thorns. 
 But they have kept us in the narrow way, 
 The King's highway of holiness and peace. 
 And there is chastening, but the Father's love 
 Flows through it; and would any trusting heart 
 Forego the chastening and lorego the love ? 
 And every step leads on to " more and more," 
 From strength to strength Thy pilgrims pass 
 
 and sing 
 The praise of Him who leads them on and on, 
 From glory unto glory, even here ! 
 
 1878.
 
 Vessels of Mercy. 87 
 
 " VESSELS OF MERCY, PREPARED 
 
 UNTO glory:' 
 
 (Ro.M. ix. 23.) 
 
 VESSELS of mercy, prepared unto gloiy ! 
 This is your calling and this is your joy ! 
 This, for the new year unfolding before ye, 
 Tells out the terms of your blessed employ. 
 
 Vessels, it may be, all empty and broken, 
 INIarred in the Hand of inscrutable skill ; 
 
 (Love can accept the mysterious token !) 
 
 Marred but to make them more beautiful 
 
 still. JER. xviii. 4. 
 
 Vessels, it may be, not costly or golden ; 
 
 Vessels, it may be, of quantity small, 
 Yet by the Nail in the Sure Place upholden, 
 
 Never to shiver and never to fall. 
 
 ISA. xxli. =3, I*. 
 
 Vessels to honour, made sacred and holy, 
 Meet for the use of the Master we love, 
 
 Ready for service all simple and lowly. 
 Ready, one day, for the temple above.
 
 88 " Under His Shadow." 
 
 Yes, though the vessels be fragile and earthen, 
 God hath commanded His glory to shine ; 
 
 Treasure resplendent henceforth is our burthen, 
 Excellent power, not ours but Divine. 
 
 2 Cor. iv. 5, 6. 
 
 Chosen in Christ ere the dawn of Creation, 
 Chosen for Him, to be filled with His gi-ace, 
 
 Chosen to carry the streams of salvation 
 Into each thirsty and desolate place. 
 
 ACTS ix. 15 
 
 Take all Thy vessels, O glorious Finer, 
 
 Purge all the dross, that each chalice may be 
 
 Pure in Thy pattern, completer, diviner, 
 Filled with Thy glory and shining for Thee. 
 
 PR0\'. XXV. 4. 
 
 Caswell Road, Nov. 22,rd, 1878. 
 
 ONLY FOR JESL'S. 
 
 ONLY for Jesus ! Lord, keep it for ever 
 Sealed on the heart and engraved on 
 
 the life ! 
 Pulse of all gladness and nerve of endeavour. 
 Secret of rest, and the strength of our strife.
 
 Daily Afteriuards. 89 
 
 DAILY AFTERWARDS. 
 From F. R. H. to K. T. 
 " nr^HERE is no 'afterward' on eartli for 
 X me ! " 
 Beloved, 'tis not so ! 
 That God's own " afterwards " are pledged to 
 thee, 
 Thy life shall show. 
 
 No "afterward" indeed of great things wrought, 
 
 By willing hands and feet ; 
 No sheaf is thine, from wider harvests brought, 
 
 With singing sweet. 
 
 Fair flowing years of ease and laughing strength, 
 
 With cloudlesj morning skies. 
 Sweet life renewed, and active work at length. 
 
 His love denies. 
 
 But living fruit of righteousness to Hun 
 
 His chastening shall yield, 
 And constant "afterwards," no longer dim, 
 
 Shall be revealed. 
 
 Is it no " afterward " that in thy heart 
 
 His love is shed abroad ? 
 And that His Spirit breathes, while called apart, 
 
 Tlie peace of God ?
 
 L 
 
 90 " Under His Shadow." 
 
 "[hilt Joy in tribulation shall spring forth 
 
 To greet His visits blessed, 
 Whose wisdom wakes the south wind or the 
 north, 
 
 As He sees best ! 
 Shall not longmffci-ing in thee be wrought, 
 
 To mirror back His own? 
 His gentleness shall mellow every thought, 
 
 And look and tone. 
 
 And goodness ! In thyself dwells no good thin-. 
 
 Yet from thy glorious Root 
 An " afterward " of holiness shall spring — 
 
 Most precious fruit ! 
 
 The trial of thy faith from hour to hour 
 
 Shall yield a grand increase ; 
 He shall fulfil the work of faith with power 
 
 That cannot cease. 
 
 And all around shall praise Him as they see 
 
 The meekness of thy Lord ; 
 Thus, even here and now, how blest shall be 
 
 Thy sure reward ! 
 
 This pleasant fruit it shall be thine to lay 
 
 At thy Beloved's feet. 
 The ripening clusters growing day by day 
 
 More full and sweet.
 
 Sunday Night. 91 
 
 If at His gate He keeps thee waiting now 
 Through many a suffering year, 
 
 Watch for His daily " afterwards," and thou 
 Shalt find them here : 
 
 Till, as refined gold, in thee shall shine 
 
 His image, no more dim ; 
 Then shall the endless *' afterward " be thine 
 
 Of rest with Him. 
 
 SUNDA V NIGHT. 
 
 REST him, O Father ! Thou didst send 
 him forth 
 With great and gracious messages of love ; 
 But Thy ambassador is weary now, 
 Worn with the weight of his high embassy. 
 Now care for him as Thou hast cared for us 
 In sending him ; and cause him to lie down 
 In Thy fresh pastures, by Thy streams of peace. 
 Let Thy left hand be now beneath his head. 
 And Thine upholding right encircle him, 
 And, underneath, the Everlasting arms 
 Be felt in full support. So let him rest, 
 Hushed like a little child, without one care ; 
 And so give Thy beloved sleep to-night.
 
 92 " Under His Shadozu.^' 
 
 Rest him, dear Master ! He hath poured 
 
 for us 
 The wine of joy, and \\q have been refreshed. 
 Now fill his chalice, give him sweet new 
 
 draughts 
 Of life and love, with Thine own hand ; be 
 
 Thou 
 His ministrant to-night ; draw ver\- near 
 In all Thy tenderness and all Thy power. 
 Oh speak to him ! Thou knowest how to speak 
 A word in season to Thy weary ones, 
 And he is weary now. Thou lovest him — 
 Let Thy disciple lean upon Thy breast, 
 And, leaning, gain new strength to " rise and 
 
 shine." 
 
 Rest him, O loving Spirit ! Let Thy calm 
 Fall on his soul to-night. O holy Dove, 
 Spread Thy bright wing above him, let him 
 
 rest 
 r>eneath its shadow ; let him know afresh 
 The infinite truth and might of Thy dear 
 
 name — 
 "Our Comforter!" As gentlest touch will 
 
 stay 
 The strong vibrations of a jarring chord, 
 So lay Thy hand upon his heart, and still
 
 Memorial Names. 93 
 
 Each overstraining throb, each pulsing pain. 
 Then, in the stillness, breathe upon the strings, 
 And let Thy holy music overflow 
 With soothing power his listening, resting soul. 
 
 MEMORIAL NAMES. 
 
 I^HE High Priest stands before the Mercy 
 Seat, 
 And on his breast bright mingling jewel- 
 flames 
 Reflect Shechinah light ; twelve patriarch 
 names 
 Flash where the emerald and sapphire meet 
 Sardius and diamond. With softer beam, 
 From mystic onyx on his shoulder placed, 
 Deep graven, never altered or erased, 
 The same great names, in birthday order, gleam. 
 May each name written here be thus engraved, 
 Set in the place of power, the place of love. 
 And borne in sweet memorial above. 
 By Him who loved and chose, redeemed and 
 
 saved. 
 Be each dear name, the greatest and the least, 
 Always upon the heart of our High JPriest.
 
 Under His Shadoi 
 
 PRECIOUS THINGS. 
 
 OWHAT shining revelation of His trea- 
 sures God hath given ! 
 Precious things of grace and glory, precious 
 
 things of earth and heaven. 
 Holy Spirit, now unlock them with Thy 
 
 mighty golden key, 
 Royal jewels of the kingdom let us now ador- 
 ing see ! 
 
 II. 
 
 " Unto you therefore which beheve. He is precious." 
 —I Pet. ii. 7. 
 
 Christ is precious, oh most precious, gift ' by 
 God the Father sealed ; - 
 
 PearP of greatest price and treasure,'' hidden, 
 yet to us revealed ; ^ 
 
 His own people's crown of glory, and re- 
 splendent diadem \^ 
 
 More ' than thousand worlds, and dearer^ than 
 all life and love to them. 
 1 John iii. 16; 2 Cor. ix. 15. 2 John vi. 27. sj\iat;(._ 
 
 xiii. 46. *Malt. xiil. 44. * Gal. i. 16; John xiv. 21. 
 
 6 Isa. xxviii. 5. ' Phil. iii. 7, 8. » Matt, x, 37-39.
 
 Precious Things. 95 
 
 III. 
 
 " Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, 
 precious." — i Pet. ii. 6. 
 
 Marvellous ^ and very precious is the Cornet 
 
 Stone Elect : 
 Though rejected ^ by the builders, chosen ^ by 
 
 the Architect. 
 All-supporting,^ all-uniting, and all-crowning, 
 
 tried 5 and sure ; 
 True Foundation,^ yet true Headstone '* of His 
 
 temple bright and pure. 
 
 ' Ps. cxviii. 23. ^ Ps. cxviii. 22 ; Isa. liii. 3. ' i 
 Pet. ii. 4. * Eph. ii. 20-22 ; iv. 15, 16. ^ Isa. xxviii. i5. 
 ^ I Cor. iii. 11. " Zech. iv 7. , 
 
 IV. 
 *• Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corrupt- 
 ible things, . . . but with the precious blood of 
 Christ, as of a lamb without b'emish and without 
 spot." — I Pet. i. 18, 19. 
 
 Now, in reverent awe and wonder, touch the 
 
 theme of deepest laud,^ 
 Precious blood of Christ that bought^ us and 
 
 hath made us nigh^ to God ! 
 His own'* blood, O love unfathomed ! shed for 
 
 those who loved Him not ;5 
 Mighty fountain always open,^ cleansing^ us 
 
 from every spot. 
 1 Rev. V. 9. 2 Acts XX. 28. 3 Eph. ii. 13. * Heb. 
 ix. 12. 5 Rom. V. 10. ^Zech. xiii. i. ' i John i. 7.
 
 96 " U7ider His Shado7u:' 
 
 " How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O 
 God ! how great is the sum of them ! "- Fs. cxxxix. 17. 
 
 Oh how wonderful^ and precious are Thy 
 thoughts to us, O God ! 
 
 OutHned in creation, blazoned on redemp- 
 tion's banner broad ; 
 
 Infinite and deep^ and dazzling as the noontide 
 heavens 3 above ; 
 
 Yet more wonderful to usward are Thy 
 thoughts of peace"* and love. 
 ' Ps. xl. 5, 17. ^ Ps. xcii. 5 ; Rom. xi. 33, 34. 
 
 * Isa. Iv. 8, 9. ♦ Jer. xxix. 11. 
 
 "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and 
 precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers 
 of the Divine nature." — 2 Fei. i. 4. 
 
 Then, exceeding great and precious are Thy 
 
 promises Divine ; 
 Given ^ by Christ, and by the Spirit sealed 
 
 with sweetest "All ^ are thine ! " 
 Precious in their peace and power, ^ in their 
 
 sure * and changeless might ; 
 Strengthening, 5 comforting,^ transforming ; ' 
 
 suns by day and stars by night. 
 
 1 John xvii. r4 ; 2 Cor. i. 20. ^ Compare i Cor. ii. 12 
 and iii. 21. * i Thess. ii. 13. * Heb. x. 23 : Matt, 
 xxiv. 35. 5 Matt. iv. 4. ^ Rom. x\* 4. "^ 2 Pet. i. 4.
 
 Precious Things. 97 
 
 VII. 
 "To them that have obtained like precious faith 
 with us through the righteousness of God, and our 
 Saviour Jesus Christ." — 2 Pet. i. i. 
 
 Precious faith our God hath given : rich ^ in 
 
 faith is rich indeed ! 
 Fire-tried ^ gold from His own treasury, fully 
 
 meeting every need : 
 Channel ^ of His grace abounding ; bringing 
 
 peace "* and joy and light ; 
 Purifying,^ overcoming ; ^ linking ^ weakness 
 
 with His might, 
 i Jas. ii. 5. 2 Rey, ;;;, ^s s Heb. xi, 33; Rom. 
 V. 2. * Rom. V. I, 2. 5 ^cts XV. 9, ^ i John v. 4. 
 ^ Isa. xxvii. 5 ; 2 Cor. xii. 9. 
 
 VIII. 
 " The precious ointment upon the head, that ran 
 down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard ; that went 
 down to the skirts of his garments." — Ps. cxxxiii. 2. 
 
 Precious ointment, very costly,^ of chief =^ 
 odours pure and sweet, ^ 
 
 Holy gift for royal priesthood,'* thus for temple- 
 service meet ; 
 
 Such the Spirit's precious unction,^ oil of glad- 
 ness ^ freely ^ shed, 
 
 Sanctifying and abiding^ on the consecrated 
 
 head. ^ 
 
 1 John xii. 3. * Exod. xxx. 23. ' Exod. xxx. 34, 35. 
 * Exod. xxx. 30 ; I Pet. ii. 9. '" \ John ii. 20. ^ Isa. 
 Ixi. 3. 7 Titus iii. 5, 6. * i John ii. 27. ^ Lev. viii. 12. 
 
 H
 
 98 " Under His Shadoiu." 
 
 IX, 
 " How excellent {marg. precious) is Thy loving- 
 kindness, O God ! therefore the children of men pui 
 their _ trust under the shadow of Thy wings." — Ps. 
 xxxvi. 7 ; Isa. liv. 8, lo. 
 
 Who shall paint the flash of splendour from 
 the opened casket bright, 
 
 When His precious loving-kindness beams 
 upon the quickened sight ! 
 
