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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 Slielf_._.Sc2,... 
 
 UNITED STATES OF A3IERIC A, 
 
Echoes Along the Shore. 
 
 BY 
 
 HmauDa Carp SanDetson. 
 
 ,pV OF 
 
 ^^''-OPYRIGHr' 
 
 ^<^'^qZ 
 
 OEC 271889 
 
 KANSAS CITY, MO.: 
 
 HUDSON -KIMBERLY PUBLISHING CO 
 
 l88q. 
 
75 2 'u- 
 
 ^4 
 
 Entered according to act of Congress, In the year 1889, 
 
 By AMANDA GARY SANDERSON, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C- 
 
TO 
 
 MY DEAR LITTLE FRIENDS, 
 
 MARY AND CORNELIA THACHER, 
 
 this volume 
 
 is respectfully dedicated by 
 
 The Author. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 o 
 
 ■ Page. 
 
 First Day 7 
 
 Second Day 10 
 
 Third Day 13 
 
 Fourth Day 15 
 
 Fifth Day 17 
 
 Sixth Day 21 
 
 The Morning Stars Sing Together 23 
 
 Nature's Worship 24 
 
 The First Worlc 28 
 
 The Song 30 
 
 The Noblest Work 33 
 
 Angels Sing Man's Birthday Song 36 
 
 Man Placed in The Garden 38 
 
 Sleep 40 
 
 The Marriage 43 
 
 The Commandment 46 
 
 The Seventh Day 47 
 
 The Eden Home 48 
 
 The Evening Hymn 54 
 
 The Morning Hymn 56 
 
 Contemplation 57 
 
 Musings 64 
 
 Satan , 66 
 
 The Temptation 69 
 
 The Fall 73 
 
 Sent From The Garden 77 
 
 The Little Stranger 82 
 
 Reflections Ra 
 
The Offering 87 
 
 Envy 88 
 
 Eve's Lament for Abel go 
 
 The Fugative g4 
 
 Caine's Remorse q5 
 
 Man Retrograding 97 
 
 The Deluge 98 
 
 The Chosen 104 
 
 Crossing The Sea ic6 
 
 Miriam 109 
 
 The Song 1 1 1 
 
 The New Dispensation 114 
 
 Good Tidings 115 
 
 The Babe of Bethlahem 120 
 
 Water Turned to Wine 122 
 
 The Tempest 1 24 
 
 The Maniac 126 
 
 Jairus' Daughter 1 28 
 
 The Storm at Sea " 133 
 
 Divers Opinions of Christ 135 
 
 The Deaf and Dumb Man 137 
 
 The Widow's Son 1 36 
 
 Lazaras 141 
 
 Transformation of Christ 145 
 
 Going into Jerusalem 151 
 
 In The Garden 152 
 
 The Present Age 1 72 
 
 The Great Sacrifice 188 
 
 It Is Done igo 
 
 The Books Opened 192 
 
 The Land of Rest 193 
 
 The Sea of Glass 201 
 
 Whence Came They 204 
 
 The Marriage Supper 208 
 
 New Jerusalem 212 
 
FIRST DAY. 
 
 Earth without form is void, chaos spreads o'er 
 Its dim obHvious wing. No breath, no sound, 
 
 No form of Hfe, voices that distant shore , 
 But with mysterious chain forever bound, 
 Dread silence sits upon Earth's circle crowned 
 
 With shadows strange. The Firmament is quite 
 Now indistinct ; mid the rude mass is found 
 
 No symmetry of shape ; but latent light 
 
 Commingle ever with the universal night. 
 
 Upon the deep sits Darkness looking back 
 To the far distance, with her dim lips sealed 
 
 With silence evermore, and on the track 
 Of ages are her foot-prints e'er concealed. 
 In the great waters, and she wears a shield 
 
 Studded with mysteries upon her breast 
 
 That her strange form may never be revealed 
 
 To other eyes than God's ; own waves are pressed 
 
 By her soft palm down ever to perpetual rest. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Dark clouds of mist, for aye, environ round, 
 Like a dense covering the pulseless heart 
 
 Of dormant Nature, and at times a sound 
 From dim embryo forms doth feebly start. 
 As centuries cleave the complex mass apart ; 
 
 While down the steep declivities of space 
 
 Rude fragments crumble, and the lightning darts 
 
 Forth from the sultry cloud, leaving a trace 
 
 Amid the gloom, when wakes the echoes from their 
 place. 
 
 Epochs have rolled their round, yet is not heard 
 'Mid the rude mass, no breath, no motion, save 
 
 When Earth's imperfect form is lightly stirred 
 By strange convulsions, until o'er the wave 
 God's spirit moved, and the Infinite gave 
 
 Shape to the torpid clod ; now from their place 
 Tremulous fluids stir, and gently lave 
 
 The mass of cooling rock, while the rude face 
 
 Of Nature faintly glows at Beauty's soft embrace. 
 
 And Chaos moves her grand dim lips apart 
 
 As the rough fetters on her limbs are stirred, 
 And from the distance stifled murmurs start. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 9 
 
 God said, "lyCt there be light "; then Darkness 
 
 heard, 
 And fled apace. At that all potent word, 
 Light, God's first born, awoke ; her features mild 
 Beamed in His Presence ; and all Heaven 
 conferred. 
 In praise, and Nature in her slumber smiled, 
 When by the name of Day, God christened that fair 
 child. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE, 
 
 SECOND DAY. 
 
 Kternity its countless grains of sand 
 
 Has washed upon the shore. On every page 
 
 Of Time's a record left in language grand ; 
 Around Earth's nucleus, age after age, 
 In silence passed, yet in its forming stage. 
 
 The great frame work appears, no phase of life, 
 E'er passed that strange abyss. The elements 
 wage. 
 
 With Nature's feebler form perpetual strife ; 
 
 With tempests and with gloom the firmament is rife. 
 
 And indistinct its outlines still appear, 
 
 While mj'ster}' forever folds around, 
 Like a thick vail, the yet imperfect sphere. 
 
 Which ever grows more dense. The Earth is 
 found, 
 
 Still a vast watery waste, and murmurmg sound 
 At times starts from the upheaving mass, 
 
 While a vast universe is slowlv ground 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE ii 
 
 Out into shape, as dim-eyed Epochs pass, 
 
 On substance more distinct the line betwixt each class. 
 
 The solids, from the fluids by degrees 
 
 Slowly divides, as ever to and fro, 
 The azure waves, by motion of the breeze. 
 
 Are gently drawn. The seas with silvery flow, 
 
 Are gathered to their place, e'er murmuring low 
 Unto the listening Earth, with merry chime ; 
 
 More, and more dense the restless vapors grow. 
 Beneath the oft-repeated strokes of time. 
 Which waken on the eternal shore, echoes grandly 
 sublime. 
 
 The hand of Deity marked out tne way 
 O'er the vast waters, and the floods divide, 
 
 While His commandment haste they to obey ; 
 
 Deep answered deep ; then wave to wave replied, 
 As corresponding vapors upward glide. 
 
 Through the high arch, distinctly doth appear 
 The firmament of azure, spreading wide 
 
 O'er the abyss ; as the Alwise comes near, 
 
 Then all the nether floods bow down themselves to 
 hear. 
 
12 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Thus in progressive march the work goes on, 
 E'er moving upward, from the dim unknown. 
 
 Spheroid worlds, behold, are slowly drawn 
 Forth into light, and age on age have flown 
 Since the first cause ; at intervals a moan 
 
 From dim embryos start, as ages mould 
 
 Them slowly into shape. While on the Throne 
 
 The Highest sits, noting the scene unfold 
 
 Mites blooming into worlds, with energy untold. 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 13 
 
 THIRD DAY. 
 
 Ages have circled round, o'er the rude face 
 Of Nature pleasant changes ever pass. 
 
 The mighty floods are gathered to their place 
 Upon the mundane sphere, and from the mass 
 Of matter beauty springs, that will surpass 
 
 All the preceding forms. The Earth appears 
 In vestal bloom arrayed ; and spears of grass 
 
 Forth from the dark loam start. Through lapse of 
 years 
 
 The great organic work toward perfection nears. 
 
 Beauteous phases variegate the scene, 
 
 Wide spreading lawns, and lakes, and happy hills, 
 And sunny vales, where forests of rich green 
 
 Cast their embrosial shade ; and laughing rills 
 
 Meandering o'er the rocks ; yet no bird trills 
 A lay beneath the boughs, beneath those trees 
 
 No living creature sports ; but .silence fills 
 
14 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 The unpeopled solitude, save where the Breeze 
 Goes telling its strange thoughts unto the answering 
 
 From the rude steeps, where man has never trod, 
 Young Time smiles sweetly on the depths below, 
 
 As the fair Work sings songs of praise to God ; 
 And holy angels, who on errands go 
 While hasting on their journeys, two and fro, 
 
 Charmed by the balmy fragrance sometimes there 
 Pause in their joy their faces all aglow. 
 
 And while their wings are resting in mid air, 
 
 Echoes their words repeat, " His works how ^.-ery 
 fair!" 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE 15 
 
 FOURTH DAY 
 
 Beside th e track of ages sounds are heard, 
 As forming germs to perfect grace unfold, 
 
 And the prolific mould is lightly stirred 
 By Power Omnipotent with might untold 
 Fair mists of woilds are beautifully rolled 
 
 Out of dim mites, and latent matter springs 
 Up into light, while the Ahvise doth mould 
 
 It into graceful shape , the Most High brings 
 
 Out of silence forms of ever wondrous thing. 
 
 By nature prescribed law substances take 
 Their heterogeneous form; complex divides 
 
 The darkness centers round the forms opaque, 
 While vivid rays of light, through ethers slide, 
 To meet their kindred ray each clear beam glides, 
 
 Thence swiftly upward to its glittering sphere, 
 A radiance dispensing far and wide, 
 
 Through the expanse of space, systems appear 
 
 To fill the solitude with psalms of loftiest cheer. 
 
i6 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 Through the vast reahns of space, still on, and on, 
 
 Toward immensity let reason soar ; 
 And still her course pursue, till she has gone 
 
 Beyond the prescribed limit to explore 
 
 The myriad works ; beyond are myriads more, 
 Throughout duration, as a vivid ray 
 
 Swift speeding on, she has but reached the shore 
 Of God's Infinitude, away, away, 
 The blazing scroll extends, through realms of 
 endless day. 
 
 Sun beyond sun, like flaming sapphires burn. 
 And systems with their train of planets grand, 
 
 A wheel within a wheel, revolving turn. 
 