 Priceless jewels ever gleaming with imperish- 
 able ^ ray, 
 
 God will never take it from ^ us, though the 
 mountains ^ pass away. 
 1 Ps. XXV. 6. 2 P5. Ixxxix. 33. 3 Isa. liv. 10. 
 
 X. 
 
 "It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, 
 with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. No men- 
 tion shall be made of coral or of pearls : for the price 
 of wisdom is above rubies." — Job xxviii. 16, 18. 
 
 Far more precious ^ than the ruby, or the 
 
 crystal's ^ rainbow light. 
 Valued not with precious onyx or with pearl 
 
 and sapphire bright, 
 Freely ^ given to all who ask it, is the wisdom 
 
 from above, 
 Pure and peaceable and gentle,'' full of fruits 
 
 of life and love. 
 1 Prov. iii. 15; xx. 15; xxiv. 4. 2 job xxviii. 17. 
 5 Jas. i. s. * Jas. iii. 17.
 
 Precious TJiim 
 
 XI. 
 
 99 
 
 " Blessed of the Lord be his land for the precious 
 things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that 
 coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought 
 forth by the sun. and for the precious things put forth 
 by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient 
 mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting 
 hills, and for the precious things of the earth." — 
 Deut. xxxiii. 13-16. 
 
 Nor withhold we glad thanksgiving for His 
 
 mercies ever new, * 
 Precious things of earth and heaven, sun and 
 
 rain and quickening dew ; 
 Precious fruits and varied crowning ^ of the 
 
 year His goodness fills, 
 Chief things of the ancient mountains, precious 
 
 things of lasting hills. 
 
 1 Lam. iii. 23. 2 pg. ixv. 11. 
 
 XII. 
 
 " If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou 
 shalt be as ]\Iy mouth." — Jer. xv. 19. 
 
 Such His gifts : but mark we duly our respor, ■ 
 
 sibility 
 Unto Him whose name is Holy, infinite in 
 
 purity ; 
 Sin and self no longer serving, take the pre 
 
 cious from the vile, 
 So His power shall rest upon thee, thou shalt 
 
 dwell beneath His smile. —
 
 " Under His S/iadow: 
 
 " The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine 
 gold." — Latn. iv. 2. 
 
 Sons of Zion, ye are precious in your heavenly 
 
 Father's sight,' 
 Ye are His peculiar ^ treasure, ye His jewels ' 
 
 of delight ; 
 Sought ■* and chosen, cleansed and polished, ^ 
 
 purchased with transcendent cost,^ 
 Kept^ in His own royal casket, never, never ^ 
 
 to be lost. 
 ' Isa. xliii. 4. * Ps. cxxxv. 4. 'Mai. iii. 17. * Isa. 
 Ixii. 12. sps. cxliv. 12. 6 Matt. xiii. 46; Gal. i. 4. 
 7 I Pet. i. 5. 8 John X. 28. 
 
 XIV. 
 " That the trial of your faith, being much more pre- 
 cious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried 
 with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and 
 glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." — i Pet. i. 7. 
 
 Precious, more than gold that wasteth, is the 
 
 trial of your faith, 
 Fh-es ^ of anguish or temptation - cannot dim 
 
 it, cannot scathe ! 
 Your Refiner 3 sitteth watching till His image* 
 
 shineth clear, 
 For His glory, praise and honour, when * the 
 
 Saviour shall appear. 
 • I Pet. iv. 12. 2 Jas. i. 12. ' Mai. iii. 3 ; Zech. xiii. 9. 
 ♦Rom. viii. 29. ^\ Pet. iv. 13.
 
 Precious Things. loi 
 
 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of 
 His saints." — Ps. cxvi. 15. 
 
 Precious, precious to Jehovah is His children's 
 
 holy sleep ; ^ 
 ?Ie is with them in the passing " through the/ 
 
 waters cold and deep : 
 Everlasting 3 love enfolds them softly, sweetly 
 
 to His breast. 
 Everlasting love receives "* them to His glory 
 
 and His rest.^ 
 
 1 1 Thess. iv. 14. * Isa. xliii. 2. * Jer. xxxi. 3. 
 ♦Ps.lxxiii. 24. 5 Isa. xi. 10 (iunr^:). 
 
 XVI, 
 
 " He showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, 
 descending out of heaven from God, having the glory 
 of God : and her light was like unto a stone most pre- 
 cious ; even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." — Ki-v. 
 xxi. 10, II. 
 
 Pause not here, — the Holy City, glorious in 
 
 God's light, behold ! 
 Like unto a stone most precious, clear as 
 
 ciystal, pure as gold : 
 Strong foundations^ fair' with sapphires, 
 
 sardius and chrysolite, 
 Blent with amethyst and jacinth, emerald and 
 
 topaz bright. 
 
 1 Rev. x.vi. 19, 20. '^ Isa. liv. 11.
 
 I02 " Under His Shadow^ 
 
 ^ ' A city which hath foundations, whose builder and 
 maker is God." — I/ei>. xi. lo. 
 
 Glorious dwelling of the holy, where no grief ' 
 or gloom of sin^ 
 
 Through the pure and pearly portals ^ ever- 
 more shall enter in : 
 
 Christ its li-ghf* and God its temple,^ Christ 
 its song ^ of endless laud ! 
 
 O what precious consummation of the precious 
 things of God ! 
 
 1 Isa. XXXV. ID. 2 isa. li. i ; Rev. xxi. 27. * Rev. 
 xxi. 21. * Isa. Ix. 19, 20, Rev. xxi. 23. * Rev. xxi. 22 
 ^ Ps. cxviii. 14 ; Rev. v. 9-14.
 
 TINY TOKENS. 
 
 THE murmur of a waterfnll 
 A mile away, 
 The rustle when a robin light* 
 
 Upon a spray, 
 The lapping of a lowland strenn, 
 
 On dipping boughs, 
 The sound of grazing from a \\t\y\ 
 
 Of gentle cows, 
 The echo from a wooded hill 
 
 Of cuckoo's call, 
 The quiver through the meadow grass 
 
 At evening fall : — 
 Too subtle are these harmonies 
 
 For pen and rule, 
 Such music is not understood 
 
 By any school : 
 But when the brain is overwrought, 
 
 It hath a spell, 
 Beyond all human skill and power, 
 
 To make it well.
 
 1 
 
 ! io6 
 
 ''Under His Shadozur 
 
 
 * 
 II, 
 
 The 
 
 memory of a kindly word 
 
 
 For long gone by, 
 
 The 
 
 fragrance of a fading flower 
 
 
 Sent lovingly, 
 
 The 
 
 gleaming of a sudden smile 
 
 
 Or sudden tear. 
 
 The 
 
 warmer pressure of the hand. 
 
 
 The tone of cheer, 
 
 The 
 
 hush that means "I cannot speak, 
 
 
 But I have heard ! " 
 
 The 
 
 note that only bears a veree 
 
 
 From God's own word : — 
 
 Such 
 
 tiny things we hardly count 
 
 
 As ministry ; 
 
 The 
 
 givers deeming they have shown ; 
 
 
 Scant S}Tnpathy ; 
 
 , But, 
 
 when the heart is overwrought. 
 
 
 Oh who can tell 
 
 The 
 
 power of such tiny things 
 
 
 To make it well !
 
 Misch ief MaJcing. i o 7 
 
 MISCHIEF MAKING. 
 
 ONLY a tiny dropping 
 Frona a tiny hidden leak ; 
 But the flow is never stopping. 
 And the flaw is far to seek. 
 
 Only some trickling water, 
 
 Nothing at all at first ; 
 But it gi-ows to a valley-slaughter. 
 
 For the reservoir has burst ! 
 
 The wild flood once in motion, 
 Who shall arrest its course ? 
 
 As well restrain the ocean 
 As that ungoverned force ! 
 
 Mourn for the desolations, 
 
 And help the ruined men ! 
 Till next spring's fair creations 
 
 Make the valley smile again. 
 
 Help with a free, pure pity, 
 
 For your hands in this are clean, 
 
 You dwelt in the far-off city, 
 With many a mile between. 
 
 You did not watch the flowing 
 Of the treacherous, trickling rill ; 
 
 You did not aid the growing 
 Of the tiny rifts in the hill.
 
 o8 " Under His SliadoiuP 
 
 What if you had ? I leave it, 
 It is too dark a thought ; 
 
 How could the heart conceive it ? 
 How came it, all unsought ? 
 
 II. 
 A look of great affliction, 
 
 As you tell what one told j'ou. 
 With a feeble contradiction, 
 
 Or a "hope it is not true ! " 
 
 A story quite too meagre 
 
 For naming any more, 
 Only your friend seems eager 
 
 To know a little more. 
 
 Xo doubt of explanation, 
 If all was known, you see ; 
 
 One might get information 
 From Mrs. A. or B. 
 
 Only some simple queries 
 
 Passed on from tongue to tongue, 
 Though the ever-growing series 
 
 Has out of nothing sprung. 
 
 Only a faint suggestion, 
 
 Only a doubtful hint. 
 Only a leading question 
 
 With a special tone or tint.
 
 Leaning over the IVaferfa/i. io>^ 
 
 Only a low " I wonder ! " 
 
 Nothing unfair at all ; 
 But the whisper grows to thunder, 
 
 And a scathing bolt may fall ; 
 
 And a good ship is dismasted, 
 And hearts are like to break, 
 
 And a Christian life is blasted, 
 For a scarcely-guessed mistake ! 
 
 LEANING OVER THE WATERFALL. 
 
 A young lady, age 20, fell over the rocks at the 
 Swallow Waterfall in the summer of 1873, and was lost 
 to sight in a moment. The body was not recovered 
 till four hours afterwards. 
 
 LEANING over the waterfall ! 
 J Lured by the fairy sight, 
 Heeding not the warning call, 
 
 Watching the foam and the flow. 
 Smooth and dark, or swift and bright, 
 Here in the shade and there in the light ! 
 
 Oh who could know 
 The coming sorrow, the nearing woe !
 
 " Under His Shadow.' 
 
 Leaning over the waterfall ! 
 
 Only a day before 
 She had spoken of Jesu's wondrous call, 
 
 As He trod the waves of Galilee. 
 They asked, as she gazed from the sunset 
 
 shore, 
 " If He walked that water, what would you 
 
 do?" 
 Then fell the answer, glad and true, 
 
 *' If He beckoned me, 
 I would go to Him on the pathless sea." 
 
 Leaning over the waterfall 
 Only a moment before ! 
 
 And then the slip, the helpless call. 
 
 The plunge unheard in the pauseless roar 
 By the startled watchers on the shore ; 
 
 And the feet that stood by the n-aterfall 
 So fair and free. 
 
 Are standing with Christ by the crystal sea. 
 
 Leaning over the waterfall ! 
 
 Have you not often leant — 
 (What should hinder? or what appal?) 
 Freely, fearlessly, over the brink,
 
 Leaning over the Waterfall. 1 1 1 
 
 Merrily glancing adown the stream, 
 Or gazing rapt in a musical dream 
 
 At the lovely waters ? But pause and think — 
 Who kept yozir feet, 
 
 And suffered you not such death to meet? 
 
 Leaning over the waterfall ! 
 
 What if your feet had slipped ? 
 Never a moment of power to call, 
 
 Never a hand in time to save 
 
 From the terrible rush of the mthless wave ! 
 Hearken ! would it be ill or well 
 
 If thus yoic fell ? 
 Hearken ! would it be heaven or hell ? 
 
 Leaning over the waterfall ! 
 
 Listen, and learn, and lean ! 
 Listen to Him whose loving call 
 
 Soundeth deep in your heart to-day ! 
 
 Learn of Jesus, the only way, 
 How to be holy, how to be blest ! 
 
 Lean on His breast, 
 And yours shall be safety and joy and rest.
 
 " Under His Shadow:' 
 
 FOREST VOICES. 
 
 THE forest hath its voices, 
 Whose sweetness aye rejoices, 
 Or soothes the spirit wondrously ; 
 Borne on their leafy wings, 
 They tell of quiet things 
 And mingle in strange harmony. 
 
 There is a murmuring song, 
 
 A cadence soft and long, 
 Evoking dreams of still delight ; 
 
 There is a clarion note. 
 
 Whose blithesome echoes float 
 Chasing the darkling spells of grief and night. 
 
 There is a whispering sound 
 
 Within the forest-bound, 
 Telling the heart of things unseen ; 
 
 That nameless holy thrill 
 
 Passeth o'er vale and hill 
 And through the dark and lone ravine. 
 
 It is a harp sublime 
 
 With ever-varying chime, 
 Awakening feelings ever new; 
 
 For, tuned by Him who made 
 
 The all-harmonious shade, 
 Each forest-voice is sweet anc true.
 
 I 
 
 The Turned Lesson. 113 
 
 THE TURNED LESSON. 
 THOUGHT I knew it !" she said, 
 
 But the gentle Teacher shook her head, 
 
 With a grave yet loving light 
 In the eyes that fell on the upturned face, 
 
 As she gave the book 
 With the mark still set in the self-same 
 place. 
 
 "I thought I knew it !" she said; 
 
 And a heavy tear fell down, 
 As she turned away with bending head, 
 
 Yet not for reproof or frown, 
 Not for the lesson to learn again, 
 
 Or the play hour lost ; — 
 It was something else that gave the pain. 
 
 She could »ot have put it m words, 
 
 But her Teacher understood, 
 As God understands the chirp of the birds 
 
 In the depth of an autumn wood. 
 And a quiet touch on the reddening cheek 
 
 Was quite enough ; 
 Nc need to question, no need to speak.
 
 114 ^^ Under His Shadow." 
 
 Then the gentle voice was heard, 
 
 "Now I will try you again!" 
 And the lesson was mastered, — every word ! 
 
 Was it not worth the pain ? 
 Was it not kinder the task to turn, 
 
 Than to let it pass, 
 As a lost, lost leaf that she did not learn ? 
 
 Is it not often so, 
 
 That we only learn in part, 
 And the Master's testing-time may show 
 
 That it was not quite "by heart"? 
 Then He gives, in His wise and patient grace, 
 
 That lesson again 
 With the mark still set in the self- same place. 
 
 Only, stay by His side 
 
 Till the page is really known, 
 It may be we failed because we tried 
 
 To learn it all alone. 
 And now that He would not let us lose 
 
 One lesson of love, 
 (For He knows the loss,)— can we refuse ? 
 
 But oh ! how cotdd we dream 
 That we knew it all so well !
 
 The Turned Lesson. 1 1 
 
 Reading so fluently, as we deem, 
 What we could not even spell ! 
 And oh ! how could we grieve once more 
 
 That Patient One 
 Who has turned so many a task before ! 
 
 That waiting One, who now 
 
 Is letting us try again ; 
 Watching us with the patient brow 
 
 That bore the wreath of pain ; 
 Thoroughly teaching what He would teach, 
 
 Line upon line, 
 Thoroughly doing His work in each. 
 
 Then let our hearts "be still," 
 Though our task is turned to-day. 
 
 Oh let Him teach us what He will, 
 In His own gracious way. 
 
 Till, sitting only at Jesu's feet, 
 As we learn each line, 
 
 The hardest is found all clear and sweet ! 
 
 March 2%th, 1 876.
 
 Ii6 " Under His Shadow. 
 
 TO HELGA. 
 
 COME do\^^l, and show the dwellers far 
 below 
 What God is painting in each mountain 
 
 place ! 
 Show His fair colours, and His perfect grace. 
 Dowering each blossom born of sun and snow : 
 His tints, not thine ! Thou art God's copyist. 
 O gifted Helga ! His thy golden height, 
 Thy purple depth, thy rosy sunset light, 
 Thy blue snow-shadows, and thy weird white 
 
 mist 
 Reveal His works to many a distant land ! 
 
 Paint for His praise, oh paint for love of Him ! 
 He is thy Master, let Him hold thy hand. 
 
 So thy pure heart no cloud of self shall dim. 
 At His dear feet lay doAATi thy laurel-store, 
 Which crimson proof of thy redemption bore. 
 
 September l^th, 1876.
 
 /// Reinembrance of Princess A lice. 117 
 
 IN LOYAL AND LOVLNG REMEM- 
 BRANCE OF PRINCESS ALICE. 
 
 [Written to accompany a memorial wreath of white 
 roses and palm leaves, painted by the Baroness Helga 
 von Cramm. Published by Caswell and Sons.] 
 
 TWO nations mourn ! The same great 
 grief is known 
 By human hearts on either side the sea, 
 Mourning with those who yet must mourn 
 alone 
 Upon the silent height where only He 
 Can come and whisper comfort, who hath worn 
 The lonely diadem of cruel thorn. 
 
 Mourning for her whose royal love had shown 
 Secrets of comfort in the darkest days; 
 
 Who, like her Master, stooping from a thr'^ne 
 The suffering or the lost could heal or raise; 
 
 Leaving, like Him, example pure and bright, 
 
 For court or cottage home a starry light. 
 
 Two nations mourn ; a hand from each would 
 
 lay 
 Fair flowers and simple verse upon her tomb 
 
 to-day. 
 
 December zyd, 1879.
 
 " Under His Shadow." 
 
 OUR RED LETTER DAYS. 
 
 MY Alpine staff recalls each shining 
 height, 
 Each pass of grandeur with rejoicing gained, 
 Carved with a lengthening record, self ex- 
 plained, 
 Of mountain-memories sublime and bright. 
 No valley-life but hath some mountain days. 
 Bright summits in the retrospective view, 
 And toil-won passes to glad prospects new. 
 Fair sunlit memories of joy and praise. 
 Grave on thy heart each past "red letter day ! " 
 Forget not all the sunshine of the way 
 By which the Lord hath led thee ; answered 
 
 prayers. 
 And joys unasked ; strange blessings, lifted cares, 
 Grand promise-echoes. Thus thy life shall be 
 One record of His love and faithfulness to thee. 
 
 THE A WAKENING. 
 
 SO it has come to you, dear, 
 Come so soon ! 
 Come in the sunshine early, 
 Come in the morning pearly, 
 Kot m the blaze ot noon.
 
 The Awakening. 119 
 
 Yes, it has come to you, dear, 
 
 Strange and sweet ; 
 Come ere the merry May-time 
 Melts to the glowing hay-time, 
 Hushed in the sultry heat. 
 
 Come — with mysterious shadow, 
 
 Weird and new — 
 Come with a magic lustre 
 Hung on the shining cluster 
 Ripening fast for you. 
 
 Come ! and the exquisite minor, 
 
 Rich, and deep, 
 Swells with ^olian blending 
 Chords of the spirit, ending 
 Boyhood's enchanted sleep. 
 
 Sleep that is past for ever ! 
 
 Is it gain ? 
 What does the waking seem like? 
 Love that is only dream-like 
 Sings not a truthful strain. 
 
 Hearts that have roused and listened 
 
 Never more, 
 (Though they may miss the crossed tones, 
 Though they may mourn the lost tones, ) 
 Sleep as they slept before.
 
 1 20 " Under His Shadow:' 
 
 Come ! and the great transition 
 
 Now is past ! 
 Never again the boy-Hfe, 
 Only the pain — and joy-life, 
 More of the first than last. 
 
 Come ! and they do not guess it, 
 
 Why such a change ! 
 Why should the mirth and riot 
 Tone into manly quiet ! 
 Is it not passing strange ? 
 
 Come ! 'Tis a night of wonder 
 
 At this call. 
 Characters cabalistic, 
 Writings all dim and mystic 
 Tremble upon the wall. 
 
 Come ! am I glad or sorry? 
 
 Wait and see ! 
 Wait for God's silent moulding, 
 Wait for His full unfolding, 
 Wait for the days to be.
 
 Golden Land. 
 
 GOLDEN LAND. 
 (Song. For masic by Tito Mattel) 
 
 FAR from home alone I wander, 
 Over mountain and pathless wave ; 
 But the fair land that shinech yonder 
 Claimeth the love that erst it gave. 
 Golden Land, so far, so nearing! 
 
 Land of those who wait for me ! 
 Ever brighter the vision cheering, 
 Golden Land, I haste to thee ! 
 
 On my path a golden sunlight 
 
 Softly falls where'er I roam. 
 And I know it is the one light 
 
 Both of exile and of home. 
 Golden Land, so far, so near, 
 On my heart engraven clear, 
 Though I wander from strand to strand, 
 Dwells my heart in that Golden Land. 
 September l^t/i, 1S76. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 OTHE wealth of pearly blossom, O the 
 woodland's emerald gleam ! 
 O the welcome, welcome sun.shine on the 
 diamond -spai'kling stream
 
 " U?ider His Shadoiu." 
 
 O the carol from the hawthorn and the trill 
 
 from dazzling blue ! 
 O the glory of the springtime, making all things 
 bright and new ! 
 O the rosy eve's surrender 
 To the Easter moonlight tender ! 
 O the early morning splendour, 
 
 Fresh and fragrant, cool and clear. 
 In the rising of the year ! 
 O the gladness of the children after all the 
 
 dismal days, 
 In the freedom and the beauty and the heart- 
 rejoicing rays ! 
 Do we chill the gleeful spirit, check the pulses 
 
 bounding fast, 
 By the mournful doubt suggested : "Ah, but, 
 darling, will it last ? " 
 
 Though we know there may be tempests, and 
 
 we know there will be showers, 
 Yet we know they only hasten summer's richer 
 
 crown of flowers. 
 Blossom leads to golden fruitage, bursting bud 
 
 to foliage soon ; 
 April's pleasant gleam shall strengthen to the 
 
 glorious glow of June.
 
 April. 123 
 
 April leads to joyous May time, 
 With its ever lengthening daytime ; 
 This again to joyous haytime, 
 
 When the harvest-home is near 
 In the zenith of the year. 
 So we only tell the children of the summer 
 
 days in store, 
 Of the treasures and the beauties that shall open 
 
 more and more. 
 So the silver carol rises, for the winter time is 
 
 past ! 
 When the summer days are coming, need we 
 ask if spring shall last? 
 
 O the gladness of the spirit, when the true and 
 
 only Light 
 Pours in radiant resplendence, making all 
 
 things new and bright ! 
 When the love of Jesus shineth in its over- 
 coming power, 
 When the secret sweet communion hallows 
 every passing hour. 
 O the calm and happy resting, 
 Free from every fear molesting ! 
 O the Christ- victorious breasting 
 Of the tempter's varied art. 
 In the sprrngtmie of the heart !
 
 " Under His Shadow." 
 
 O the freedom and the fervour after all the 
 faithless days ! 
 
 O the ever-new thanksgiving and the ever- 
 flowing praise ! 
 
 Shall we tempt the gaze from Jesus, and a 
 doubting shadow cast, 
 
 Satan's own dark word suggesting by the 
 whisper *' ^ it lasts "? 
 
 Though we know there must be trials and 
 
 there will be tears below, 
 Yet we know His glorious purpose, and His 
 
 promises we know ! 
 Only ask — "What saith the Master?" and 
 
 believe His word alone, 
 That "from glory unto glory" He shall lead, 
 shall change His own. 
 Ever more and more bestowing. 
 Love and joy in riper glowing. 
 Faith increasing, graces growing — 
 Such His promises to you ! 
 He is faithful, He is tme ! 
 Each Amen becomes an anthem, for we know 
 
 He will fulfil 
 All the purpose of His goodness, all the 
 splendour of His will.
 
 Mizpah. 125 
 
 Only trust the living Saviour, only tmst Hiii. 
 
 all the way, 
 And your springtide path shall brighten to 
 
 the perfect summer day ! 
 
 February (^ih, 1877. 
 
 MIZFAH. 
 
 MESS^GES FOR ABSENT FrIENDS. 
 
 Only a leaf, yet it shall bear 
 
 A wealth of love, of mintage true ! 
 
 Only a simple earnest prayer, 
 That silently goes up for you ; 
 
 Yet you and I may never know 
 
 What blessings from that prayer may flo\\ 
 
 "Grace, mercy, peace." 
 Triple blossom, rainbow-hued. 
 Fresh and fragrant, heaven bedewed. 
 Brightening desert solitude, 
 Springing from the Love Divine, 
 Love that ever shall entwine 
 With our own, with vours and mine.
 
 [26 " Under His Shadow." 
 
 Upon the same bright morning star 
 Our gaze may meet, though severed far ; 
 The Star of Bethlehem to-day 
 Shines brightly on our wintry way ; 
 And, gazing on its radiance clear, 
 Our hearts may meet, and we are near ! 
 
 As the sounding shell conveys 
 
 The murmur of the sea, 
 So let this tiny token raise 
 
 Some memory of me. 
 For loving thought of prayer and praise 
 
 Fail not to rise for thee. 
 
 Though the circling flight of time may find us 
 
 Far apart, or severed more and more 
 Yet the farewell always lies behind us 
 
 And the welcome always lies before. 
 Meanwhile God is leading, surely, slowly. 
 
 Through the shadows with a hand of love, 
 To the house where, 'mid the myriads holy, 
 
 Only welcomes wait us both above.
 
 HYMN FOR MARCH zi, 1873. 
 
 BEING THE DAY APPOINTED FOR SPECIAL 
 AND UNITED PRAYER FOR IRELAND. 
 
 " The isles shall wait upon Me, and on Mine arm shall 
 they trust." — Isa. li. 5. 
 
 FATHER, we would plead Thy promise, 
 bending at Thy glorious throne, 
 That the isles shall wait upon Thee, trusting 
 
 in Thine arm alone ! 
 One bright isle we bring before Thee, while in 
 
 faith Thy children pray 
 For a full and mighty blessing, with united 
 voice to-day. 
 
 Gracious Saviour, look in mercy on this island 
 
 of the West, 
 Win the wandering and the weary with Thy 
 
 pardon and Thy rest : 
 As the only Friend and Saviour let Thy blessed 
 
 name be owned, 
 Who hast shed Thy blood most precious, and 
 
 for ever hast atoned.
 
 130 ''Under His Shadow." 
 
 Bletised Spirit, lift Thy standard, pour Thy 
 
 grace, and shed Thy light ! 
 Lift the veil and loose the fetter ; come with 
 
 new and quickening might ; 
 Make the desert places blossom, shower Thy 
 
 sevenfold gifts abroad ; 
 Make Thy servants wise and steadfast, valiant 
 
 for the truth of God. 
 
 Triune God of grace and glory, be the isle 
 
 for which we plead. 
 Shielded, succoured with Thy blessing, strong 
 
 in every hour of need ; 
 Flooded with Thy truth and glory (glowing 
 
 sunlight from above), 
 And encompassed with the ocean of Thine 
 
 everlasting love. 
 
 Oh, surround Thy throne of power, with Thine 
 
 emerald bow of peace : 
 Bid the wailing, and the warring, and the wild 
 
 confusion cease. 
 Thou remainest King for ever, — Thou shalt 
 
 reign, and earth adore ! 
 Thine the kingdom, Thine the power, Thine 
 
 the glory evermore.
 
 Reality. 131 
 
 REALITY, 
 
 "Father, we know the REALITY of Jesus 
 Christ." — Words used by a -workman in prayer, 
 October xi,th, 1S75.* 
 
 REALITY, reality. 
 Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art to me ! 
 From the spectral mists and driving clouds. 
 From the shifting shadows and phantom 
 
 crowds ; 
 From unreal words and unreal lives. 
 Where truth with falsehood feebly strives ; 
 From the passings away, the chance and change, 
 Flickerings, vanishings, swift and strange, 
 I turn to my glorious rest on Thee, 
 Who art the grand Reality. 
 
 * At another prayer meeting on the same day a 
 young Christian who had been witnessing for this 
 '' reality" among those who called religion a " phan- 
 tom" and a "sham" prayed earnestly, "Lord Jesus, 
 let Thy dear servant write for us what Thou art — Thou 
 living, bright Reality!" And, urging His plea with 
 increasing vehemence, he added, " and let her do it 
 this very night." That "very night" these verses 
 were flashed into my mind ; while he was " yet speak- 
 ing," they were written and dated. Does not this show 
 the " reality of prayer " ?
 