 The complex work, how gloriously planned : 
 The mechanism wrought by God's own hand ; 
 
 System round system moves, with humming sound, 
 The dials of eternit)', that stand 
 
 On the w^alls of immensity profound, 
 
 Measuring the eternal years, as they move round 
 and round. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. . 17 
 
 FIFTH DAY. 
 
 Earth in progression still tends upward fast 
 To nobler form. Altho' no living things 
 
 Have e'er as 3-et the shore of silence passed, 
 
 Yet on the hills, and dales, rich verdure springs, 
 And foliage like the ru.stling of wings, 
 
 Sway to and fro to kisses from the breeze. 
 
 And some new charm each passing cycle brings, 
 
 To deck the joj^ous Earth, as plants, and trees, 
 
 To make the scene more grand, are added by degrees. 
 
 With flower of every hue now doth abound 
 
 A new, bright world, and from its trance-like sleep 
 
 Nature awakes, as yet no voice, no sound, 
 No signs of life, save in the mighty deep, 
 'Mong forests of dense sea weeds, strange forms 
 creep ; 
 
 Or fathoms down, 'mong rugged rocks that strew 
 The vast inundate plain, huge monsters leap 
 
 Among the cloud of waves, with sport pursue 
 
 Quaint antics as they peer through curtained mists 
 of blue. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 The submarine expanse is truly rife 
 
 With yet imperfect forms, strange beings there. 
 Dim polyps slowly waking into life 
 
 With undeveloped shape, and as it were. 
 
 Nurtured up thence with a kind fostering care, 
 To a more perfect growth. There may be found 
 
 The huge finned tribe, and forms minute and fair, 
 Beneath those groves of coral gliding round ; 
 Those caverns deep, and vast, with strange glad life 
 abound. 
 
 And a new sense of life the huge mass warms, 
 Energy pulses through the mighty heart 
 
 Of centuries untold, as various forms. 
 
 From the dim land of silence slowly start 
 Forth into being new, and bright birds dart 
 
 Up from the deep ; motion of wings, and eyes. 
 Charm the melodious waves of air apart. 
 
 As living creatures from the dim realms rise. 
 
 And take their glad new life, with sweet, yet strange 
 surprise. 
 
 Nature's loveliest forms complete the scene ; 
 Birds of bright wing, and flowers of every hue, 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE i<) 
 
 And sunny founts glow in the vales of green, 
 And angels clad in garments bright and new. 
 And moistened yet with the sweet morning dew, 
 
 Down from the shining heights come softl}^ near 
 To Eden's land, the fine, fine scene to view. 
 
 In shady bowers, with voices strong and clear. 
 
 Oft times they waken rapture ot the loftiest cheer. 
 
 Earth, fair as the heaven land glowing 
 
 With perfection most bright, 
 And streams of pure crystal are flowing. 
 
 From those hills of delight ; 
 On the strand those clear waters are laving 
 
 The sapphire rocks gleam, 
 And the vine tree in verdure is waving 
 
 On the bank of the stream. 
 
 And birds of rare plumage are singing 
 
 Beneath the green bowers ; 
 The breeze from the high lands is bringing 
 
 The incense of flowers ; 
 Living green Eden's, forests are wearing. 
 
 On their harps the winds play, 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE, 
 
 While clouds of choice fragrance are bearing 
 Thought gently away. 
 
 Away from Earth's hills and her fountains, 
 
 Where the glory beams fall ; 
 Away from the gold of her mountains 
 
 To the Author of All. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 SIXTH DAY. 
 
 Earth teems with Hfe, beasts, birds, and insects each 
 Take their own form of being, when the word 
 
 To them is given ; upon the sandy beach 
 
 The languid reptile crawls, or some glad bird 
 May in the forest sing ; the air is stirred 
 
 With melody, and joyous creatures glide 
 'Neath the dense foliage, and there is heard 
 
 Harmonious sound upon the mountain side, 
 
 Where 'mong the tall, green ferns the white fawns 
 playmlly hide. 
 
 Upon the verdant hills the slow kines go, 
 
 And on the green sward feed ; no beast of prey 
 
 Lurks in those jungles, creeping to and fro, 
 
 Bent to destroy ; but the young lambkins play 
 With the mild tiger's cub ; no danger may 
 
 Disturb the peaceful brute. No hateful bird 
 There thirsts for blood, and no sound of dismay, 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE 
 
 Or jarring word those valleys ever heard ; 
 The brute's ferocious passion sin's power had never 
 stirred. 
 
 Earth seems like a fair garden of the Lord, 
 Where harmony prevails, and Nature's face 
 
 Bears no distorted look, for there discord 
 
 Was never know^n. Creatures of nobler place 
 Think not to spurn a worm as thing more base ; 
 
 Each form of being, from its Maker's hand 
 Seems to reflect its own peculiar grace, 
 
 Without an envious thought ; content lo stand 
 
 Within the humble niche where it was wisely 
 planned. 
 
 Still high among the rugged peaks of time 
 The music of sweet speech was never heard, 
 
 Ivike a melodious harp to gently chime 
 
 Out 'mong those grand, dim rocks, for no glad word 
 From finite's lips those caverns ever stirred ; 
 
 But the wind goes there, with its calm repeat ; 
 Among those bowers all nature has conferred 
 
 To worship God ; the waves of ether meet 
 
 To offer free-will tribute at Jehovah's feet. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 23 
 
 THE MORNING STARS SING TOGETHER. 
 
 Throughout immensity worlds, new and bright, 
 Dropped radiant from their wise Workman's hand, 
 
 Break forth in song; gladly from height to height, 
 Swiftly from sun to sun, rolls around the grand 
 Exulting strain. To every tremulous sand 
 
 Goes the transcendent trill. The song sublime 
 The moon takes up, and all the glittering band 
 
 Of planets join, to swell the lofty rhyme, 
 
 Waking the echoes on the distant shores of time. 
 
 And the grand theme of praise is wafted down 
 
 From depth to depth, until the answering hills 
 Of Earth, with the glad strain aloud resound ; 
 
 Mountain, and glade, and plain, and tuneful rills. 
 
 Earth, air, and sea melodiously trills 
 Forth a response, and every leaf that sways 
 
 Sings songs to God ; the voice of rapture fills 
 The heart of solitude with lofty praise ; 
 All things with willing mind, that Sovereign's will 
 obeys. 
 
24 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE 
 
 NATURE'S WORSHIP. 
 
 Ps., CXLV: 10. "All thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord. • 
 
 in the dim shadows of those heights profound, 
 'Mong the o'erhanging cliffs of time, and where 
 
 No eye hath seen, Nature hath gathered round 
 Its worshipers. Among those rude heights there 
 All free-will offerings pour ; the groups of fair 
 
 Flowers with dewy eye, on the green hills 
 Bow down their heads in charms of fragrant 
 prayer 
 
 At the eternal shrine, and rapturous rills. 
 
 From out their pebbly hearts the sweet hosanna 
 trills. 
 
 And from the hoary deep sounds out a voice, 
 As of ten thousand cohorts rushing by 
 
 On wings of living light, saying, "Rejoice, 
 Rejoice, O Earth! and azure tinted sky, 
 Lift up a voice to Him who rules on high !" 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 25 
 
 The storms bowed earthward, with moist Hps apart, 
 
 To the green hills go murmuring^ a reply, 
 "Praise God, praise God, with melody of heart." 
 With rapture from the rocks the tuneful echoes start. 
 
 Nature's devoted soul is wrapped in calms 
 Of holy prayer ; upon the misty strand 
 
 The Poet Willow, with its bowing palms, 
 Goes writing sweet lines on the desert sand. 
 Praise God! Praise God! forever is the grand 
 
 Theme of the Muse ; while the meek river bowed 
 Upon the pebbles, with uplifted hand, 
 
 lyike a grave elder reads those lines aloud. 
 
 While incense rises heavenward like a fragrant cloud. 
 
 The floral worshipers on the green hills 
 
 Their leafy censers sway ; and ranks of trees 
 
 Bow their amens to praises of the rills 
 
 That rise among the rocks; the rich toned breeze 
 Breathes a response into the fluent seas, 
 
 Whose minstrels are the waves; the pearl washed 
 strand 
 Is for the organ, with its rocks for keys. 
 
26 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 O'er which the ocean moves its misty hand, 
 While waves for choristers join to aid the anthems 
 grand. 
 
 And Nature's orators are cataracts 
 
 Going o'er precipices with grand sound, 
 
 A.nd deep toned thunders walking in the track 
 Of clouds and storm, while on the hills are found 
 The humble flowers and shrubs kneeling around 
 
 Among the auditors. O'er glaciers there 
 
 Gropes the dim mountain mists, and in profound 
 
 Silence the}^ listen, as the host of fair 
 
 Worshipers pour out their souls fervently in prayer. 
 
 And Nature's skillful artist is the light. 
 
 Painting rare beauties on the watery sheen ; 
 
 The skies her easel, and th« tints most bright 
 Are finely mingled, blue, and gold, and green. 
 And perfectly she paints each glowing scene. 
 
 The ocean's shining canvas, broad and fair. 
 She touches gently, till the heaven serene, 
 
 In all her loveliness is mirrored there 
 
 She sits above and smiles at her own beauty rare. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 27 
 
 Through the deep hush that spreads o'er earth 
 abroad 
 
 Is heard a voice ! It is the lonely night 
 Upon the mountains praying unto God. 
 
 The Moon, fair priestess robed in saintly white, 
 
 On the dim altar pours the sacred light, 
 Her inspiration borrowed from the sun ; 
 
 While in accord, the distant worlds unite 
 To swell the song the morning stars begun 
 When the Almighty hewed and laid the corner stone. 
 
 Thus joyous Nature, with its various forms, 
 
 Its free will offerings daily bestow. 
 The seasons with their retinue of storms. 
 
 While in the East Aurora all aglow 
 
 Over the golden clouds, is bowing low. 
 Breathing a prayer ; and vapors with their moist 
 
 Brows pressed against the rocks, or shades that go 
 'Neath jutting cliffs, in holy frame rejoiced 
 E'er praises unto God, by finite's lips were voiced. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE FIRST WORK. 
 
 Whether in spirit, or inanimate 
 
 Masses of matter the first work was laid 
 Can man or angels tell ? save that God bade 
 
 And quick as thought from sightless chaos came 
 Revolving spheres; and from realm of shade 
 
 Sprang into light the universal frame, 
 
 And Sirius then through space sent forth its 
 quenchless flame. 
 
 The waters of eternity were stirred, 
 Then with a spell of infinite delight, 
 
 As o'er the untold limits there was heard 
 A Voice command, and quickly then as sight 
 The strong winged Raphael, fair as the light," 
 
 Into existence sprang, while song of flame 
 In cadence rose ; the burning seven unite 
 
 In rapturous anthems to their Maker's name 
 
 Who spake, and their fair ranks then into being 
 came. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 29 
 
 And at strange intervals are voices new 
 
 Joining the chorus. O'er the glowing heights 
 
 Visions of untold beauty ope' to view^ 
 
 Fair angel bands, with wings of .softest white, 
 And cherub forms come trooping into sight 
 
 From life's unlimited, unbounded .shore; 
 Expansive mind unfolds, as with delight 
 
 Search they the volumes of heaven's blissful lore 
 
 Enraptured, as they turn the glowing pages o'er. 
 
 And such a song as ne'er was heard before, 
 Peals loud and clear along the sapphire shore 
 They look abroad with wonder and surprise. 
 While louder still the blissful cadence rise. 
 
30 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE SONG 
 
 Up from the pearly gate of day let ceaseless anthems peal 
 To Him who formed the eye to see and gave iis hearts to 
 feel. 
 
 We worship and adore the One, Author of love and light 
 We praise Him that our souls exist, and for the work so 
 bright. 
 
 All things were fashioned by His power, the plan was 
 
 wisely laid 
 In the unfathomable depths of dark mysterious shade ; 
 He spake and Alcyon through space sent forth its 
 
 quenchless blaze. 
 Suns with attendant trains of worlds responded to his 
 
 praise. 
 
 Along the Pleiades' brilliant track his goings forth are 
 
 seen ; 
 And on the Earth where beauty wakes among the shores 
 
 of green. 
 As morning stars together sang Creation's birthday song, 
 What tides of burning rapture moved to praise the angel 
 
 throng. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE 31 
 
 From chaos dim the sun arose, most glorious and bright, 
 While on the hills the myriad forms responded to the 
 
 light 
 On. on as far as thought can soar, the workmanship we 
 
 trace, 
 Of Him the Omnipresent One, whose breath pervades 
 
 all space. 
 
 In the deep ocean's tuneful surge, or petals of a flower, 
 Is diml> manifested here, "the hidings of His power." 
 Most wondrous in working God, there is naught too 
 
 hard for Him ; 
 In light of His perfection, lo ! the stars of heaven seem 
 
 dim. 
 
 From age to age new works unfold unto enraptured sight, 
 While mind drinks draughts of knowledge in, as ether 
 
 drinks the light. 
 We love the Author more and more, the more our 
 
 thoughts expand. 
 He called forth being into life, with attributes most 
 
 grand. 
 
32 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Beneath the throbbing Heart of Love their souls exult 
 
 and glow ; 
 They trace their pleasures to the Fount, where depths of 
 
 knowledge flow. 
 Here life's a hidden mystery, no angel ej^e can find 
 Which form was fashioned in the depths, of uncreated 
 
 mind. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 33 
 
 THE NOBLEST WORK. 
 
 The tiny rush, that on its frail stem sways, 
 
 Or lofty spreading oak, or lovely spray, 
 Are moved unconscious to their Maker's praise ; 
 
 Altho' as yet no intellectual ray 
 
 Gleams 'mong the works of time ; into its^clay 
 No soul of life is breathed ; still incomplete 
 
 The great design appears. Tho' angels may 
 In their high places oft in council meet. 
 And search garth's annals o'er, and oft their plans 
 repeat. 
 
 No angel mind the mystery can span, 
 
 But to perform God's mandate went abroad ; 
 
 Thus ran the bright decree, " Let us make man, 
 Our noblest work, in likeness of a God, 
 A paramount for Earth." The dormant clod 
 
 That instant trembled slightly in its place, 
 While a delicious breath passed o'er the sod ; 
 
34 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Each fine curved line glowed with peculiar grace, 
 As Beauty's fair hand moved, leaving its wondrous 
 trace. 
 
 Thus at a word a new existence woke 
 To consciousness, whilst gloriously a ray. 
 
 O'er the green hills of life divinely broke ; 
 
 Then sudden light gleamed out amid the clay, 
 Like the first dawning of the new-born day. 
 
 As reason's beam is lit. Spirit and thought 
 Are with material blent ; in the highway 
 
 Of immortality, how strangely brought ; 
 
 An angel, yet a worm ! How wonderfully wrought ! 
 
 Work how complex ! gradation strange we find 
 Complete in this ; in workmanship how fine ! 
 
 Matter and mind, mysteriously combined ; 
 God's image stamped in dust ; the given line 
 'Twixt two extremes, the Finite and Divine. 
 
 The noblest work of God, how truly grand ! 
 A prodigy of wonders, whence doth shine 
 
 Perfection's seal, placed by the Alwise hand, 
 
 An ever quenchless lay to life divinely fanned. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 35 
 
 Angels, thy younger brother, man, behold ! 
 
 What work can with that choice design compare? 
 What sculptor's eye on the unchiseled mould 
 
 Could draw so fine a line? In form as fair 
 
 And ruddy as a youth, and yet with air 
 Of one mature in years companion meet 
 
 For angels found ; one who with them may share 
 In every joy. In manhood how complete ! 
 In divinity arrayed, " most wondrous," they repeat. 
 
36 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE 
 
 ANGELS SING MAN'S BIRTHDAY SONG. 
 
 By harps new tuned, what melody is made, 
 As minstrels from the fair unclouded height • 
 
 Watch as the Architrave is firmly laid ! 
 
 In working whose like God ; who by His might 
 Can mould a spirit's form divinely bright. 
 
 Author of life, His finger pressed the sod, 
 And left its print of glorious living light ; 
 
 He gently breathed upon that sleeping clod, 
 
 And it sprang forth to life in likeness of a God. 
 
 Oblivion reigned, and awful silence filled 
 The realm of shade, until Jehovah's word 
 
 Broke the deep hush, and dormant matter thrilled ; 
 Surprised to consciousness the cold clay heard, 
 Charmed by the gentle pressure Jightly stirred 
 
 In all the life of a God. A rapture new, 
 Then like the note of a celestial bird 
 
 The silence broke ; oblivion withdrew 
 
 WTien those fine eyes wnth thought most eloquently 
 grew 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 37 
 
 A lountain in the eternal rock is stirred, 
 
 Whose happ> waters never can be still ; 
 Upon the shores of time are echoes heard 
 
 That voices waken on the dewy hill 
 
 Of immortality, which e'er will fill 
 Eternity with praise. With wonder awed, 
 
 Thus heavenly songsters m amazement trill 
 Man's birthday song, who conscious walks abroad, 
 Rejoicing in the presence of his maker, God. 
 
38 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 MAN PLACED IN THE GARDEN. 
 
 Fully developed powers then at a word, 
 
 With energy divinely were inspired, 
 And mind that instant, like a full-fledged bird 
 
 Bent its proud eagle eye firmly toward 
 
 The rising sun; though it had never soared 
 Or learned as yet its noblest powers to try. 
 
 The past is like the future, unexplored. 
 And bold free thought toward the distant sky 
 Of the far future looks, and plumes its wing to fly. 
 
 And nothing but experience can teach 
 
 Of nature's prescribed law ; around him all 
 
 Things are both new and strange, and he may reach, 
 Eager to grasp a bird perched on a tall 
 Tree overhead, or for a cliff made small 
 
 By intervening space, and should he go 
 In ways of danger, or unwary fall 
 
 Adown a precipice, he would not know 
 
 Then the least sense of fear, or ev^en feel a throe. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 39 
 
 Calm and unruffled the clear wave of mind 
 
 Courses 'mong pleasant scenes ; no sense but joy, 
 
 That happy nature knows, and should he find 
 Himseir submerged m flood, he there might toy 
 Unharmed amid the waves ; naught can destroy 
 
 The springs of life, altho' he should partake 
 Of deadly food and nothing can annoy 
 
 That peace of soul, or can misfortune wake 
 
 E'er a foreboding fear, the spell of joy to break. 
 
 Convoys of angels 'mong the hills and flowers. 
 In pleasant converse thence attend man round : 
 *' Can fervor of thy newl}' wakened powers 
 
 Conceive a world more bright? Can there be found 
 A home more fitting ? See the festooned ground, 
 
 The arch of blue ; ' swiftly from earth to sky 
 
 Eyes in amazement turn. What thrilling sound, 
 
 What scenes ol beauty dazzle and surprise. 
 
 Nor can their stammering lips to angels' form replies. 
 
40 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 SLEEP. 
 
 Fragrance from fields elysian the zephyrs bring 
 To gladden Earth. Silence upon the deep 
 
 Gathers the shadows underneath her wing, 
 While nature rests ; angels their vigils keep, 
 When with its subtile art, the charmer. Sleep, 
 
 A spirit wins to rapturous control , 
 
 Altho' an instant now might swiftly sweep 
 
 Past him, or noiselessly should ages roll, 
 
 It had been all the same to that enchanted soul. 
 
 From that deep, peaceful slumber Adam 'woke. 
 Startled to consciousness with the surprise, 
 
 For over nature a new light had broke. 
 
 In the harmonious hush eyes speak to eyes 
 That answer back again their sweet replies. 
 
 And from love's Up the sighs unbidden start ; 
 Congenial spirits by the strongest ties 
 
 Are closely, sweetly drawn. With love each heart 
 
 Harmonious answer thrills lo its own counterpart. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 41 
 
 On the admirer with bewitching grace 
 
 The fair one smiled ; for some time neither spake, 
 While crimson blushes richly sweep her face ; 
 
 Adam with voice subdued is first to break 
 
 The awkward silence : "Pray, am I awake? 
 Or dreaming, where some charming fairy treads 
 
 On banks of flowers, with foot-faU like a flake 
 Of stainless snow, drifting o'er mossy beds 
 O'er which the mild star light a silvery luster sheds ? 
 
 "Can e'er the summer's sunsets mildest hue 
 Vie wnth that rosy tint?" scarcely aloud 
 
 Those thoughts are breathed. Fair as a dream yet 
 true. 
 With angel head upon her pink palms bowed, 
 And silken lashes, like a golden cloud, 
 
 Sweeping those cheeks ; to give thy beauty praise 
 Words are too tame. Fair rippling curls enshroud 
 
 Its snowy shoulders, like a golden haze. 
 
 Which magnetic beauty doth bewilder and amaze. 
 
 " What can it be, this likeness of myself? 
 
 But yet more fair, more beautiful , in ways 
 As shy and timid as a bashful elf 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Among the wild wood flowers, weaving soft rays 
 Of sunshine 'mong her locks, which gracefully 
 swaj's 
 To kisses from the breeze, and secret sighs 
 
 His bosom stirs, while roguish Cupid plays 
 Tricks with the heart -, what clear, expressive eyes, 
 Which ever to my own give back their sweet replies. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 43 
 
 THE MARRIAGE. 
 