 •Under His Shadow:' 
 
 Reality in greatest need, 
 Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art indeed ! 
 Is the pilot real, who alone can guide 
 The drifting ship through the midnight tide ? 
 Is the lifeboat real, as it nears the wreck, 
 And the saved ones leap from the partuig 
 
 deck? 
 Is the haven real, where the barque may t^ee 
 From the autumn gales of the wild North Sea? 
 Reality indeed art Thou, 
 My Pilot, Lifeboat, Haven nov/. 
 
 Reality, reality. 
 
 In brightest days art Thou to me 3 
 Thou art the sunshine of my mirth, 
 Thou art the heaven above my earth, 
 The spring of the love of all my heart, 
 And the Fountain of my song Thou art ; 
 For dearer than the dearest now, 
 And better than the best, art Thou, 
 
 Beloved Lord, in whom I see 
 
 Joy-giving, glad Reality. 
 
 Reality, reality, 
 Lord Jesus, Thou hast been to me, 
 WTien I thought the dream of life was past. 
 And " the Master's home-call " come at last ;
 
 Reality. 133 
 
 When I thought I only had to wait 
 
 A little while at the Golden Gate, — 
 
 Only another day or two, 
 
 Till Thou Thyself should'st bear me through. 
 
 How real Thy presence was to me ! 
 
 How precious Thy Reality 1 
 
 Reality, reality, 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art to me ! 
 Thy name is sweeter than songs of old, 
 Thy v/ords are better than " most fine gold." 
 Thy deeds are greater than hero-glory, 
 Thy life is grander than poet-story : 
 But Thou, Thyself, for aye the same, 
 Art more than words and life and name ! 
 
 77z;/j-i?//" Thou hast revealed to me, 
 
 In glorious Reality. 
 
 Reality, realit}'. 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ, is crowned in Thee. 
 In Thee is every type fulfilled, 
 In Thee is every yearning stilled 
 For perfect beauty, truth, and love ; 
 For Thou art always far above 
 The grandest glimpse of our Ideal, 
 Yet more and more we know Thee real, 
 
 And marvel more and more to see 
 
 Thine infinite Reality.
 
 134 ^* Under His Shadoiu.^^ 
 
 Reality, reality 
 Of grace and glory dwells in Thee. 
 
 How real Thy mercy and Thy might ! 
 
 How real Thy love, how real Thy light ! 
 
 How real Thy truth and faithfulness ! 
 
 How real Thy blessing when Thou dost bless ! 
 
 How real Thy coming to dwell within ! 
 
 How real the triumphs Thou dost win ! 
 Does not the loving and glowing heart 
 Leap up to own how real Thou art ? 
 
 Reality, reality ! 
 Such let our adoration be ? 
 Father, we bless Thee with heart and voice. 
 For the wondrous grace of Thy sovereign 
 
 choice, 
 That patiently, gently, sought us out 
 In the far-off land of death and doubt, 
 That drew us to Christ by the Spirit's might, 
 That opened our eyes to see the light 
 That arose in strange reality. 
 From the darkness falling on Calvary. 
 
 Reality, reality. 
 Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art to me ! 
 My glorious King, my Lord, my God, 
 Life is too short for half the laud.
 
 Seulement Pour Toi. 
 
 For half the debt of praise 1 owe 
 For this blest knowledge, that " I know 
 The reality of Jesus Christ," — 
 Unmeasured blessing, gift unpriced ! 
 Will I not praise Thee when I see 
 In the long noon of Eternity, 
 Unveiled, Thy " bright Reality ! "— 
 
 SEULEMENT POUR TOI. 
 
 [Written for and sung by some Swiss peasants at a 
 Sunday afternoon Bible reading, July 23rd, 1870.] 
 
 QUE je sois, O cher Sauveur, 
 ^^^ Seulement a Toi ! - jos. iu. 1. 
 
 Soit I'amour de tout mon coeur latt xxii. 37. 
 
 Seulement pour Toi. 
 Je reviens a mon Pere fohn xiv. e. 
 
 Seulement par Toi, 
 Ma confiance entiere Ps. cx^-iii. & 
 
 Sera en Toi, 
 
 Seulement en Toi. 
 
 Le peche Tu as porte i Pet. ii. 24. 
 
 Seul, seul pour moi ; 
 Et Ton sang Tu as verse 
 
 Seul, seul pour moi.
 
 136 ''Under His Shadow." 
 
 Toute gloire, toute joie 
 
 Rev. V. 12. 
 
 Sera pour Toi ; 
 
 
 L'esperance et la foi 
 
 Acts iv. 12 
 
 Seront en Toi, 
 
 
 Seulement en Toi. 
 
 
 Aujourd'hui, cher Seigneur, 
 
 s Cor. vL a. 
 
 Acceptes-moi ! 
 
 Eph. i. 6. 
 
 Tu es seul mon gi'and. Sauveur, 
 
 Isa. xix. 20. 
 
 Tu es mon Roi. 
 
 Ps. xliv. 4. 
 
 Tous mes moments, tous mes jours 
 
 2 Cor. V. 15. 
 
 Seront pour Toi ! 
 
 
 Jesus, gardes-moi toujours 
 
 La. xxvii. 3. 
 
 Seulement pour Toi, 
 
 
 Seulement pour Toi. 
 
 
 Que je chante et que je pleure 
 
 Seulement pour Toi ! 
 Que je vive et que je meure 
 
 Seulement pour Toi ! 
 Jesus, qui m'as tant aime 
 
 Mourant pour moi, 
 Toute mon eternite 
 
 Sera pour Toi, 
 
 Seulement pour Toi. 
 
 Fixs-Haut.
 
 A Song in the Night. 137 
 
 A SONG IN THE NIGHT. 
 
 [Written in severe pain, Sunday afternoon, October 
 8th, 1876, at the Pension Wengen, Alps.] 
 
 I TAKE tliis pain, Lord Jesus, 
 From Thine own hand, 
 The strength to bear it bravely 
 Thou wilt command. 
 
 I am too weak for effort, 
 
 So let me rest. 
 In hush of sweet submission, 
 
 On Thine own breast. 
 
 I take this pain, Lord Jesus, 
 
 As proof indeed 
 That Thou art watching closely 
 
 My truest need ; 
 
 That Thou, my Good Physician, 
 
 Art watching still ; 
 That all Thine own good pleasure 
 
 Thou wilt fulfil. 
 
 I take this pain, Lord Jesus ; 
 
 What Thou dost choose j 
 
 The soul that really loves Thee j 
 
 Will not refuse. |
 
 ''Under His Shadozv.' 
 
 It is not for the first time 
 
 I trust to-day ; 
 For Thee my heart has never 
 
 A trustless "Nay ! " 
 
 I take this pain, Lord Jesus; 
 
 But what beside? 
 'Tis no unmingled portion 
 
 Thou dost provide. 
 
 In every hour of faintness 
 
 My cup n:ns o'er 
 With faithfulness and mercy, 
 
 And love's sweet store, 
 
 I take this pain, Lord Jesus, 
 
 As Thine own gift ; 
 
 And true though tremulous praises 
 
 I now uplift. 
 
 I am too weak to sing them, 
 
 But Thou dost hear 
 The whisper from the pillow, 
 
 Thou art so near ! 
 
 'T'^ Thy dear hand, O Saviour, 
 
 That presseth sore, 
 The hand that bears the nail-prints 
 
 For evermore.
 
 What zvill You do ivithoid Him ? 139 
 
 And now beneath its shadow, 
 
 Hidden by Thee, 
 The pressure only tells me 
 
 Thou lovest me ! 
 
 WHAT WILL YOU DO WITHOUT 
 HIM? 
 
 I COULD not do without Him ! 
 Jesus is more to me 
 Than all the richest, fairest gifts 
 
 Of earth could ever be. 
 But the more I find Him precious — 
 
 And the more I find Him true- - 
 The more I long for you to find 
 What He can be to you. 
 
 Vou need not do without Him, 
 
 For He is passing by. 
 He is waiting to be gracious, 
 
 Only Avaiting for your cry : 
 He is waiting to receive you — 
 
 To make you all His o\vn ! 
 Why will you do without Him, 
 
 And wander on alone ?
 
 I40 " Under His Shadow P 
 
 Why will you do without Him ? 
 
 Is He not kind indeed ? 
 Did He not die to save you ? 
 
 Is He not all you need ? 
 Do you not want a Saviour? 
 
 Do you not want a Friend ? 
 One who will love you faithfully, 
 
 And love you to the end? 
 
 Why will you do without Him ? 
 
 The W^ord of God is true ! 
 The world is passing to its doom — 
 
 And you ai-e passing too. 
 It may be no to-morrow 
 
 Shall dawn for you or me ; 
 Why will you run the awful risk 
 
 Of all eternity? 
 
 What will you do without Him, 
 
 In the long and dreary day 
 Of trouble and perplexity, 
 
 When you do not know the way, 
 And no one else can help you, 
 
 And no one guides you right, 
 And hope comes not with morning, 
 
 And rest comes not with night ? 
 
 You could not do without Him, 
 If once He made you see
 
 What luill Yo2i do wiihoiit Him ? 141 
 
 The fetters that enchain you, 
 
 Till He hath set you free. 
 If once you saw the fearful load 
 
 Of sin upon your soul ; — 
 The hidden plague that ends in death, 
 
 Unless He makes you whole ! 
 
 What will you do without Him, 
 
 When death is drawing near ? 
 Without His love — the only love 
 
 That casts out every fear ; 
 When the shadow-valley opens, 
 
 Unlighted and unknown, 
 And the terrors of its darkness 
 
 Must all be passed alone ! 
 
 What will you do without Him, 
 
 When the great white throne is set. 
 And the Judge who never can mistake. 
 
 And never can forget, — 
 The Judge whom you have never here 
 
 As Friend and Saviour sought, 
 Shall summon you to give account 
 
 Of deed and word and thoughts* 
 
 What will you do without Him, 
 When He hath shut the door, 
 
 And you are left outside, because 
 You would not come before ?
 
 " Under His Shadow^ 
 
 When it is no use knocking, 
 
 No use to stand and wait ; 
 For the word of doom tolls through your 
 heart, 
 
 That terrible "Too late!" 
 
 You cannot do without Him ! 
 
 There is no other name 
 By which you ever can be saved, 
 
 No way, no hope, no claim ! 
 Without Him — everlasting loss 
 
 Of love, and life, and light ! 
 Without Him — everlasting woe, 
 
 And everlasting night. 
 
 But with Him— oh ! 'djith Jcsiis ! 
 
 Are any words so blest? 
 With Jesus, everlasting joy 
 
 And everlasting rest ! 
 With Jesus — all the empty heart 
 
 Filled with His perfect love; 
 With Jesus — perfect peace below, 
 
 And perfect bliss above. 
 
 Why should you do without Him? 
 
 It is not yet too late ; 
 He has not closed the day of grace, 
 
 He has not shut the gate.
 
 Thy Father waits for thee. 143 
 
 He calls you ! — hush ! He calls you ! 
 
 He would not have you go 
 Another step without Him, 
 
 Because He loves you so. 
 
 Why will you do without Him? 
 
 He calls and calls again — 
 "Come unto Me ! Come unto Me !" 
 
 Oh, shall He call in vain ? 
 He wants to have you with Him ; 
 
 Do you not want Him too ? 
 You cannot do without Him, 
 
 And He wants — even you. 
 
 THY FATHER WAITS FOR THEE. 
 
 WANDERER from thy Father's home, 
 So full of sin, so far away, 
 Wilt thou any longer roam ? 
 Oh, wilt thou not return to-day? 
 
 Wilt thou ? Oh, He knows it all, 
 Thy Father sees, He meets thee here 1 
 
 Wilt thou ? Hear His tender call, 
 ** Return, return ! " while He is near.
 
 144 ''Under His Sliado-u." 
 
 He is here ! His loving voice 
 Hath reached thee, though so far away ! 
 
 He is waiting to rejoice, 
 O wandering one, o'er thee to-day. 
 
 Waiting, waiting to bestow 
 His perfect pardon, fiill and free ; 
 
 Waiting, waiting till thou know 
 His wealth of love for thee, for thee ! 
 
 Rise and go ! Thy Father waits 
 To welcome and receive and bless ; 
 
 Thou shalt tread His palace gates 
 In royal robe of righteousness. 
 
 Thine shall be His heart of love, 
 And thine His smile, and thine His home 
 
 Thine His joy, all joys above — 
 O wandering child, no longer roam ! 
 
 WILL YOU XOT COME? 
 
 WILL you not come to Him or Life ? 
 Why will ye die, oh why ? 
 He gave His life for you, for you ! 
 The gift is free, the word is true ! 
 
 Will you not come ? oh, why will you die ?
 
 Will you not come f 145 
 
 Will you not come to Him for Peace ? 
 
 Peace through His cross alone. 
 He shed His precious blood for you ; 
 The gift is free, the word is true : 
 
 He is our Peace — oh, is He your own ? 
 
 Will you not come to Him for Rest ? 
 
 All that are weary, come ! 
 The rest He gives is deep and true, 
 'Tis offered now, 'tis offered you ! 
 
 Rest in His love, and rest in His home. 
 
 Will you not come to Him for Joy, 
 
 Will you not come for this ? 
 He laid His joys aside for you, 
 To give you joy, so sweet, so true : 
 
 Sorrowing heart, oh, drink of the bliss \ 
 
 Will you not come to Him for Love^ 
 
 Love that can fill the heart ! 
 Exceeding great, exceeding free ! 
 He loveth you. He loveth me ! 
 
 Will you not come ? Why stand you apart ? 
 
 Will you not come to Him for all ? 
 
 Will you not " taste and see " ? 
 He waits to give it all to you. 
 The gifts are free, the words are trae ! 
 