 It is the marriage morning, and Eden's lovely bowers 
 Are trimmed and finely frescoed with nature's fairest 
 
 flowers ; 
 And every leaflet sparkles with gems of crystal dew, 
 While on the lofty branches perch birds of gorgeous hue. 
 
 The little knolls are covered with tufts of fairest green , 
 The sun from heaven's bright chandelier casts brilliance 
 
 o'er the scene. 
 O'er flinty rocks the waters go laughing to the seas, 
 While they repeat in accents sweet their rapture to the 
 
 breeze. 
 
 The Eden home is ready, exquisite to the eye ; 
 
 The messengers are commg from the bright court on high, 
 
 A hum of admiration is sounded far and wade. 
 
 As the escort of angels bring in the blushing bride. 
 
44 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE, 
 
 The guests from worlds celestial have aow assembled 
 
 there, 
 When in God's leafy palace stands up the noble pair. 
 The Witnesses are angels invited from abroad, 
 And in their sight the holy rite is solemnized by God. 
 
 O, what a trill of rapture goes up from sun to sun, 
 When the ordinance divine declared those two souls one ; 
 The flowers from leafy censers, pour incense on the air, 
 While by the seas proud ranks of trees bow their heads 
 as in prayer. 
 
 Angels wish joy to Adam, and a long life of bliss, 
 And the beauty by his side salute they with a kiss. 
 Now comes the bridal presents, how lovely to behold ; 
 Not precious gems from India, and diamonds set in gold. 
 
 But what is choicer, better, bouquets of fairest flowers, 
 Rich laden with the fragrance of Eden's balmy bowers ; 
 No sin stain yet had gathered upon the work so fair. 
 When with gifts fine, and grace divine, God blessed the 
 happy pair. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 45 
 
 Now nature's choicest minstrels break forth in joyous 
 
 song, 
 While to the nuptial supper the fair guest pass along ; 
 On the grand ocean's organ, among the coral caves, 
 Rare melody is wakened by fingers of the waves. 
 
 While sweet connubial music goes up from sea and land. 
 As groups of graceful waters dance on the misty sand ; 
 And every swaying zephyr join in the song sublime. 
 When at the sweet and grand repeat began the match 
 of time. 
 
46 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE COMMANDMENT. 
 
 And on that day God blessed the happy pair, 
 
 He who through mazes strange their feet had led 
 
 Up in the way of life ; and with the care 
 Of a kind parent watched, on that day said, 
 "Behold a wondrous world of beauty spread 
 
 Out for the joy, yet here I draw a line ; 
 And take ye heed lest any time ye tread 
 
 Beyond the prescribed bound; all shall be thine, 
 
 Save this reserve I make, of one tree to be mine." 
 
 "Hereby to prove thee, of each other tree 
 
 That in the garden grows thou mayest partake 
 
 Of all delicious fruit ; and thou art free 
 To go and act at will. This day I make 
 Thee a free agent. Take heed that thou break 
 
 Not this command, for no restraint beside 
 Is on thy actions laid, thy life's at stake 
 
 Should thou dare disobey. In all the wide 
 
 World, choose thee where thou will, thy joys are 
 multiplied. ' 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 47 
 
 THE SEVENTH DAY. 
 
 The great work is complete, on the seventh day 
 The author rests. The beautiful design 
 
 Is perfected, and with care laid away, 
 
 For all eyes to admire ; naught but a fine 
 Artisan eye could draw so fair a line 
 
 On a blank canvas, ne'er was known to fall 
 There a misguided stroke for skill divine, 
 
 Perfection gave the work to curve most small ; 
 
 The last stroke given is the crowning work of all. 
 
48 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE EDEN HOME. 
 
 Near by where tall palms cast ambrosial shade 
 O'er clustering vines, and the fair fragrant flowers, 
 
 And dewy plants, and shrubs ; these yearly made 
 More beautiful by culture, in bright bowers. 
 There dwells the happy pair. They spend their 
 hours 
 
 In pleasant converse or in some employ. 
 No shade of discontent there ever lowers. 
 
 Or sorrow enters to o"er-cloud their joys, 
 
 Besides, no cruel fear their happiness alloys. 
 
 To the fair bower the peaceful moments come 
 And hurry by, e'er like the restless flow 
 
 Of sunny streams. About their happy home, 
 Like a bright sunbeam flitting to and fro. 
 Among the shrubs and vines doth fair Eve go, 
 
 In tenors sweet, humming some lively air, 
 As she collects the fruits and flowers that grow 
 
 Near by the garden hedge, or to prepare 
 
 A sumptuous repast with a skillful woman's care. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 49 
 
 Or in their walks, charmed by some new surprise 
 'Mong natures fair, fair works, the one may call 
 
 Sometimes attention of the other's eyes 
 To some fine scene, a rock, or waterfall 
 In some secluded nook ; or from some tall 
 
 Still mountain eminence, where mist of snow 
 Clouds hang in gauzy folds, admire the small 
 
 Hills and calm dewy meads, spread out below 
 
 The rugged mountain cliffs tinged by eve's ruddy glow. 
 
 Or peaceful ocean mirroring the sky. 
 
 Smiling above, or else some smoothe curved line 
 On the aquatic shore , yon forests rise 
 
 In beautiful relief. The leafy vine 
 
 An unseen Hand ingeniously doth twine 
 O'er trees and flowering shrubs, and verdant hills ; 
 
 For to complete the beautiful design 
 A charming background forms, while the sweet rills 
 The deserts' dreary heart with sounds of rapture 
 thrills. 
 
 Or in the shadows of some lonely cliff 
 
 High looking out upon the sandy shore 
 They often sit and muse ; reflections lift 
 
50 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Their thoughts sublimely up ; here each rock wore 
 
 By tread of centuries is rich in lore, 
 If we could only read ; each grain of sand 
 
 On which the seas their admiration pour, 
 Bears the impression of a wondrous Hand, 
 Too deep, too wise for mind of man to understand. 
 
 Each rock if we could but discern aright, 
 
 Volumes contain, and they are meant to teach 
 
 Wisdom to man. We maj' perceive the bright 
 Prints that God's hand has made plain upon each 
 Fossil remain that strews the pebbly beach ; 
 
 And mysteries embraced in every one, 
 Altho' the mind of finites fail to reach 
 
 Back where the grand chirography was done 
 
 Upon the curious mass of sand and broken stone 
 
 Those broken fragments thus together hurled, 
 
 May be of systems crushed, and down through 
 space 
 
 Precipitantly cast, of a new world 
 
 Important parts to form. In every place, 
 In sea, or land, a thoughtful eye can trace 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 51 
 
 Lines of vast wisdom, that from age to age, 
 
 Were legibly inscribed upon the face 
 Of the frame work. We know not at what stage, 
 Or yet what form Earth bore when that hand traced 
 the page. 
 
 A truly wondrous world, beneath the throne 
 lyike a choice jewel hung. Revolving sand, 
 
 A dainty mote, cleft from the rock unknown, 
 
 And dropped in beauty from the Workman's hand, 
 Like a choice gem, exquisite, and mo.st grand ; 
 
 Bright with the print that His own finger made ; 
 And from eternity the work was planned ; 
 
 From out the dark, impenetrable shade 
 
 Were its strewn atoms gathered and in order laid. 
 
 Once Earth was chaos, and no light was shed 
 O'er the deformity, but night conferred 
 
 With night, where dim embryo worlds were spread 
 Out 'neath the firmament ; but at a word 
 Dim chaos breathed, and dormant atoms stirred 
 
 Then in their slumbers, like a living soul. 
 
 "Let there be light!" The powers of darkness 
 heard. 
 
52 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 And soon withdrew ; straightway from pole to pole, 
 Yielded the shades of Night to young Day's sweet 
 control. 
 
 That word alone was the propelling force 
 
 And the first cause, the power that holds it fast 
 And that directs it in its way wise course. 
 
 Mysterious Earth ! A gem washed from the past 
 
 Eternity, whose restle.ss waters cast 
 Upon the shores of Time ; but in what .space 
 
 The work was wrought we know not ; when the 
 last 
 Finishing stroke was laid what perfect grace 
 And beauty wrapped the scene in their .serene 
 embrace. 
 
 Thus they may long converse, or hand in hand, 
 At eve's romantic hour, go forth to take 
 
 A pleasant stroll upon the peaceful strand 
 That looks out fair upon some silvery lake 
 To listen to the noise the waters make 
 
 Against the .sand ; thence in the moonlight go 
 Home by the hills neath starry .skies that wake 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 53 
 
 Poetic thought, while the soft moonbeams throw 
 A luster truly fine over the lillies' snow. 
 
 Bright threads of sunshine with their glad day dreams 
 Thus fancy gaily weaves, as peaceful hours 
 
 Come and depart ; while fast from theme to theme 
 The conversation turns, till the sweet bowers 
 Among the dewy shrubs and folded flowers 
 
 At a late hour is gained ; on wings of praise 
 
 Their soul goes out to Him who hath with shower 
 
 Of blessings strewn their pathway all their days 
 
 Before the vail of sleep shrouds reasons searching 
 rays. 
 
54 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE, 
 
 THE EVENING HYMN. 
 
 We every eve' will spread our hand toward 
 
 His holy hill, to God direct our cry ; 
 He, all on earth ! help us so praise the Lord 
 
 For all his goodness shown ; ye winds that sigh 
 
 Around the lonely rocks breathe a reply 
 Unto the voice of night, that on the shore 
 
 In solitude bows down with moistened eye, 
 And on this hour our hearts would also pour 
 Forth grateful praise to him, whose name our souls 
 adore. 
 
 Praise God, Praise God ! Unite ye distant hills 
 
 In songs of praise to Him, who with rich showers 
 
 Waters the thirsty earth. Ye rocks and rills. 
 Ye dews and vapors, and ye vines and flowers 
 Lift up your voices at the vesper hours ; 
 
 Ye glaciers, 'mong the solemn rocks that stand 
 Alone whole nights upon the mountain towers 
 
 E'er looking up from thence with outspread hand 
 
 Tell of his might in tones most eloquently grand. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 55 
 
 Shout deep to deep, thou tuneful waterfall 
 
 Break forth in songs to God, whose presence fills 
 
 The holy solitude, pervading all 
 
 His universe of worlds. Ye thoughtful hills 
 In silence listen, while the joyous rills 
 
 Exult with praise ; ye holy stars above 
 
 Take up the song ; all nature feels the thrills 
 
 Of the pulsation of the Heart of Love. 
 
 Good angels cheer their dreams, when to them opes 
 The golden morn again, with songs of bird 
 
 E'er trilling out o'er Eden's dewy slopes. 
 
 Strangely melodious songs of praise are heard 
 From out the bowery halls ; and every word 
 
 Is laden with the burden of a prayer ; 
 
 With warbling sound the forest's heart is stirred, 
 
 And the sweet zephyrs on their soft wings bear 
 
 Up from the groves of earth e'er clouds of incense 
 rare. 
 
56 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE MORNING HYMN. 
 
 " He kept us safely through another night, 
 
 Now we awake, His goodness crowns us still ; 
 Thanks we return to Him for life and light, 
 
 And every precious gift. Thou rock and rill, 
 
 Witness for us if e'er our lips be still 
 Morning or evening offering praise to God. 
 
 All earth unite in song, of glad free will ; 
 Ye fragrant breezes waft His love abroad, 
 While cloud and tempest oft aloud His praised laud. 
 
 " Clap thy glad hands to Him thou happy flood. 
 Who dropped thee from the hollow of His hand 
 
 Like beads of pearl ; He makes his mysteries bud 
 And to unfold ; His deep decrees were planned 
 In silence, and like grains of singing sand, 
 
 Are moving upward humming to the light ; 
 Thus the fair works of God progress, expand ; 
 
 By highest power propelled ; all things unite 
 
 To show through endless years His ever glorious 
 might. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 57 
 
 CONTEMPLATIONS 
 
 When at their home, or when they walk abroad 
 In shady nooks, or through the devvey mead; 
 
 In everything trace they the Hand of God ; 
 In every spear of grass or tinted weed 
 That draws its life from earth, or glassy bead 
 
 Of dew on flower or shrub, each drop He fills 
 With animalcule life, and each small seed 
 
 Of plant His wisdom shows, His Hand distills 
 
 The odors rising from the pleasant vineclad hills. 
 
 Thought how sublime the universe is spanned 
 By arch of His perfection, loos'ly He folds 
 
 Light round him like a garment, and has planned 
 Wisely His works, and the same power that holds 
 These in their place, with loftier grandeur mould 
 
 A spirit's form high crowned with noblest thought. 
 Mind and all animate life His word controls ; 
 
 He made His angels souls, and there is naught 
 
 Too hard for Him to do whose power hath all things 
 wrought. 
 
58 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 When through His master work with power He 
 speaks, 
 
 Or with voice more subdued, we ever find 
 That skill displayed ; the roses on the cheeks 
 
 Of health His finger paints ; He who doth bind 
 
 The bands of Orion reveals His mind, 
 Also in the small lichens His hands train 
 
 Upon the rocks, things of the meanest kind 
 His glance takes in ; He gently guides the chain 
 Of being upward, whilst He notices each grain. 
 
 His presence moves in every ray of light. 
 And floating ethers doth His essence fill. 
 
 While He all space pervades ; through depth and 
 light 
 His master works display a poet's skill. 
 He writes His burning thoughts in lines that thrill ; 
 
 On every painted leaf or folded flower, 
 Among the tinted volumes of the hill, 
 
 Or in the bubbling brook or vine clad bower, 
 
 The author writes his thoughts in words of light and 
 power. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 59 
 
 Where the bdellium and bright onyx gleam 
 With beautiful effect upon the strand 
 
 Of pleasant Pison, which fair crystal stream 
 Sings sweetly on its bed of golden sand, 
 That they may listen to the music grand. 
 
 They often sit upon some mossy bed 
 
 In the refreshing shade; their brows are fanned 
 
 By zephyrs perfumed wing, while o'er their head, 
 
 The living bowers their leaves of rich ambrosia 
 spread. 
 
 And on the sunny slopes unfolding flowers 
 
 Throb to the summer breeze, and starry wings 
 
 Of birds of Paradise gleam 'mong the bowers 
 Of Eden's stately pines ; The forest rings 
 With warbling notes, while the most beauteous 
 things 
 
 Gleam 'mong the shining foliage of the fair 
 Green tree of life, there oft the fair one sings 
 
 The tenor to some rich melodious air, 
 
 Before they offer up this grateful daily prayer. 
 
 "We would adore the name of Thee, who art 
 Perfect in knowledge, and who doth bestow 
 
6o ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Gifts to Thy creatures ; and whose words impart 
 The residue of life. As plants that grow 
 Derive their life from earth, thus life doth flow 
 
 From Thee to us. To Thee what offering may 
 We render, for the untold debt we owe ? 
 
 Thine is the breath we breathe, and reason's ray 
 
 Is a refraction of the untold source of day. 
 
 When at their happy home the fair one sings, 
 Or stops a moment to adjust a flower, 
 
 Or smooth a sunny tress, when the bright wings 
 Of birds are folded at the evening hour, 
 While on the hills that in the distance tower, 
 
 The zephyrs rock the herbage to and fro, 
 
 Wrapped in their fragrant arms from the green 
 bower, 
 
 Then clear-ej'ed memory doth softly go 
 
 Back to the happy scenes of the fair long ago. 
 
 Well do I recollect that lovely morn. 
 
 Nor does the time seem long, when first mine eyes 
 I oped, to this great world to look upon ; 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 61 
 
 How very fair ; imagine my surprise 
 At that strange waking, nor could I surmise 
 Then who I was, or what world did belong ; 
 
 Why should you smile ? How could I be more 
 wise ? 
 Had a bright bird that instant passed along 
 Trilling a joyous lay, I'd reached to grasp the song. 
 
 " Thinking I saw the noise, and sight as sound 
 
 Might to me seem ; for pray, what should I know 
 
 Of nature's prescribed law, when all around 
 
 Was new and strange-* The senses could not show 
 The least distinction then, and I was so 
 
 Astonished at myself , experience ne'er 
 
 Had taught me this, that sight alone could flow 
 
 By medium of the eye, and by the ear 
 
 Sounds were conveyed to us, as since they may 
 appear. 
 
 " Yet unto me the world was then as bright 
 As at this day, and every sound I heard 
 Thrilled me I know not how ; with what deligh 
 I watched the purling brook, or when a bird 
 
62 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 The wandering waves of air with rapture stirred. 
 Or on the beach unto the sighing sea 
 
 I'd listen with delight, or when a word 
 Fell from the angel's lips; but what thrilled me 
 With its strange beauty most, my dearest love, was 
 thee. 
 
 *' While breezes waft the thrilling notes along, 
 We'll aid the minstrel angels in the song." 
 There is poetry in nature O, richer by far 
 
 Than the bright angel bards ever wrote ; 
 Its measures flow on without discord or jar. 
 
 Through ether the smooth accents float. 
 When the day train comes in, then with splendor 
 
 untold 
 The sparkling leaves of the volume unfold; 
 The sun beams alight off" the bright steps of gold 
 
 With a smile that illumines the world. 
 
 The verdant clad hills with the deep meaning glows, 
 Our hearts are oft thrilled by its power ; 
 
 With the clear limpid stream sweetest euphony flows, 
 And it floats on the breath of a flower. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 63 
 
 What melody's made when the hand of the breeze 
 Is familiarly laid on the boughs of the trees ; 
 The limbs are the lyre, and the leaves are the keys ; 
 It charms us beyond our control. 
 
 And when the night walks in her temple of jet, 
 
 When the starrj- lamps hang in the sky, 
 Where for ages untold the bright billows have met 
 
 As they surge o'er the gold strands on high ; 
 While reading those pages of wisdom sublime, 
 Where worlds in their courses build loftiest rhyme. 
 Our spirits with rapture of angels will climb 
 Far above the bright lands of the earth. 
 
 Every word of the dazzling volume above 
 Glows with luster beyond our compare ; 
 The sweet measures flow on, 'twas the Father of 
 Love 
 Who wrote those fair star pages there ; 
 Our spirits are thrilled as we see through each line 
 The mind of the Author triumphantly shine, 
 Every word of the book glows with wisdom divine 
 Far too lofty for reason to soar. 
 
64 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE, 
 
 MUSINGS. 
 
 On some moss covered bank, where lofty trees, 
 With their ambrosial curtains vail the rays 
 
 Of sultry noon from sight, where the cool breeze 
 Fans the frail fainting flowers, and genth' sways 
 The leaves of palms, they watch the slow herds 
 graze 
 
 Upon the hills, or in some quiet place 
 They often sit, and muse upon the ways 
 
 Of Him, whose works are perfect, and they trace 
 
 In every line and curve, thoughts of exceeding grace. 
 
 Of the fine work He guides the mystic seams 
 
 In dark obscurity; in order rolls 
 He out of chaos dim, the dazzling beams 
 
 That light the firmament. His word controls 
 
 The outgoings of the morning and he holds 
 The stars in his right hand; he spreads abroad 
 
 The glorious canopy, and lightly folds 
 
ECHOES ALQXG THE SHORE. 65 
 
 The fleecy clouds beneath. The verdant sod 
 And the fair arch above declare the praise of God. 
 
 The heavens of heaven, and depths of fluent aii 
 Show forth his power; he with sweet morning dew 
 
 Waters the mountain's crest; and places the fair 
 Springs 'mong the rocks ; He with a studious care 
 
 Spread out the grand charade to creature view, 
 
 And then behind the glorious work withdrew 
 
 To watch the budding change, and with the night 
 
 Shadows he vails his footsteps, while the new 
 Forms are unfolding slowly to the light, 
 The Hand that guides is all unseen to creature 
 sight. 
 
 Like happy streams the peaceful moments flow 
 
 Swiftly along, and each one on its wing 
 Bears some new joy; and often angels go 
 
 Down to the sunnj- hills their songs to sing. 
 
 Near the abode of man, or else to bring 
 Some word of lofty cheer, or point the way 
 
 To some exalted height, where pleasures spring 
 Forevermore, or heavenly beings may. 
 In sweet converse with man there tarry for a day. 
 —h- 
 
66 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE 
 
 SATAN. 
 
 From the celestial arch there fell a star ; 
 
 Some of the constellations by its sway 
 Were carried down, and pure worlds felt the jar. 
 
 Then all its glorious brightness passed away 
 
 As though a dazzling sun had quenched its ray 
 In the abyss of night ! voices there were 
 
 And fearful muttering sounds, that never may 
 Again be heard, rang on the tremulous air; 
 Death ad infinitum moved the great deep of despair. 
 