 Jesus is calling, " Come unto Me ! "
 
 146 ''Under His Shadow^ 
 
 THE SHINING IIGHT, THAT 
 SHINE TH MORE AND MORE 
 UNTO THE PERFECT DAY." 
 
 (Pkov. iv. iS.) 
 
 TO-DAY the golden sunlight 
 Is full and broad and strong ; 
 The glory of tlie One Light 
 
 iNIust overflow in song ; 
 Song that fioweth ever, 
 
 Sweeter every day, 
 Song whose echoes never, 
 Never die away. 
 
 How shall the light be clearer 
 
 That is so bright to-day ? 
 How shall the hope be dearer 
 
 That pours such joyous ray ? 
 I am only waiting 
 
 For the answer golden, 
 What faith is antedating 
 
 Shall not be withholden.
 
 Church Missionary Jubilee Hymti. 147 
 
 CHURCH MISSIONARY JUBILEE 
 HYMN. 
 
 He shall see of the travail oi" His soul, and shall be 
 satisfied." — Isa. liii. ii. 
 
 REJOICE \\'ith Jesus Christ to-day, 
 All ye who love His holy sway ! 
 The travail of His soul is past, 
 He shall be satisfied at last. 
 
 Rejoice with Him, rejoice indeed ! 
 For He shall see His chosen seed. 
 But ours the trust, the grand employ, 
 To work out this divinest joy. 
 
 Of all His own He loseth none, 
 They shall be gathered one by one ; 
 He gathereth the smallest gi^ain, 
 His travail shall not be in vain. 
 
 Arise and work ! arise and pray 
 That He would haste the davraing day ! 
 And let the silver trumpet sound, 
 Wherever Satan's slaves are found. 
 
 The vanquished foe shall soon be stilled. 
 The conquering Saviour's joy fulfilled, 
 Fulfilled in us, fulfilled in them, 
 His crown, His royal diadem.
 
 48 ''Under His Shadow r 
 
 Soon, soon our waiting eyes shall see 
 The Sa\-iour"s mighty Jubilee ! 
 His han-est joy is filling fast, 
 He shall be satisfied at last. 
 
 Good Friday, 1 8 77. 
 
 A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU I 
 
 NEW mercies, new blessings, new light 
 on thy way ; 
 New courage, new hope, and new strength 
 
 for each day ; 
 Niw notes of thanksgiving, new chords of 
 
 delight, 
 New praise in the morning, new songs in the 
 
 night ; 
 New wine in thy chalice, new altars to raise ; 
 New fruits for thy Master, new garments of 
 
 praise ; 
 New gifts from His treasures, new smiles from 
 
 His face j 
 New streams from the Fountain of infinite 
 
 grace;
 
 Another Year. 149 
 
 New stars for thy crown, and new tokens of 
 love ; 
 
 New gleams of the glory that waits thee 
 above ; 
 
 New light of His countenance full and un- 
 priced ; 
 
 All this be the joy of thy new life In Christ ! 
 
 ANOTHER YEAR. 
 
 ANOTHER year is dawning 
 Dear Master, let it be 
 In working or in waiting, 
 Another year with Thee. 
 
 Another year of leaning 
 Upon Thy loving breast, 
 
 Of ever-deepening trustfulness, 
 Of quiet, happy rest. 
 
 Another year of mercies. 
 Of faithfulness and grace j 
 
 Another year of gladness 
 In the shining of Thy face.
 
 1 50 " Under His Shadow^ 
 
 Another year of progress, 
 Another year of praise ; 
 
 Another year of proving 
 Thy presence '.'all the days 
 
 Another year of service, 
 Of witness for Thy love ; 
 
 Another year of training 
 For holier work above. 
 
 Another year is dawning ! 
 
 Dear Master, let it be, 
 On earth, or else in heaven, 
 
 Another year for Thee ! 
 
 NEW YEAR'S WISHES. 
 
 WHAT shaU I wish thee? 
 Treasures of earth ? 
 Songs in the springtime. 
 
 Pleasure and mirth? 
 Flowers on thy pathway, 
 
 Skies ever clear? 
 Would this ensure thee 
 A Happy New Year ?
 
 Neiv Year's Wishes. 151 
 
 What shall I wish thee ? 
 
 What can be found 
 Bringing thee sunshine 
 
 All the year round ? 
 Wliere is the treasure, 
 
 Lasting and dear, 
 That shall ensure thee 
 
 A Happy New Year? 
 
 Faith that increaseth, 
 
 Walking in light ; 
 Hope that aboundeth, 
 
 Happy and bright ; 
 Love that is perfect, 
 
 Casting out fear ; 
 These shall ensure thee 
 
 A Happy New Year, 
 
 Peace in the Saviour, 
 
 Rest at His feet, 
 Smile of His countenance 
 
 Radiant and sweet, 
 Joy in His presence ! 
 
 Christ ever near ! 
 This will ensure thee 
 
 A Happy Nev/ Year 1 
 
 L.
 
 152 ''Under His Shado-u:' 
 
 '' FORGIVEN— EVEN UNTIL A^OIV." 
 
 (Num. xiv. 19.) 
 
 FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY 1879. 
 
 *' ' I ''HOU hast forgiven — even until now ! " 
 X We bless Thee, Lord, for this, 
 And take Thy great forgiveness as we bow 
 In depth of sorrowing bliss ; 
 While over all the long, regretful past 
 Ihis veil of wondrous grace Thy sovereign 
 hand doth cast. 
 
 ** Forgiven until now ! " For Jesus died 
 
 To take our sins away ; 
 His blood was shed, and still the infinite 
 tide 
 Flows full and deep to-day. 
 He paid the debt ; we own it, and go free ! 
 The cancelled bond is cast in Love's unfathomed 
 sea. 
 
 " Forgiven until now ! " For God is true ; 
 
 Faithful and just is He ! 
 Forgiving, cleansing, making all things new ! 
 " Who is a God like Thee?" 
 O precious blood of Christ that saves and heals, 
 While all its cleansing might the Holy Ghost 
 reveals.
 
 ^^ Forgiveji — eve?i iDitil iioiu." 153 
 
 Yes, "even until now!" And so we 
 stand, 
 Forgiven, loved, and blessed, 
 And, covered in the shadow of God's hand, 
 Believing, are at rest. 
 The one great load is lifted from the soul. 
 That henceforth on the Lord all burdens we 
 may roll. 
 
 Yes, '* even until now ! " Then let us press 
 
 With free and willing feet 
 Along the King's highway of holiness, 
 Until we gain the street 
 O golden crystal, praising purely when 
 \Ve see our pardoning Lord; forgiven until 
 thenl
 
 MATTHEW XIV. 23. 
 
 IT is the quiet evening time, the sun is in the 
 west, 
 And earth enrobed in purple glow awaits her 
 
 nightly rest ; . 
 The shadows of the mountain peaks are length- 
 ening o'er the sea, 
 And the flowerets close their eyelids on the 
 
 shore of Galilee. 
 The multitude are gone away, their restless hum 
 
 doth cease, 
 The birds have hushed their music, and all is 
 
 calm and peace ; 
 But on the lonely mountain side is One, whose 
 
 beauteous brow 
 The impress bears ot sorrow and of weariness 
 
 e'en now. 
 The livelong day in deeds of love and power 
 
 He hath spent. 
 And with them words of grace and life hath 
 
 ever sweetly blent.
 
 158 ''Under His Shadow:' 
 
 Now He hath gained the mountain top, He 
 
 standeth all alone, 
 No mortal may be near Him in that hour of 
 
 prayer unknown. 
 He prayeth. — But for whom ? For Himself, 
 
 He needeth nought ; 
 Nor strength, nor peace, nor pardon, where of 
 
 sin there is no spot ; 
 But 'tis for us in powerful prayer He spenceth 
 
 all the night, 
 That His own loved ones may be kept and 
 
 strengthened in the fight ; 
 That they may all be sanctified, and perfect 
 
 made in one ; 
 That they His glory may behold where they 
 
 shall need no sun ; 
 That in eternal gladness they may be His 
 
 glorious bride : 
 It is for this that He hath climbed the lonely 
 
 mountain side. 
 It is for this that He denies His weary head the 
 
 rest 
 Which e'en the foxes in their holes, and birds 
 
 have in their nest. 
 The echo of that prayer hath died upon the 
 
 rocky hill ;
 
 Matthew xxz'L 30. 159 
 
 But on a higher, holier mount that Voice is 
 
 pleading still ; 
 For while one weary child of His yet wanders 
 
 here below, 
 While yet one thirsting soul desires His peace 
 
 and love to know, 
 And while one fainting spirit seeks His holiness 
 
 to share. 
 The Saviour's loving heart shall pour a tide of 
 
 mighty prayer ; 
 Yes ! till each ransomed one hath gained His 
 
 home of joy and peace, 
 That fount of blessings all untold shall never, 
 
 never cease. 
 
 1854. 
 
 MATTHEW XXVI. 30. 
 
 " And when they had sung an hj-^mn they went out.' 
 
 THE sun hath gilded Jud all's hills 
 With his last gorgeous beam ; 
 Ghostlike the still grey mists arise 
 
 From Jordan's sacred stream. 
 The stars, bright flowers of the sky, 
 Unfold their beauties now,
 
 i6o " Under His Shadow" 
 
 And gaze on Salem's marble fane, 
 
 By Olivet's dark brow. 
 In David's city sound is hushed 
 
 And tread of busy feet, 
 For solemnly his sons have met 
 
 The paschal lamb to eat. 
 But list ! the silence of the hour 
 
 Is broken ; the still air 
 A melody hath caught M'hich far 
 
 Its vicM'less pinions bear. 
 Unwonted sweetness hath the strain, 
 
 And as its numbers flow, 
 More tender and more touching yet 
 
 Its harmony doth grow. 
 Not royal David's tuneful harp 
 
 Such thrilling power had known 
 To wake deep echoes in the soul, 
 
 As its scarce earthly tone. 
 AYithin an "upper room" are met 
 
 A small, yet faithful band, 
 On whom a deep yet chastened grief 
 
 Hath laid its softening hand. 
 Among them there is One who wears 
 
 A more than mortal mien, 
 'Tis He on whom in all distress 
 
 The weary one may lean.
 
 Matthew xxvi. 30. 161 
 
 Mysterious sadness, on that brow 
 
 So pure and calm, doth lie ; 
 And untold stores of deepest love 
 
 Are beaming from His eye. 
 What wonder if the strain was sweet 
 
 Above all other lays ? 
 Seraphic well might seem the hymn 
 
 Which Jesu's voice did raise. 
 The angels hush their lyres and bend 
 
 To hear the thrilling tone, 
 And heaven is silent, — with that song 
 
 They mingle not their own. 
 The sorrowing ones around have heard 
 
 Their blessed Master tell, 
 That He with them no longer now 
 
 As heretofore may dwell. 
 And they have sadly shared with Him 
 
 The last, last evening meal. 
 And heard the last sweet comfort which 
 
 Their mourning hearts may heal. 
 They do not know the fearful storm 
 
 Which on His head must burst : 
 They know not all, — He hath not told 
 
 His loving ones the worst. 
 How could He? E'en an angel's mind 
 
 Could never com.prehend
 
 1 62 ^^ Under His Shadow'' 
 
 The weight of woe 'neath which for us 
 
 The Savaour's head must bend ; 
 Ere long the voice, which waketh now 
 
 Such touching melody, 
 Shall cry, "My God, Isly God, oh why 
 
 Hast Thou forsaken Me?" 
 The hour is come; but ere they meet 
 
 Its terrors, — yet once more 
 Their voices blend with His who sang 
 
 As none e'er sang before. 
 Why do they linger on that note ? 
 
 Why thus the sound prolong ? 
 Ah ! 'twas the last ! 'Tis ended new, 
 
 That strangely solemn song. 
 And forth they go : — the song is past ; 
 
 But, like the roseleaf, still, 
 Whose fragrance doth not die away, 
 
 Its soft low echoes thrill 
 Through many a soul, and there awake 
 
 New strains of glowing praise 
 To Him who, on that fateful eve, 
 
 That last sv/eet hymn did raise. 
 
 Ftbniary 2']th, 1855.
 
 To John Henry C 163 
 
 70 JOHN HENRY C av HIS 
 
 THIRD BIRTHDAY. 
 
 BLESSINGS on thee, darling boy, 
 Peace and love and gentle joy ! 
 May the coronal they twine 
 Through the dream of life be thine ! 
 
 Little hast thou known of life, 
 Of its sorrow, of its strife, 
 Thine not yet dark Future's blast, 
 Thine not yet a shadowy Past. 
 
 While we reck of coming years, 
 Strangely mingling hopes and fears, 
 What are sober thoughts to thee, 
 In the tide of birthday glee ! 
 
 Thou art beautiful and bright, 
 Daily wakening new delight. 
 Would that we the prize could hold, 
 Always keep thee three years old ! 
 
 No, not always, thou may'st be 
 Something brighter yet to see, 
 Noble hearted, lofty souled, 
 When more years have o'er thee rolleo
 
 164 '^ Under His Shadoiu." 
 
 Love is watching round thee now, 
 Tracing sunbeams on thy brow ; 
 Never be her mission done 
 To thy father's only son. 
 
 Yet a higher, deeper love 
 Watcheth o'er thee from above ; 
 Then, thy fount of motive be 
 Love to Him who loveth thee. 
 
 Darling, may thy years below 
 Like a strain of music flow, 
 Ever sweeter, purer, higher, 
 Till it swell the angel choir. 
 
 Be thy life a star of light. 
 Glistening through earth's stormy night, 
 Shining then with glorious ray 
 Through the One Eternal Day. 
 
 November 2^1/1, 1S58. 
 
 *' COMING OF age:' 
 
 WHAT do we seek for him to-day, who, 
 through such golden gates 
 Of toirth and gladness, enters now where life 
 before him waits ?
 
 " Coming of AgeP 165 
 
 'Mid light and flowers the feast is spread, and 
 
 young and old rejoice : 
 Let beam and wall speak out for all, with 
 
 earnest, loving voice. 
 
 The threefold blessing Israel heard three thou- 
 sand years ago, 
 
 Oh ! grant it may on him to-day in power 
 and fulness flow ; 
 
 For, faithful and unchangeable, each word of 
 God is sure. 
 
 Though heaven and earth shall pass away, 
 His promises endure. 
 
 The Angel of the Covenant, rrdeemmg from 
 
 all ill 
 Both son and father, bless the lad, and every 
 
 prayer fulfil ; 
 Nor only bless, but make him, too, a blessing, 
 
 Lord, from Thee : 
 With length of days, O satisfy ; let him Thy 
 
 glory see. 
 
 Through all the journey of his life. Thy pre- 
 sence with him go ; 
 
 Rest in Thee here, and with Thee there, do 
 Thou, O Lord, bestow.
 
 1 66 " Under His Shado-.u" 
 
 Oh, keep him faithful unto death, then grant 
 
 to him, we pray, 
 The crown of glory and of life, that fadeth not 
 
 away. 
 
 So shall the father's soul be glad for him he 
 
 holds so dear, 
 A son whose heart is truly wise in God's most 
 
 holy fear ; 
 And hallowed be our festal joy with gratitude 
 
 and praise ; 
 Forget not all His benefits, whose kindness 
 
 crowTis our days. 
 
 Then glor}' in the highest be to Him, our 
 
 Strength and Song ; 
 May every heart uplift its part, in blessings 
 
 deep and long. 
 Through Him who died that we might live, 
 
 our thanks to God ascend, 
 The King of kings, and Lord of lords, our 
 
 Saviour and our Friend. 
 
 September 26tk, 1865.
 
 Evelyn. 167 
 
 EVELYN. 
 
 DYING ? Evelyn, darling \ 
 Dying? can it be ? 
 Spring so joyous all around, 
 Such a spring, so early crowned, 
 Heralding all summer glee, 
 Life for everything but thee S 
 
 Evelyn darling, dying? 
 Yet it is no phantom sound, 
 Though the word is haunting me ; 
 
 Thou art lying 
 Now, where life and death do meet, 
 Thorny path and golden street. 
 
 I thought I had no heart to write. 
 But the pencil near me lay, 
 Which has traced me many a day, 
 
 Dipped in colours dark or bright, 
 
 Lays I guessed would meet the sight 
 Of at least some loving eye, 
 
 And perchance be heard again,
 
 1 68 ''Under His Shadow." 
 
 Winning echoes far and nigh, 
 Touching chords of sympathy 
 In the weary souls of men. 
 And I took it in my hand, 
 For it seemed to be relief, 
 After this long week of grief, 
 Just to let the thought expand. 
 And the word that haunted me 
 Just to write; though none shall st-e 
 What is written, only He 
 Who is gently leading thee, 
 
 Evelyn darling, without fears, 
 Through. the vale of death, — and me 
 Through the vale of tears. 
 
 All so calm ; — a hazy veil 
 
 Falling on the golden west ; 
 Silence, like a minstrel pale, 
 
 Preluding the Sabbath rest. 
 There is night before the dawn 
 Rise for us of Sabbath morn : 
 Is there any night for thee 
 Ere thine eyes the glory see? 
 Are the angels, bright and strong, 
 
 Bearing thy free soul away, 
 Teaching thee the glad new song, 
 
 On the grand star-pa ven way?
 
 Evelyn. 1 69 
 
 Art thou even now at rest, 
 
 Lying on the Saviour's breast ? 
 
 Evelyn darling, is it so ? 
 
 Would, oh would that I could know ! 
 
 I can only wait in sorrow 
 
 For the tidings of the morrow. 
 
 Evelyn darling, laid so low ! 
 Only three short months ago 
 Thou wert full of life and glee, 
 Round the laden Christmas tree j 
 Foremost in the carol- singing, 
 P^un and frolic gaily flinging. 
 Tallest, fairest of the troop, 
 
 Opening rose on slender stem. 
 Reigning 'mid the bright-eyed group, 
 
 Queen without a diadem ; 
 In thy robe of snowy sheen, 
 Decked with silken emerald green. 
 Few there are who ever knew 
 
 Merrier holidays than thine, 
 Whether summer breezes blew. 
 
 Or the winter stars did shine. 
 Evelyn darling, can it be, 
 
 Was that Christmas tree the last ? 

 
 \jo " Ujider His S/iadozi'." 
 
 How believe it, that for thee 
 Christmas holidays are past ! 
 
 And that summer leaves will wave, 
 And the Easter moon will shine, 
 
 Over the first household grave, 
 First, — and thine! 
 
 I am not praying, — prayer is hushed, 
 
 God's hand is laid upon my heart ; 
 The earthly hope for ever crushed, 
 
 The heavenly ansiuered, not in part, 
 But fully, perfectly ! I prayed 
 
 For life, and He hath given the life 
 Which triumphs o'er the grave's cold 
 shade ; 
 
 For peace, and He hath ended strife 
 And spoken love. There have been tears 
 And earnest pleadings through long years; 
 But He is faithful to His word, 
 I know at last that He has heard. 
 But not, oh not as I had thought 
 
 In ignorant and selfish love, 
 The Master calls, — she tarries not, 
 
 For He hath need of her above. 
 The lambs He gathers with His arm, 
 No grief, no sin, no death can harm,
 
 Evelyii. 171 I 
 
 I 
 So safely folded on His breast, 
 For ever and for ever blest. 
 Could God Himself give more ? His will 
 Is best, though we are weeping still. 
 
 Yet the old cry comes again, 
 
 Evelyn, darling, dying ! 
 Is it true, or is it dreaming? 
 Is it only ghastly seeming 
 Of a sorrow far away, 
 Not to fall for many a day ? 
 
 If I saw thee lying, 
 I might realize it so ! 
 Last I saw thee in the glow 
 Of thy brightest health and bloom ; 
 Was it only for the tomb ? 
 Then the sorrow grows with this — 
 
 Not a word of fond good-bye, 
 Not one tender parting kiss. 
 
 Not one glance of loving eye ! 
 \Yell, I know it could not be ! 
 God's appointed way for me 
 Was assuredly — "Be still. 
 Wait in silence for His will." 
 Father, I have said Amen, 
 Said it often, now again !
 
 172 " Under His Shadow. 
 
 Father, strengthen it and seal ! 
 
 Let my weary spirit feel 
 
 I am very near to Thee, 
 
 For Thy hand is laid on me — 
 
 Though the shadows gather deep, 
 
 Thou canst calm and aid and keep. 
 
 Father, where the shadows fall 
 
 Deeper yet, deepest of all. 
 
 Send Thy peace, and show Thy power 
 
 In affliction's direst hour ; 
 
 To each mourning heart draw near, 
 
 Soothe and bless, sustain and cheer. 
 
 Thou wilt hear, I know not how I 
 
 Thou canst help, ** and only Thou." 
 
 This my prayer I leave with Thee. 
 
 Father ! hear and answer me 
 
 or the sake of Him who knows 
 'All our love and all our woes. 
 
 April 6th, iS6S. 
 
 t 
 
 FAITHFUL PROMISES. 
 Isaiah xli. lo. 
 
 NEW YEAR'S HYMN. 
 ^T AN DING at the portal 
 C3 Of the opening year,
 
 Faithful Promises. 173 
 
 Words of comfort meet us, 
 
 Hushing every fear; 
 Spoken through the silence 
 
 By our Father's voice, 
 Tender, strong, and faithful, 
 
 Making us rejoice. 
 
 Onward then, and fear not. 
 
 Children of the day ! 
 For His word shall never, 
 
 Never pass away ! 
 
 I, the Lord, am with thee, 
 
 Be thou not afraid ! 
 I will I'lelp and strengthen, 
 
 Be thou not dismayed ! 
 Yea, I will uphold thee 
 
 With My own right hand ; 
 Thou art called and chosen 
 
 In My sight to stand. 
 
 Onward then, and fear not, 
 
 Children of the day ! 
 For His word shall never, 
 
 Never pass awav 1 
 
 For the year before u>, 
 Oh what rich supplies !
 
 174 ''Under His ShadoTu." 
 
 For the poor and needy 
 Living streams shall rise ; 
 
 For the sad and sinful 
 Shall His grace abound ; 
 
 For the faint and feeble 
 Perfect strength be found. 
 
 Onward then, and fear not, 
 Children of the day ! 
 
 For His word shall never, 
 Never pass away 1 
 
 He will never fail us, 
 He will not forsake ; 
 
 His eternal covenant 
 ! He will never break ! 
 
 Resting on His promise, 
 What have we to fear ? 
 
 God is all-sufficient 
 For the coming year. 
 
 Onward then, and fear not. 
 Children of the day ! 
 
 For His word shall never, 
 Never pass away !
 
 The Maidens of England. 175 
 
 THE MAIDENS OF ENGLAND, 
 
 ON THE PRESENTATION OF A BIBLE Tr 
 THEIR PRINCESS ROYAL. 
 
 ERE the pathless ocean waters 
 Bear thee far from England's shore, 
 Come we, England's youthful daughters. 
 Warmly greeting thee once more. 
 
 Rarest jewels, lustre flinging, 
 
 Grace thy royal diadem ; 
 Yet we come, an offering bringing 
 
 Richer than its richest gem. 
 
 While with prayerful love unspoken, 
 Princess ! glows each maiden heart, 
 
 Deign to take this sacred token, 
 Brightest lamp and surest chart. 
 
 May its holy precepts guide thee 
 In each hour of joy or sadness ; 
 
 Yet may he who stands beside thee 
 Share with thee unfading gladness. 
 
 Ever on thy pathway shining, 
 Living stars 'mid earthly night, 
 
 May its peace and grace entwining 
 Gird thee with a robe of Y\^A.
 
 76 " Under His Shadow^ 
 
 Rose of England ! fragrance breathing, 
 To thy far new home depart. 
 
 Round thy early bloom enwreathing 
 All the love of England's heart. 
 
 Be thy gladness ever vernal 
 'Mid the wintry scenes below, 
 
 Till a crown of life eternal 
 Gleams upon thy royal brow ! 
 
 Father, be Thou ever near her ! 
 
 Sa\-iour, fill her with Thy love ! 
 Let Thy constant presence cheer her, 
 
 Joy-imparting Holy Dove ! 
 
 yaviiayy^ 1S5S. 
 
 SCOTLAXD'S WELCOME TO THE 
 PRINCESS LOUISE. 
 
 SWEET Rose of the South ! contented to 
 rest 
 In the fair island home which thy presence 
 
 has blessed : 
 From the Highlands resounding, glad welcome 
 
 shall float, 
 And the Lowlands re-echo the jubilant note.
 
 Scotland'' s Welcome to Princess Louise. 1 77 
 
 I Merry England has loved thee and cherished 
 
 thee long, 
 Her blessings go with thee in prayer and in 
 
 song; 
 Bonnie Scotland has won thee, and lays at thy 
 
 feet 
 Love tender and fervent, love loyal and sweet. 
 
 Chorus. — Our own bonnie Scotland with 
 
 welcome shall ring, 
 While gi-eeting and homage we loyally bring ; 
 The crown of our love shall thy diadem be, 
 And the throne of our hearts is waiting for 
 
 thee. 
 
 Then come, like the sunrise that gilds with a 
 smile 
 
 The dark mountains and valleys of lonely 
 Argyle ; 
 
 Golden splendour shall fall on the pale north- 
 ern snow. 
 
 And with rose light of love the purple shall 
 glow. 
 
 Though the voice that should tless, and the 
 
 hand that should seal. 
 Is "away," and at rest in "the land o' the 
 
 leal,"
 
 1 78 ''Ujider His Shadow." 
 
 May the God of thy father look graciously 
 
 down, 
 With blessings on blessings thy gladness to 
 
 crown. 
 
 Chorus. — Our own bonnie Scotland with 
 
 welcome shall ring, 
 While greeting and homage we loyally bring ; 
 The cro\vn of our love shall thy diadem be, 
 And the throne of our hearts is waiting for 
 
 thee. 
 
 March, 1871.
 
 LATEST POEMS 
 
 AND 
 
 UNFINISHED FRAGMENTS.
 
 CHOSEN LESSONS, 
 
 'Him shall He teach in the way that He shall 
 choose." — Fs.xxv. 12. 
 
 IN the way that He shall choose 
 He will teach us ; 
 Not a lesson we shall lose, 
 All shall reach us. 
 
 Strange and difficult indeed 
 
 We may find it, 
 But the blessing that we need 
 
 Is behind it. 
 
 All the lessons He shall send 
 
 Are the sweetest, 
 And His training, in the end, 
 
 Is completest. 
 
 IN THE J^ TO AND HENCEFORTH. 
 
 "The Lord hath blessed me hitherto." — Josh. xvii. 14. 
 
 HITHERTO the Lord hath blessed us, 
 Guiding all the way ; 
 Henceforth let us trust Him fully, 
 Trust Him all the day.
 
 1 82 ''Under His Shadow r 
 
 Hitherto the Lord hath loved us, 
 
 Caring for His o"mi ; 
 Henceforth let us love Him better, 
 
 Live for Him alone. 
 
 Hitherto the Lord hath blessed us, 
 Crowning all our days ; 
 
 Henceforth let us live to bless Hin 
 Live to show His praise. 
 
 CHRISTMAS GIFTS. 
 
 "Thou hast received gifts for men."— Pj. Ixviii. 18. 
 
 CHRISTMAS gifts for thee, 
 Fair and free ! 
 Precious things from the heavenly store, 
 Filling thy casket more and more ; 
 Golden love in divinest chain, 
 That never can be untwined again ; 
 Silvery carols of joy that swell 
 Sweetest of all in the heart's lone cell ; 
 Pearls of peace that were sought for thee 
 In the terrible depths of a fiery sea ; 
 Diamond promises sparkling bright, 
 Flashing in farthest reaching light.
 