 " Devil is my name," he said, " 'Tis fitting one;" 
 Like unto me should that cognomen bear; 
 
 A devil, a slanderer, for what bright son 
 
 By God exalted, and whose steps lead where 
 His Sovereign doth appoint, but on that fair 
 
 Name have I cast reproach? and sought to stam 
 His snowy robe of truth ? Feign would I tear 
 
 Pure hearts with hellish glee, and mock the pain 
 
 My cutting words inflict ; this is ray greatest gain. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 67 
 
 Shadows unutterable compass me around, 
 Fearful as death itself. An awful dread 
 
 Of me pervades all hearts: in me is found 
 Embodiment of evil ; e'er is spread 
 Dismay at my approach. The source, the head 
 
 Of all disorder , I, the central soul 
 
 Of darkness, am. Where e'er my feet have led 
 
 Death follows near, passions beyond control 
 
 Across my soul's dark deep in sweeping torrents roll. 
 
 E'er from that fatal hour, the hour I fell, 
 
 Fierce flames engulf me round. What way I go 
 
 A constant hell I find ; my heart is hell. 
 And from its awful center, streams of woe, 
 Like tides of burning lava ceaseless flow; 
 
 Discord and hate I sow. The only joy 
 That now remains for spirits lost to know, 
 
 If it can so be termed, is to annoy 
 
 Heaven's ever perfect ones, to lay waste, and destroy. 
 
 And from his awful form a shadow fell 
 
 O'er stainless worlds, and darkened all the air ; 
 As his crisped wing, scorched in the flame of hell, 
 
68 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 He folded artfully with serpent's care, 
 His bleared ej^es scanned the distance, planning 
 where 
 He best could work that ruinous design. 
 
 And every subtle art was brought to bear 
 Upon that point, and maddened by the wine 
 That devils drink, he martialed forth his troops in 
 line. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 6g 
 
 THE TEMPTATION. 
 
 Day fro-tn noontide recedes ; 'neath a tall tree 
 Laden with luscious fruit, Eve on a bed 
 
 Of moss reclined, to listen as the breeze 
 
 Among the thick green branches o'er her head 
 Wakes rich eolian sound, when darkness spread 
 
 Strangely around, and o'er that pure sweet face. 
 For the first time passes a shade of dread. 
 
 As a strange object, moving down through space 
 
 With revolutions oft, draws slowly near the place. 
 
 On the fair scene, with a malicious frown, 
 
 The arch Fiend looks; " Since I am forced to leave 
 
 The realm of light behind, I will bring down 
 Earth by my fall; for this cause I will weave 
 A subtile web around the mind of Eve, 
 
 To work my ruinous plan, for of my wile 
 Man never knew, I therefore will deceive ; 
 
 Will 'lure to ruin with fallacious smile, 
 
 Will talk of life and light, and work their death the 
 while. 
 
70 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 And this shall be the subtile form I'll take, 
 My wizzard shape, my demon art can mould 
 
 In any likeness, I will slily make 
 
 Appear in serpent's form, m}" dark wing fold 
 From out the sight of all; with skill untold 
 
 Into a reptile breathe my sultry soul, 
 
 And transformed thus, I'll slily go to hold 
 
 Converse with Earth ; my pride will I control 
 
 To gain this end, e'en condescend in dust to roll. 
 
 As though the powers of night were brought to bear 
 Upon this point, then madly frowned the sky. 
 
 As phantom shapes went hissing through the air ; 
 And swift the storm of darkness comes more nigh. 
 Where, where for shelter can the weak dove fly ? 
 
 Nor does she feel inclined now to retrace 
 
 Her steps ; a strange clairvoyance charms her ej'^e 
 
 Upon a dark form creeping near the place, 
 
 Moving and halting then with slow uneven pace. 
 
 She seems like one transfixed, the sense of dread 
 Is slowly vanquished, as more near, more near 
 The fiend approaches ; all mistrust has fled 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 71 
 
 As the arch temptei whispers in her ear 
 
 His vile insinuations; every fear 
 Departs at time when there is greatest need 
 
 To be afraid, and she at last can hear 
 The wily charmer's voice, j^et takes no heed 
 While the destroyer sows the mind with evil seed. 
 
 Thus urged the artful one : "The fruit is good 
 And much desired. It was unkind to say 
 
 That ye should not partake ; 'tis wholesome food 
 For the genie; eat and ye also ma}^ 
 Become as wise as they ; dare disobey 
 
 That unjust law ; why should a sense of dread 
 Keep thee away ? God knows that very day 
 
 Ye shall not die ! The deities are fed 
 
 Upon its luscious fruit. Knowledge is thereby 
 spread." 
 
 "O, foolish one ! thou ne'er hast seen the light, 
 Or thou couldst not refuse, for darkness flies 
 Before its magic power; it would thy sight 
 
 Make wonderfully strong; wouldst thou be wise 
 Like to the Gods, with this anoint thine ej^es," 
 
72 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Thus strongly urged she of the fruit partakes; 
 As one smote suddenly by strange surprise, 
 She urges Adam thus, its flavor makes 
 One's understanding quick, as when from sleep he 
 wakes. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 73 
 
 THE FALL. 
 
 Gen. 3. 6. And ■when the wojnan saw that the tree was good for 
 food, and thus it was pleasant to the eye, and a tree to be desired to 
 make one wise, she took of tlie fruit tliereof, and did eat, and gave also 
 unto her Imsband with her ; and he did eat. 
 
 Both earth and sky grew strange, as form of death 
 In dread reality that hour passed quite 
 
 Before his face, so sudden that for breath 
 
 He wildly gasped. But with that curse new light 
 Was added too ; on his astonished sight, 
 
 So quickly came it, he for very pain 
 
 Strove to avert his face ; appalled with fright 
 
 He paused an instant eager to regain 
 
 His former quiet, but alas ! all, all in vain. 
 
 And at that instant fell a withering blight 
 
 O'er Eden's lovliest flowers ; and all things fair 
 
 By the same power were touched ; with sickly light 
 The sun looked down, and forthwith from its lair 
 A leopard sprang, and on its way a bear 
 
 It met, which fiercely growled beside its prey, 
 
74 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE, 
 
 Then sounds of awful discord rent the air, 
 As beasts more strong in triumph bore away 
 The weaker victim, whilst all earth in ruin lay. 
 
 On that same hour a lion, the favored pet 
 Of Adam, that oft gamboled on the shore 
 
 His master near, his teeth with passion set, 
 As that strange awful shadow passed before 
 His master's face, sprang up with angry roar, 
 
 By passion blinded, and prepared to prey 
 On that caressing hand, athirst for gore ; 
 
 Through forest jungles then the piteous bay 
 
 Of beasts smote from the hills keen echoes of dismay. 
 
 A seraph then, while hovering in mid air. 
 
 From the far distance watched the mournful sight ; 
 
 When all was o'er, went quickly up to bear 
 Tidings unto the Throne. His robe of white 
 Was rent in twain, his wing he sheathed in light 
 
 And to the .sentinels of heaven cried, death ! 
 His head was bowed, and from his eye a bright 
 
 Tear drop in silence fell. The fair watch saith, 
 "Death and a ruined world;" 'twas gasped in subdued 
 breath. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 75 
 
 And hell's strong massive door that stunning shock 
 
 Threw open wide, beneath the fatal stroke 
 Earth reeling fell, like to a ponderous rock 
 
 Hurled o'er a precipice in fragments broke; 
 
 And on that hour the seven dire woes awoke, 
 Driven from their slumber by that awful fall. 
 
 With curses on the ones who dare invoke 
 Heaven's righteous frown. The seas affrighted call 
 Unto the answering Earth as change came over all. 
 
 That very hour the form of Peace withdrew ; 
 
 'Mid scenes of sore confusion Adam fled, 
 And he seclusion sought to screen from view 
 
 The wild, distorted scene ; the future spread 
 
 Out like a dreary waste, where error fed 
 'Mong the deformities. Naught could afford 
 
 A solace to that one with spirit dead ; 
 And cherubim that day, with naked sword 
 Were sent to keep him from the garden of the Lord. 
 
 Lest he put forth his hand for to partake 
 
 Of the good Tree of Life, and never know 
 Of higher joys than Earth, no power could break 
 
The lie tliat lu'Ul liiiu tlu'ii, for life \\HniUl (low 
 On, oil torovor, ;iiul in sin wouUl i^rmv 
 That siuil ilctoniKHl, as Ihcy lor a>c dcscciul 
 In swift grailatioti cknvn, and oi' their whh- 
 And gnnvth in erinie, there wonld have been no end 
 Had not the Most Wise stoopetl in pity to defend. 
 
ECHOES ALONG Tin-. SHORE. 77 
 
 SENT FROM THli GARDEN. 
 
 Tho Lord God aoiit liliu forth from tlio K'l'dtMi of Kdcn to till thu 
 <;rouiid from wheuco he was taken. 
 
 And weary wanderers they groped that day. 
 
 O'er their defenseless heads storms wildly sweep; 
 Now from their happ)- home, far, far away, 
 
 They wander hand in hand, lliey talk, they weep, 
 
 And oft look baek again with pathos deep ; 
 Quite overcome at last, beside a stream. 
 
 Where vines shut out the day, they woo sweet 
 sleep 
 To calm their anxious thoughts, while strange forms 
 
 seem 
 To glide on softly jxist, in that wild, troubled dream. 
 
 For through the open corridor of time. 
 Then Adam in a vision seemed to trace 
 
 Down the uicreasnig catalogue of crime 
 
 Through all the mist of years, and the disgrace 
 That sin has called down on the fuinre race ; 
 
78 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 He keenly feels the curse, and hears the sighs 
 
 That daily rise, while more, and more debased 
 His prodigy become ; before his eyes 
 The future, dim and strange, in long processions rise. 
 
 Far down the track of ages with hoarse din, 
 Moves on the motley host, until draws near 
 
 The saddest days, and from the form of sin 
 Strives he to turn his face. Earth is a drear 
 And barren waste, where briers and thorns appear 
 
 To mar the finest scene ; and hot tears start, 
 And sighs unbidden come, when to the dear. 
 
 Bright spot again thought turns, then a new dart 
 
 Made bitter by remorse pierces his aching heart. 
 
 Those sleepers waken from that mournful dream, 
 As o'er the mountain tops the gloomy day 
 
 Comes on apace, and still the sobbing stream 
 Mid scenes of sore disorder wends its way. 
 Chanting a solemn dirge ; and with dismay 
 
 The condemned couple shrink, while darkly o'er 
 The tempests- spread; and near the dismal bay 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 79 
 
 Of beasts ring out, the lion's fierce, angry roar 
 Sounds through the rocky gorge ; thus on, the sad 
 day wore. 
 