 He hath Done it. 183 
 
 Christmas gifts for thee, 
 Grand and free ! 
 Christmas gifts from the King of love, 
 Brought from His royal home above ; 
 Brought to thee in the far-off land, 
 Brought to thee by His owti dear hand. 
 Promises held by Christ for thee, 
 Peace as a river flowing free, 
 Joy that in His o^vn joy must live, 
 And love that Infinite Love can give. 
 Surely thy heart of hearts uplifts 
 Carols of praise for such Christmas gifts ! 
 
 Written for Christ7Jias Day 1879, for " Hoi7ie I 
 Words." 
 
 HE HA TH DONE IT I 
 
 " I have blotted out, as a thick Q]n>\iA, thy transgres- 
 sions, and, as a cloud, thy sins : return unto Me ; for I 
 have redeemed thee. Sing, O heavens ; for the Lord 
 hath done it." — Isa. xliv. 22, 23. 
 
 " I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for 
 ever : nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from 
 it." — Eccles. iii. 14. 
 
 SING, O heavens ! the Lord hath done it ! 
 Sound it forth o'er land and sea ! 
 Jesus says, '* I have redeemed thee, 
 Now return, return to Me ! "
 
 1 84 " Under His Shadow P 
 
 Oh return, for His own life blood 
 Paid the ransom, made us free 
 Evermore and evermore. 
 
 For I know^ that vi'hat He doeth 
 Stands for ever, fixed and true ; 
 
 Nothing can be added to it, 
 Nothing left for us to do ; 
 
 Nothing can be taken from it. 
 Done for me and done for you 
 Evermore and evermore. 
 
 Listen now ! the Lord hath done it ! 
 
 For He loved us unto death ; 
 It is finished ! He has saved us ! 
 
 Only trust to what He saith. 
 He hath done it ! Come and bless Him, 
 
 Spend in praise your ransomed breaih 
 Evermore and evermore. 
 
 Oh believe the Lord hath done it ! 
 
 Wherefore linger ? wherefore doubt ? 
 All the cloud of black transgression 
 
 He Himself hath blotted out. 
 He hath done it ! Come and bless Him, 
 Swell the grand thanksgiving shout 
 Evermore and evermore. 
 
 December T,rd, 1878
 
 What Thou Wilt, 185 
 
 WHAT THOU WILT 
 
 DO what Thou wilt ! yes, only do 
 What seemeth good to Thee : 
 Thou art so loving, wise and true, 
 It must be best for me. 
 
 Send what Thou wilt ; or beating shower, 
 
 Soft dew, or brilliant sun ; 
 Alike in still or stormy hour. 
 
 My Lord, Thy will be done. 
 
 Teach what Thou wilt ; and make me iearn 
 
 Each lesson full and sweet, 
 And deeper things of God discern 
 
 While sitting at Thy feet. 
 
 Say what Thou wilt ; and let each word 
 
 My quick obedience win ; 
 Let loyalty and love be stirred 
 
 To deeper glow within. 
 
 Give what Thou wilt ; for then I know 
 
 I shall be rich indeed : 
 My King rejoices to bestow 
 
 Supply for every need.
 
 1 86 ^^ Under His Shadow. ^^ 
 
 Take what Thou wilt, beloved Lord, 
 
 For I have all in Thee ! 
 My o-wn exceeding great reward, 
 
 Thou, Thou Thyself shalt be ! 
 
 December, 1878. 
 
 THE KEY FOUND. 
 
 THERE is a strange ^^^ld wail around, a 
 wail of wild unrest, 
 A moaning in the music, with echoes uncon- 
 
 fessed, 
 And a mocking tAvitter here and there, with 
 
 small notes shrill and thin. 
 And deep, low shuddering groans that rise 
 from caves of gloom within. 
 
 And still the weird wail crosses the harmonies 
 
 of God, 
 And still the wallers wander through His fair 
 
 lands, rich and broad ; 
 Grave thought-explorers swell the cry of doubt 
 
 and nameless pain, 
 And careless feet among the flowers trip to 
 
 the dismal strairL
 
 The Key Found. 187 
 
 They may wander as they will in the hopeless 
 search for truth, 
 
 They may squander in the quest all the fresh- 
 ness of their youth, 
 
 They may wrestle with the nightmares of sin's 
 unresting sleep, 
 
 They may cast a futile plummet in the heart's 
 unfathomed deep. 
 
 But they wait and wail and wander in vain and 
 
 still in vain, 
 Though they glory in the dimness and are 
 
 proud of very pain ; 
 For a life of Titan struggle is but one sublime 
 
 mistake, 
 While the spell-dream is upon them, and they 
 
 cannot, will not wake. 
 
 Awake, O thou that sleepest ! The Deliverer 
 
 is near ! 
 Arise, go forth to meet Him ! Bow down, for 
 
 He is here ! 
 Ye shall count your true existence from this 
 
 first, blessed tryst, 
 For He waiteth to reveal Himself, the Very 
 
 God in Christ.
 
 1 88 ''Under His Shadoi.'.'' 
 
 For the soul is never satisfied, the life is in- 
 complete, 
 
 And the symphonies of sorrow find no cadence 
 calm and sweet, 
 
 And the earthlights never lead us beyond the 
 shadows grim, 
 ] And the lone heart never resteth till it findeth 
 rest in Him. 
 
 Do ye doubt our feeble witness? Though ye 
 
 scorn us, come and see ! 
 Come and hear Him for yourselves, and ye 
 
 shall know that it is He ! 
 Ye shall find in Him the Centre, the Very 
 
 Truth and Life, 
 Resplendent resolution of the endless doubt 
 
 and strife. 
 
 Ye shall find a perfect fitness with your highest, 
 
 deepest thought. 
 In Him, the fair Ideal, that so long ye vainly 
 
 sought. 
 In Him the grand Reality ye never found 
 
 before, 
 In Him the Lord that ye must love, the God 
 
 ye must adore.
 
 The Key Foimd. 189 
 
 Ye shall find in Him the filling of the "aching 
 
 void" within ; 
 In Him the instant antidote for anguish and 
 
 for sin ; 
 In Him the conscious meeting of the soul's 
 
 unuttered need ; 
 In Him the All that ye have sought, the goal 
 
 of life indeed. 
 
 As the light is to the eye, with its sensitive 
 array 
 
 Of delicate adjustments with their finely bal- 
 anced play. 
 
 With its instinct of perception, and its craving 
 for the light, 
 
 So is Jesus to the spirit, when He gives the 
 inward sight. 
 
 As the full and clear translation of some 
 characters of fate, 
 
 With their sibylline enfoldings, of dim mys- 
 terious weight. 
 
 And a haunting terror lest the real be darker 
 than the guessed ! 
 
 So is Jesus to the questions and enigmas of the 
 breast.
 
 190 " U7ider His Shadow P 
 
 As the key is to the lock, when it enters quick 
 
 and true, 
 Fitting all the complex wards that are hidden 
 
 from the view, 
 Moving all the secret springs that no other finds 
 
 or moves, 
 So is Jesus to the soul, when His saving power 
 
 He proves. 
 
 As the music to the ear, when the mightiest 
 
 anthems roll, 
 With its corridors conveying every echo to the 
 
 soul, 
 With its exquisite discernment of vibration and 
 
 of tone. 
 So is Jesus to the heart that is made for Him 
 
 alone. 
 
 No need to prove the sunshine when the eye 
 receives the light ! 
 
 When the cipher is deciphered we know the 
 clue is right ; 
 
 The key is known by fitting the strange in- 
 tricate wards ; 
 
 And the ears must Qvn\ the music when they 
 recocrnise the chords.
 
 The Key Found. 191 
 
 No need to prove a Saviour, when once the 
 
 heart believes 
 And the light of God's own glory in Jesus 
 
 Christ receives ! 
 No need for weary puzzle, with heart-lore 
 
 strange and dim, 
 When we find our dark enigmas are simply 
 
 solved in Him ! 
 
 We cannot doubt our finding the very Key 
 
 indeed, 
 When Jesus fills up every void, responds to 
 
 every need, 
 When all the secrets of our hearts before Him 
 
 are revealed, 
 And all the mystery of life, alone with Him, 
 
 unsealed. 
 
 We cannot doubt, when once the ear of listen- 
 ing faith has heard, 
 
 W^ith all-responsive thrill of love, the music of 
 His word ! 
 
 He gives the witness that excels all argument 
 or sign, — 
 
 When we have heard it for ourselves we know 
 it is Divine !
 
 192 **' Under His Shadow.'" 
 
 And then, oh then the wail is stilled, the wan- 
 dering is o'er, 
 
 The rest is gained, the certainty that never 
 wavers more ; 
 
 And then the full, unquivering praise arises 
 glad and strong, 
 
 And life becomes the prelude of the everlasting 
 song ! 
 December \\tJi, 1 8 78. {Her last birthday.) 
 
 A 
 
 THE SONG OF A SUMMER STREAM. 
 
 FEW months ago 
 I was singing through the snow. 
 Though the dead brown boughs gave no hope 
 of summer shoots, 
 And my persevering fall 
 Seemed to be no use at all, 
 For the hard, hard frost would not let me reach 
 the roots. 
 
 Then the mists hung chill 
 All along the wooded hill, 
 And the cold sad fog through my lonely dingles 
 crept ;
 
 The Song of a Sununer Strea?n. 193 
 
 I was glad I had no power 
 To awake one tender flower 
 To a sure swift doom ! I would rather that it 
 slept. 
 
 Still I sang all alone 
 In the sweet old summer tone, 
 For the strong white ice could not hush me 
 for a day ; 
 Though no other voice was heard 
 But the bitter breeze that whirred 
 Past the gaunt, grey trunks on its wild and 
 angry way. 
 
 So the dim days sped; 
 While everything seemed dead, 
 And my own poor flow seemed the only living 
 sign ; 
 And the keen stars shone 
 When the freezing night came on, 
 From the far, far heights, all so cold and 
 crystalline. 
 
 A few months ago 
 I was singing through the snow I 
 But now the blessed sunshine is filling all thf 
 land.
 
 194 " Utider His Shadow." 
 
 And the memories are lost 
 Of the winter fog and frost, 
 In the presence of the summer with her full and 
 glowing hand. 
 
 Now the woodlark comes to drink 
 At my cool and pearly brink, 
 And the ladyfem is bending to kiss my rainbow- 
 foam ; 
 And the wild rose buds entwine 
 With the dark-leaved bramble-vine, 
 And the centuried oak is green around the 
 bright-eyed squirrel's home. 
 
 the full and glad content 
 That my little song is blent 
 
 With the all-melodious mingling of the cho- 
 risters around ! 
 
 1 no longer sing alone 
 Through a chill surrounding moan, 
 
 For the very air is trembling with its wealth of 
 summer sound. 
 
 Though the hope seemed long deferred, 
 Ere the south wind's whisper heard 
 Gave a promise of the passing of the weary 
 winter days,
 
 Hope. 195 
 
 Yet the blessing was secure, 
 For the summer time was sure 
 When the lonely songs are gathered in the 
 mighty choir of praise. 
 
 February iWi, 1 879. 
 
 HOPE. 
 
 WHAT though the blossom fall and die ? 
 The flower is not the root ; 
 The sun of love may ripen yet 
 The Master's pleasant fruit. 
 
 What though by many a sinful fall 
 
 Thy garments are defiled ? 
 A Saviour's blood can cleanse them all ; 
 
 Fear not ! thou art His child. 
 
 Arise ! and, leaning on His strength, 
 
 Thy weakness shall be strong ; 
 And He will teach thy heart at length 
 
 A new perpetual song. 
 
 Arise ! to follow in His track 
 
 Each holy footprint clear, 
 And on an upward course look back 
 
 With every brightening year.
 
 196 ''Under His Shadow:' 
 
 Arise ! and on thy future way 
 His blessing with thee be ! 
 
 I lis presence be thy staff and stay, 
 Till thou His glory see. 
 
 FEAR NOT. 
 Isaiah xliii. 1-7. 
 
 LISTEN ! for the Lord hath spoken ! 
 *'Fear thou not," saith He ! 
 ♦* When thou passest through the waters, 
 I will be with thee. 
 
 " Fear not ! for I have redeemed thee ; 
 
 All My sheep I know : 
 When thou passest through the rivers, 
 
 They shall not o'erflow. 
 
 "Fear not! by thy name I called thee, — 
 Mine thy heart hath learned ; 
 
 When thou walkest through the fire, 
 Thou shalt not be burned. 
 
 **Thou art Mine! oh, therefore, fear not: 
 
 Mine for ever now ; 
 And the flame shall never kindle 
 
 On thy sealed brow.
 
 " The Scripture cannot be broken." 197 
 
 " Thou art precious, therefore fear not, 
 
 Precious unto Me ! 
 I have made thee for My glory, 
 
 I have loved thee." 
 
 THE SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE 
 BROKEN.'' 
 
 John x. 35. 
 
 UPON the Word I rest, 
 Each pilgrim day ; 
 This golden staff is best 
 
 For all the way. 
 What Jesus Christ hath spoken, 
 Qzxinot be broken ! 
 
 Upon the Word I rest, 
 
 So strong, so sure. 
 So full of comfort blest, 
 
 So sweet, so pure ! 
 The charter of salvation, 
 
 Faith's broad foundation. 
 
 Upon the Word I stand ! 
 That cannot die !
 
 198 ''Ibider His Shadow." 
 
 Christ seals it in my hand, 
 
 He cannot lie ! 
 The Word that faileth never ! 
 
 Abiding ever! 
 
 Chorus. — The Master hath said it ! Rejoicing 
 in this, 
 We ask not for sign or for token ; 
 His word is enough for our confident bliss, 
 " The Scripture cannot be broken ! " 
 
 April, 1879. 
 
 NO THING TO FAY I 
 
 NOTHING to pay ! Ah, nothing to pay ! 
 Never a word of excuse to say ! 
 Year after year thou hast filled the score. 
 Owing thy Lord still more and more. 
 
 Hear the voice of Jesus say, 
 " Verily thou hast nothing to pay ! 
 Ruined, lost, art thou, and yet 
 I forgave thee all that debt." 
 
 Nothing to pay ! the debt is so great ; 
 WTiat will you do with the a\^-ful weight ? 
 How shall the way of escape be made ? 
 Nothing to pay ! yet it must be paid !
 
 He Suffered:' 199 
 
 Hear the voice of Jesus say, 
 " Verily thou hast nothing to pay I 
 All has been put to My account, 
 I have paid the full amount." 
 
 Nothing to pay ; yes, nothing to pay I 
 Jesus has cleared all the debt away, 
 Blotted it out with His bleeding hand ! 
 Free and forgiven and loved you stand. 
 
 Hear the voice of Jesus say, 
 "Verily thou hast nothing to pay ! 
 Paid is the debt, and the debtor free I 
 Now I ask thee^ lovest thou Me?" 
 
 April, 1879. 
 
 ''HE suffered:' 
 
 "TJE suffered!" Was it, Lord, indeed 
 JL J. for me. 
 
 The Just One for the unjust ; Thou didst bear 
 The weight of sorrow that I hardly dare 
 To look upon, in dark Gethsemane ? 
 " He suffered ! " Thou, my near and gracious 
 Friend, 
 And yet my Lord, my God ! Thou didst 
 not shrink
 
 Under His Shadow." 
 
 For me that full and fearful cup to drink 
 Because Thou lovedst even to the end ! 
 *' He suffered !" Saviour, was Thy love so 
 vast 
 That mysteries of unknown agony, 
 Even unto death, its only gauge could be, 
 Unmeasured as the fiery depths it passed ? 
 Lord, by the sorro\ys of Gethsemane 
 Seal Thou my quivering love for ever unto 
 Thee. 
 
 1879. 
 
 BEHOLD YOUR KING. 
 
 " Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto My 
 sorrow." — Lam. i. 12. 
 
 BEHOLD your King ! Though the moon- 
 light steals 
 Through the silvery sprays 01 the olive tree, 
 No star-gemmed sceptre or crown it reveals. 
 In the solemn shade of Gethsemane. 
 Only a form of prostrate grief, 
 Fallen, crushed, like a broken leaf ! 
 Oh, think of His sorrow ! that we may know 
 The depth of love in the depth of woe !
 
 An Easter Prayer. 
 
 Behold your King ! Is it nothing to you, 
 
 That the crimson tokens of agony 
 From the kingly brow must fall like dew, 
 Through the shuddering shades of Geth- 
 semane ? 
 Jesus himself, the Prince of Life, 
 Bows in mysterious mortal strife ; 
 Oh, think of His sorrow 1 that we may know 
 The unknown love in the unknown woe ! 
 
 Behold your King, with His sorrow crowned, 
 
 Alone, alone in the valley is He ! 
 The shadows of death are gathering round, 
 And the Cross must follow Gethsemane. 
 Darker and darker the gloom must fall, 
 Filled is the Cup, He must drink it all ! 
 Oh, think of His sorrow ! that we may know 
 His wondrous love in His wondrous woe ! 
 Good Friday^ 1 8 79- 
 
 AN EASTER PRA YER. 
 
 OH let me know 
 The power of Thy resurrection j 
 Oh let me show 
 Thy risen life in calm and clear reflection ;
 
 ''Under His Shadow^ 
 
 Oh let me soar 
 Where Thou, my Saviour Christ, art gone 
 before ; 
 
 In mind and heart 
 Let me dwell always, only, where Thou art. 
 
 Oh let me give 
 Out of the gifts Thou freely givest ; 
 
 Oh let me live 
 With life abundantly because Thou livest ; 
 
 Oh make me shine 
 In darkest places, for Thy light is mine ; 
 
 Oh let me be 
 A faithful witness for Thy truth and Thee. 
 
 Oh let me show 
 The strong reality of gospel story ; 
 
 Oh let me go 
 From strength to strength, from glory unto 
 glory; 
 
 Oh let me sing 
 For very joy, because Thou art my King ; 
 
 Oh let me praise 
 Thy love and faithfulness through all my days.
 
 Easter Dawn. 203 
 
 EASTER DAWN. 
 
 IT is too calm to be a dream, 
 Too gravely sweet, too full of power, 
 Prayer changed to praise this very hour ! 
 
 Yes, heard and answered ! though it seem 
 Beyond the hope of yesterday, 
 Beyond the faith that dared to pray, 
 Yet not beyond the love that heard, 
 And not beyond the faithful word 
 On which each trembling prayer may rest 
 And win the answer truly best. 
 
 Yes, heard and answered! sought and found ! 
 I breathe a golden atmosphere 
 Of solemn joy, and seem to hear 
 
 Within, above, and all around. 
 The chime of deep cathedral bells, 
 An early herald peal that tells 
 A glorious Easter tide begun ; 
 While yet are sparkling in the sun 
 Large raindrops of the night storm passed. 
 And days of Lent are gone at last. 
 
 [ Written in pencil the early dawn of her lest 
 Easter Day., April 1 879.]
 
 204 '* Under His Shadow!' 
 
 THE SEED OF SONG. 
 
 THE seed of a song was cast 
 On the listening hearts around, 
 And the sweetly winning sound 
 In a few short minutes passed. 
 But a song of perfect praise, 
 And a song of perfect love 
 Was the harvest after many days, 
 Beneath the everlasting rays 
 Of the summer-time above. 
 
 The seed of a single word 
 
 Fell among the furrows deep, 
 
 In their silent ^vintry sleep, 
 And the sower never an echo heard. 
 But the "Come !" was not in vain, 
 
 For that germ of Life and Love, 
 And the blessed Spirit's quickening rain, 
 Made a golden sheaf of precious grain 
 
 For the Harvest Home above. 
 
 Will you not sow that song? 
 Will you not drop that word 
 Till the coldest hearts be stirred 
 
 From their slumber deep and long ? 
 
 Then your harvest shall abound,
 
 " Behold the Bridegroom cometh" 205 
 
 With rejoicing full and grand, 
 Where the heavenly summer-songs resound, 
 And the fruits of faithful work are found. 
 
 In the Glorious Holy Land. 
 
 'BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM 
 COMETH:' 
 
 Matthew xxv. 6. 
 
 O HERALD whisper falling 
 Upon the passing night, 
 Mysteriously calling 
 
 The children of the light ! 
 
 He Cometh ; oh, He cometh 1 
 
 Our own beloved Lord ! 
 This blessed hope up summeth 
 
 Our undeserved reward. 
 
 He cometh ! though the hour 
 
 Nor earth nor heaven may know, 
 
 Sure is the word of power, 
 •'He cometh !" Even so 1 
 
 1879.
 
 2o6 " U7ider His Shadow r 
 
 UNFINISHED FRAGMENTS. 
 
 THE jNIaster will guide the weary feet, 
 Choosing for each, and choosing aright 
 The noontide rest in the summer heat ; 
 For some the glory of Alpine height, 
 For some the breezes fresh and free 
 And the changeful charm of wave and sea ; 
 For some the hush and the soothing spells 
 Of harvest fields and woodland dells ; 
 For some it may be the quiet gloom 
 Of the suffering couch and the shaded room. 
 Master, our Master, oh let it be 
 That our leisure and rest be still with Thee, 
 With Thee andybr Thee each sunny hour 
 
 In pencil^ May 1 8 79. 
 
 ** A RISE, depart ! for this is not your 
 /\ rest ! " 
 
 The Voice fell strangely on the sleeping fold, 
 As fell the starlight's quivering gold 
 
 Upon the dusky lake's untroubled breast. 
 
 And yet the Shepherd's hand had led them there, 
 
 And made them to lie do\^Ti amid the pastures 
 fair.
 
 U7tfinished Fragments. 207 
 
 " Arise ye, and depart ! " The morning rays 
 Lit up the emerald slope and crystal pool, 
 
 Sweet sustenance for many days, 
 And quiet resting places, calm and cool. 
 They knew not why nor whither, yet they 
 
 went ! 
 His own hand put them forth, and so they were 
 content. 
 
 And so they followed Him, they could not stay 
 When He had risen, the Shepherd good and 
 fair 
 
 In pemil. May 1879. 
 
 WHAT are the tuneful voices 
 That awake at early dawn ? 
 Do they come from the orient portals 
 
 Of the palace of the mom? 
 They tell of a Golden City 
 
 With pearl and jasper bright. 
 And of shining forms that beckon 
 
 From the pure and dazzling light. 
 Then a rush of far-off harpings 
 
 Blends with the voices clear, 
 Ai>d I know that the night is passing 
 
 And I know that the day is near !
 
 2o8 " Lhider His Shadow^ 
 
 '' MOST BLESSED FOR EVER." 
 Psalm xxi, 6. 
 
 ( TJiough these lines were written after the death of 
 her beloved father, they are chosen as tJie closi^ig chord 
 to F. R. HJ's song-s on earth.) 
 
 THE prayer of many a day is all fulfilled, 
 Only by full fruition stayed and stilled ; 
 You asked for blessing as your Father willed, 
 Now He hath answered : ' * Most blessed 
 for ever ! " 
 
 Lost is the daily light of mutual smile. 
 
 You therefore sorrow now a little while ; 
 But floating down life's dimmed and lonely 
 aisle 
 Comes the clear music: "Most blessed for 
 ever ! " 
 
 From the great anthems of the Crystal Sea, 
 Through the far vistas of Eternity, 
 
 Grand echoes of the word peal on for thee, 
 Sweetest and fullest : ** Most blessed for 
 ever 1 "
 
 INDEX OF FIRST LINES. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A few m»nths ago 192 
 
 Another year is dawning ! 149 
 
 " Arise, depart ! for this is not your rest ! " . 206 
 
 As the sounding shell conveys 
 
 Behold your King ! Though the moonlight steals 200 
 
 Blessings on thee, darling boy 
 
 Christmas gifts for thee ; . . . 
 Come down, and show the dwellers far below 
 
 Do what Thou wilt ! yes, only do 
 
 Dying ? Evelyn, darling 1 . . , . 
 
 Ere the pathless ocean waters . . . 
 
 Far away I heard it .... , 
 
 Far from home alone I wander . 
 
 Father, we would plead Thy promise, bending 
 
 at Thy glorious throne .... 
 " From glory unto glory ! " Thank God, that 
 
 even here . . .... 
 
 " Grace, mercy, peace ! " .... 
 
 163 
 
 185 
 167 
 
 175 
 
 60 
 121 
 
 129 
 
 73 
 125
 
 2IO Index. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 " He suffered I " Was it. Lord, indeed for me . 199 
 
 Hitherto the Lord hath blessed us . . . 181 
 
 I came from very far away to see ♦ . . 69 
 
 I could not do without Him 139 
 
 I take this pain. Lord Jesus .... 137 
 " I thought I knew it ! " she said . . .113 
 
 In the freshness of the springtime ... 78 
 
 In the way that He shall choose .... iSi 
 
 It is the quiet evening time, the sun is in the west 157 
 
 It is too calm to be a dream .... 203 
 
 Leaning over the waterfall 109 
 
 Listen ! for the Lord hath spoken . .196 
 
 My Alpine staff recalls each shining height . . 118 
 My Master, they have wronged Thee and Thy 
 
 love 83 
 
 New mercies, new blessings, new light on thy 
 
 way 14S 
 
 Nothing to pay ! Ah, nothing to pay ! . . 198 
 
 O herald whisper falling 205 
 
 O the wealth of pearly blossom, O the woodland's 
 
 emerald gleam I 121 
 
 O what shining revelatioH of His treasures God 
 
 hath given ! 94 
 
 Oh let me know . aoi 
 
 Only a leaf, yet it shall bear .... 125 
 
 Only a tiny dropping 107 
 
 Only for Jesus ! Lord, keep it for ever . . 88
 
 Index. 211 j 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Que je sois, O cher Sauveur . • • . 135 
 
 Reality, reality 131 
 
 Rejoice with Jesus Christ to-day . . . . 147 
 
 Rest him, O Father ! Thou didst send him forth 91 
 
 She chose His service. For the Lord of Love . 66 
 
 Sing, O heavens 1 the Lord hath aone it ! . . 183 
 
 So it has come to you, dear ii3 
 
 Standing at the portal 172 
 
 Sweet rose of the South ! contented to rest . 176 
 
 That part is finished ! I lay down my pen . : i 
 
 The forest hath its voices 112 
 
 The High Priest stands before the Mercy Seat . 93 
 
 The Master will guide the weary feet . . . 206 
 
 The murmur of a waterfall 105 
 
 The prayer of many a day is all fulfilled . . 208 
 
 The seed of a song was cast 204 
 
 The sun hath gilded Judah's hills . . -159 
 There is a strange wild wail around, a wail of wild 
 
 unrest 186 
 
 " There is no ' afterward ' on earth for me ! " . 89 
 
 There is no holy service 53 
 
 "Thou hast forgiven— even until now ! " . . 152 
 
 Though the circling flight of time may find us . 126 
 
 Thy thoughts, O God ! O theme Divine . 2 
 
 To-day the golden sunlight 146 
 
 Two nations mourn ! The same gre^t grief is 
 
 known 117
 
 2 1 2 Index. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Upon the same bright morning star . , .126 
 Upon the Word I rest 197 
 
 Vessels of mercy, prepared unto glory ! , . 87 
 
 Wanderer from thy Father's home . . . 143 
 
 We watched the gradual rising of a star . 22 
 
 \Vhat are the tuneful voices 207 
 
 What do we seek for him to-day, who, through 
 
 such golden gates 164 
 
 What shall I wish thee ? 150 
 
 What though the blossom fall and die ? , . 195 
 Will you not come to Him for Life ? , . .144 
 
 t^ 
 
 Eutler & Tanaer, Frome, and London.
 
 This book is DUE on the last 
 date stamped below 
 
 
 
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