 O'er all a blight had passed ; the heart of man 
 
 How greatly changed ; o'er the clear searching ray 
 
 Of mind a film has come ; scenes that would fan 
 The embers of the heart once to a blaze 
 Of holy, heavenly zeal, now fail to raise 
 
 Thought above sordid care ; nor can man hold 
 
 Converse with angel minds. When ofiering praise 
 
 Vain thoughts come even then, since he is sold 
 
 A servant unto sin, and by its power controlled. 
 
 Where e'er they go, they can not flee the curse 
 Of the law they've broken, e'er in array 
 
 Their sins appear, and conscience will rehearse 
 Their disobedience by night and day, 
 Nor can they from that small voice turn away 
 
 That to them speaks. Beside a murmuring stream, 
 Where the dark waters sob their thoughts for aj^e, 
 
 They sit and ponder , skies in mockery gleam 
 
 As they rehearse once more that sad and frightful 
 dream. 
 
So ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Earth's caverns seemed to groan, for nature had 
 Felt the all-stunning shock ; before mine eyes, 
 
 In that mad dream, all races moved in sad 
 Procession on ; I heard the piercing cry 
 Of Earth's stiange panorama passing by, 
 
 As nations rose, and waned, until at last 
 
 Time's full consummate hour drew sadly nigh ; 
 
 The hour of dissolution also passed 
 
 Before my aching eyes when life's %Tave ebbed out 
 fast. 
 
 In that strange vision I beheld the day 
 
 Dawn, dark, when storms were summoned from 
 their place 
 By just decree, and bade to sweep away 
 
 The arrogancy of the fallen race ; 
 
 I watched the change come o'er, until no trace 
 Of former power remained. Ah ! what a w^ail 
 
 Rang out as souls were tried ; then 3'outhful grace 
 And forms bent down by age, with fear grew pale; 
 Their gods were gods of clay, they saw those false 
 hopes fail. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 8r 
 
 There was atonement made ; to save the lost 
 
 The Mediator came ; Earth felt the thrill 
 As angels sang all hail; there was a cross, 
 
 High lifted up on Calvary's rugged hill ; 
 
 That bitter cry of anguish well might fill 
 Heaven with amaze, whilst round that head down- 
 bent 
 
 Darkness prevailed that hour ; O, never ! till 
 That fearful time was silence so intent ; 
 In bliss all lips were mute, when hearts of stone were 
 rent. 
 
 Time glided past ; like specters on the shore 
 The cycles came, and filled, e'er changing fast 
 
 Till drama of Earth's sad, sad scene was o'er : 
 The dreadful Judgment morning came at last, 
 The mystic shadow o'er all people cast 
 
 Was thus removed, and on the deeds of all 
 
 The fallen race there was just sentence passed. 
 
 As from their graves came forth both great and 
 small ; 
 
 The Lost and the Redeemed from ruin of the fall. 
 
82 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE 
 
 THE LITTLE STRANGER. 
 
 As time brought round its changes, to Earth came 
 A messenger sent by there the AUwise ; 
 
 A gift from God ! is all that speech can frame, 
 As Eve looked down into those deep blue eyes 
 Most strangely startled by that sweet surprise. 
 
 The Father hath this precious treasure lent ; 
 
 Thanks to the Giver for the gift they said, 
 As they looked heavenward, and more lowly bent 
 
 O'er the fair stranger on the mossy bed, 
 
 With perfumed sheets of rose leaves richly spread 
 By a fond mother's care ; Ah ! it is meet 
 
 To spread the finest for its sunny head; 
 How wonderful! in hushed tones they repeat. 
 As they feel its rosy palms, and its wee pink feet. 
 
 Its lips like tiny rose leaves part unrolled, 
 
 And temples fair, as water lilies rise 
 Among the .shining waves of rippling gold 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. • 83 
 
 Or moonbeams o'er the snow, its clear blue eyes, 
 Are deep and misty as the far off skies. 
 Quick as a bird's wing darting to the sun, 
 
 Which beauty doth bewilder and surprise ; 
 O ! may thy little life on earth begun 
 Be peaceful as a stream, our precious, darling one. 
 
 Time ever restless m its course speds fast. 
 Sometimes the lovely form of sweet content 
 
 Hovered around, and sometimes overcast 
 
 The sky appeared as the years came and went, 
 And went and came, and other joys were lent 
 
 To cheer their home among the vines and flowers ; 
 By fallen man some happy days were spent. 
 
 As on their way the golden pinioned hours, 
 
 Strewed priceless blessings round the pleasant vine 
 clad bowers. 
 
84 ECHOES ALOXG THE SNORE, 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 In a snug summer bower, woven with care, 
 
 Of sticks and leaves, and made secure from fear, 
 
 At a late hour of eve a small group there 
 May oft be found ; and they can often hear 
 The bay of angry beasts distinctly clear, 
 
 Ring o'er the distant hills : and the winds go 
 
 Sobbing their sad complaint. As they come near 
 
 The shrinking leaves of misty shrubs bend low, 
 
 Whilst thought keeps going back unto the long ago. 
 
 That small home group, oft of their hopes and fears. 
 Till a late hour converse with pathos deep; 
 
 "Our children know not of the joys those years 
 Have folded to their heart, while bleak storms sweep 
 O'er skies of their to-day, and storm winds keep 
 
 Moaning upon the hills. The pale fall flowers 
 Row down their heads all night as if to weep 
 
 In sNinpathy with man, while darkness lowers, 
 
 And sorrow follows in the footprints of the hours." 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 85 
 
 Beasts ot the feline kind then never felt, 
 
 In those glad days, the cruel passions stirred, 
 
 Or grew athirst for gore ; peacefully dwelt 
 
 They near the home of man, and with the herd 
 On the green herbage fed. No hateful bird 
 
 There watched for prey, but on the fragrant seeds 
 Of plants they fed. No note of discord stirred 
 
 The soul of harmony ; of luscious weeds 
 
 The harmless reptile ate, that now on gross meats 
 feeds. 
 
 All things were beautiful and docile then ; 
 
 The serpent was man's pet, and seemed to show 
 Joy at his fond caress, and at times when 
 
 The voice of song like the melodious flow 
 
 Of a wild bird rang out, 'twould .seem to go 
 Into excessive joy. The things that seem 
 
 Repulsive now, were fair before the woe 
 Befell us all, ah ! like a vanished dream 
 Are the days we lingered by fair Havilahs .stream. 
 
 The day that ye transgress, 'twas rightly said 
 
 That ye shall surely die. Death shall bear sway, 
 Which we have proven, .spiritually dead 
 
86 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 We had become when the inspiring ray 
 Of God's own smile we lost, that very day 
 The life divine we lost. We feel the power 
 
 Of death within the soul, and whither way 
 Now can we flee ? E'er since that fatal hour 
 The very shades of death about our pathway lower. 
 
 The happiness of that sweet Eden lost. 
 Can never more on earth by us be found ; 
 
 But ever is the spirit toss, and toss, 
 
 By passion's wave, and everything around 
 Is inharmonious, often too the sound 
 
 Of discord through the leafy forest goes 
 
 Out on the mournful air. The hills resound 
 
 With words of strife as brothers meet as foes, 
 
 And the contentious deeds, oftimes result in blows. 
 
 O, to think ! when we walked in the light of the sun, 
 And conversed every day with the glorious one ; 
 And at eve with the angels sat down by the sea, 
 They spake of the grandeur, and smiled so on me; 
 But those days have departed, the waves by the shore, 
 As we sit now and ponder, in mockery roar. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 87 
 
 THE OFFERING. 
 
 Softly is turning the fair gate of day 
 
 Upon its rosy hinge, serene the light 
 Comes on the mountain side, where sweet flowers 
 sway 
 
 Censers of choice perfume from the green height 
 
 Where a lone suppliant kneels; near him the bright 
 Flame newly kindled rise from a cliff where 
 
 Reclines a fair young lamb, stainless and white, 
 For a burnt offering, while on the air, 
 lyike breath of morning incense, ascends the voice 
 of prayer : 
 
 "Accept this offering we humbly pray, 
 An emblem of the one who is to come, 
 The promised Savior ; and for His dear sake 
 Forgive us, and at last receive us home. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 ENVY. 
 
 Now lowly crouched behind a clump of trees 
 Is bleared ej^ed envy, from his hiding place 
 
 He cautiously peers out ; while the soft breeze 
 Wafts up the holy song ; malice can trace 
 No fault or blemish on that pure young face, 
 
 And from behind his screen again with care 
 Malice looks out; much he admires the grace 
 
 Of that fair noble form, as the charmed air 
 
 From that fine brow doth kiss the rippling waves of 
 hair. 
 
 Again he hears the sweet melodious song, 
 Like the low warbling of a glad free bird, 
 
 It on the fragrant zephyr floats along 
 
 Through open fields ; sometimes a holy word 
 Through the thick leafy screen is plainly heard 
 
 By the one lurking there while there is made 
 Request to God. That jealous heart is stirred 
 
 To envy at the sight ; into the shade 
 
 Still further he retreats, of his own thoughts afraid. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 89 
 
 He's beautiful and good, in every \\B.y 
 
 Superior to me; and in the sight 
 Of God more pure, who well pleased day by day 
 
 His offerings accept; would that there might 
 
 Upon him from above descend a blight 
 To spoil that holy face, which look I hate ; 
 
 Would mine own arm could wield the power to 
 smite 
 My brother to the earth ; thus till a late 
 Hour in that hiding place doth leering malice wait. 
 
jcp ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE, 
 
 EVE'S LAMENT FOR ABEL. 
 
 Eve wanders forth near at the close of day 
 
 For an accustomed stroll, and heedless quite 
 Where her steps tend; each rustling by the way 
 
 Is ominous of evil, with affright 
 
 She oft' starts back, but soon a strange, strange 
 sight 
 Meets her bewildered gaze ; red dew drops stain 
 
 The herbage round ; a form there ghastly white 
 On a moss bank reclines, for very pain 
 She screens her face away, dreading to look again. 
 
 Now Adam from the labors of the day 
 Is passing to the Arbor on the hill, 
 At that same moment chanced to pass that way ; 
 " Look here," gasps Eve, "what makes the child so 
 still? 
 That strange look makes my very heart grow chill;" 
 As 5'et experience had never taught 
 
 Them of the power of death ; never until 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. qi 
 
 That truly solemn hour, save but in thought 
 Had its most fearful form to them so near been 
 brought. 
 
 " How breathlessly he sleeps! Awake, my boy, 
 And come with us ; the hour is getting late ; 
 
 Look up and smile, 'twould thrill again with joy. 
 Thy mother's heart ; Ah! wherefore longer wait 
 On the damp ground ? Come, let me wipe the great 
 
 Damp drops from off thy brow, and gently fold 
 Thee in my arms. Why from the cruel hate 
 
 Of an own brother hide? Alas I how cold 
 
 My gentle pet has grown, chill as the earth's dark 
 mould. 
 
 " Why on the damp ground longer make thy bed? 
 
 My hand a bed of softest mosses long 
 Ago prepared, with fragrant blossoms spread. 
 
 Where thou might rest ; arise, and come along, 
 
 The hour has come to sing the evening song, 
 And every bird has laid its head to rest 
 
 Behind its wing ; then come, it would be wrong 
 To tarry longer here ; come with us, lest 
 Some fiend in serpent form might come to be a guest." 
 
92 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Awake, she urged, fixing a look intent 
 
 Upon that stony face, and the chilled form, 
 As o'er those rigid limbs she lowly bent, 
 Not knowing what that awful silence meant ; 
 They chafed those icy hands, and strove to warm. 
 When thus in words broke forth the pent-up storm. 
 
 As the most dread realit}' of death 
 
 Dawns on her mind, "Alas! I am undone ;" 
 
 The frantic mother wildly gasped for breath, 
 " O, speak to me ! My son, my darling son ! 
 The idol of my heart, the little one 
 
 That climbed my knee ; speak to thy mother child ! 
 O, cruel Death ! What has that monster done? 
 
 That look will drive me trul)' frantic, wild. 
 
 Smile on me as thou used, my dove with eyes so 
 mild." 
 
 That crushing grief doth the poor mother pour 
 Forth thus in plaintive words, " Alas ! how cold 
 
 And hushed that heart has grown ; and sadly o'er 
 The brow death's shadows rest. Ah? never will 
 That manly voice, like a deep sea swell, thrill 
 
 Thy mother's heart again. The light has this 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 93 
 
 Day gone out from our home ; that grave will fill 
 The world with gloom ; thy presence how we'll miss 
 E'er at the morning and the evening sacrifice. 
 
 "And me, how can I bear this two-fold stroke ! 
 
 Ah, both my sons ! an awful sense of dread 
 Chills through my frame, that my sm should invoke 
 
 Eternal wrath on this defenceless head; 
 
 For my transgression makes the broad earth red 
 With blood of innocence ; by thee I stand 
 
 This hour condemned. To this my guilt has led, 
 That thou shouldst fall, e'en by a brother s hand; 
 How can redemption ever from the grave be planned?" 
 
 "Ah ! mournful heart, why should you be afraid ? 
 
 Or sorrow without hope for the dear one, 
 For has not God to us a promise made? 
 
 And will he not fulfill to send his son, 
 
 That a lost race, tho' ruined and undone. 
 Might be redeemed from sin? and him now dead 
 
 Shall from the power of Death and sin be w^on. 
 To higher, purer joy, since it was said, 
 A righteous seed shall bruise the subtile serpent's 
 head.' 
 
94 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE FUGITIVE. 
 
 Gen. 4: 16. And Cain went ont from the presence of the Lord. 
 
 The golden sandaled day withdrew from sight 
 Behind the hill, and from the dusky shore 
 
 Slowly came on the tawny featured night, 
 Like a wan, weary huntress bending o'er 
 The silent Earth ; a slender bow she bore. 
 
 And a pale star upon her silent breast 
 
 In mockery shone ; while that one guilty fled 
 
 Through deserts wild ; he finds no place of rest, 
 
 Remorse will follow ever, an unwelcome guest. 
 
 Far from his childhood home, and far from God 
 He roams a fugitive- oppressive fear 
 
 Alarms his conscience, as he goes abroad 
 A vagabond. The penitential tear 
 Can not for him atone, and always near 
 
 A specter follows, with a noiseless tread ; 
 
 Thus always day and night, and year by ^ear 
 
 He's haunted by the spirit of the dead, 
 
 Of dim uncertain things he is in constant dread. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE 95 
 
 CAIN'S REMORSE. 
 
 A fugitive roaming from east to the west, 
 For the souls of my feet I can never find rest; 
 I go seeking peace over valley and hill, 
 But the shadow I dread is upon my life still ; 
 And water can never wash out the foul stain, 
 For guilt is the mark that is set upon Cain. 
 The sense of it follows wherever I go 
 The good things of earth only hightens my woe. 
 The sympathy dear ones would gladly impart, 
 lyike the point of a dagger, cuts deep to the heart. 
 
 My faithful companion may soothe me in vain, 
 Her gentle caresses but adds to the pain; 
 I shrink from the light of her beautiful eye, 
 I evade that clear glance, tho' I may not tell why; 
 The gentle perfume of her innocent breath 
 To a soul stained as mine is the vapor of death. 
 As memory looks o'er the mountain of years, 
 
96 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 She's afFrightened, for there what a vision appears; 
 A fond mother's anguish, a father's bowed head, 
 Affectionate sisters bemoaning the dead. 
 
 And the groans of the dj'ing comes up in my ear, 
 Oh! hearts that are broken, oh, sighing and tears! 
 
 And the stain will go down through the ocean of 
 time, 
 
 And everyone know of my shame and my crime ; 
 My reproach shall descend to these innocent ones, 
 The punishment visit the daughters and sons, 
 
 The wife of my bosom, confiding and pure, 
 
 The thought of it's more than a soul can endure. 
 
 And how can I look in that innocent face. 
 And to think it must bear e'er a father's disgrace; 
 On me be the curse, tho' I cringe 'neath the rod. 
 And feign would I hide from the anger of God, 
 But the pain of remorse now has only begun, 
 'Twill longer endure than the light of the sun ; 
 My soul's overwhelmed by the gloom of despair. 
 Through the night of the grave it will follow me 
 there. 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 97 
 
 MAN RETROGRADING 
 
 Unto the depth of crime a guilty race 
 
 Have by transgression sank ; the fearful sound 
 
 Of violence rises to God's dwelling place 
 
 From off the earth. The holy one looks down 
 Upon the evils done. There can be found 
 
 None perfect now. And ever day by day 
 Goes up a cry of blood; the earth around 
 
 Is but a morgue, confusion and dismay ; 
 
 For death from Adam reigns wath undiminished 
 sway. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE DELUGE 
 
 Rev. 16. 3 And the second nno:el poured out his vial upon the sea; 
 and it became as the blood of h dead man. And every living soul died 
 in the sea. 
 
 The second seal is opened, and the path 
 
 Leading through mysteries is now made plain. 
 
 The second angel pours his vial of wrath 
 Upon the sea, and there is seen the stain 
 Of blood upon the wave while there is slain 
 
 All creatures that have life. As to and fro 
 Walks the destroying angel, pulse of pain 
 
 Moves nature's inmost heart ; and there doth go 
 
 From every shore of earth the fearful cry of woe. 
 
 All nature now is gently calmed to sleep 
 Like a fair child upon its mother's breast ; 
 
 There is a lull upon the mighty deep, 
 
 And all the sobbing waves are laid to rest, 
 Like mists of wings in ethers of the blest. 
 
 Brightly the morning ope's, but soon is heard 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 99 
 
 L,ow muttering sounds, and in the distant West 
 The dark clouds moor. The storm begins to gird 
 Its vivid armor on ; its heart with wrath is stirred. 
 
 Toward the hills, now, at the first alarm 
 The prudent wildly flee, and refuge seek 
 
 Among the rugged cliff's; some in their arms 
 
 Their fainting loved ones bear ; all hearts are weak 
 Unearthly paleness is on every cheek. 
 
 As they in frenzy flee. The frightened beasts 
 
 Are grouped among the hills, and vultures shriek 
 
 Among the rocks ; the storm's ire has increased, 
 
 The fearful cry is heard, from West unto the East. 
 
 The sky grows dark with wrath, yet while dismay 
 Lays its pale hand on all, each one lays hold 
 
 Of some loved idol ; some bear thence away 
 Unto some refuge their much cherished gold. 
 And to it cling until their hands wax cold 
 
 As the damp clay, nor will that maddened grasp 
 Relax in death, and the dark billows fold 
 
 Around them and their god ; some wildly gasp 
 
 A cherished loved one's name and shadows strive to 
 clasp 
 
loo ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 And there are tears, and pacing to and fro, 
 
 And cries of anguish on the tempests air ; 
 And piercing signs, as those alone may know 
 
 Who walk the gloomy border of despair ; 
 
 Those of the hoary locks, those in the fair 
 Morning of life, the rich, the great, the small. 
 
 In common sympathy commingle there, 
 And through that reign of terror wildly call 
 Upon their gods of stone, and watch their earth 
 hopes fall. 
 
 The deluged hills glare strangely from afar. 
 Sheeted with fire; and rain and pelting hail 
 
 Mingle their sound with the deep thunder's jar, 
 While from the mountain tops, and every vale 
 Goes up the cr}-, one long continued wail, 
 
 From frightened souls ; the sea prophetic sighs 
 Of coming doom unto the answering gale, 
 
 As tempests flap their dark wings through the skies, 
 
 While swift the rain descends and foaming billows 
 rise. 
 
 There is a crash ; a momentary shock 
 
 And Earth stops on its orbit, while its lower 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. loi 
 
 Strata is broken up ; through the cleft rock 
 The uncurbed waters burst, with fearful roar; 
 The storm cries from above, the hoarse floods pour 
 
 Up from the depth beneath ; dead bodies fill 
 The turbid waste of water. Sea and shore 
 
 Are one chaotic mass, and the floods still 
 
 Increase, while dire convulsion moves the strongest 
 hill. 
 
 Earth is made void this hour of man and herds. 
 
 And beasts of every kind upon the land ; 
 Insects, and shells, and plants, and flowers, and birds 
 
 Are bedded in the drifts of moving sand ; 
 
 And all the ancient cities with their grand 
 Arches and towers sink down beneath the shore; 
 
 The finest works of art, from every strand 
 This time are blotted out; the waves close o'er 
 Vast navies of the sea, which sink to rise no more. 
 
 While terror is abroad, and the night dark 
 
 Visaged, and pitiless sits on the deep, 
 Upon the gloomy waters there's an ark 
 
 Reposing like a happy child asleep. 
 
 Pressed to its mother's heart. The storm clouds 
 weep 
 
102 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 In sorrow on the ocean's heaving breast; 
 
 The wind still mutters, and the deep floods keep 
 Moving and tossing, ever with unrest. 
 While storms are marshaled yet from East and from 
 the West. 
 
 Among the granite hills, down deep from sight 
 Within the silence of those secret caves 
 
 Pale forms are grouped ; around them a strange light 
 E'er dimly burns; the cold and briny waves 
 Of the swift ocean stream forever laves 
 
 Those rigid limbs, and dim forms creep around, 
 Or dormant wait among the place of graves. 
 
 Within those coral caverns may be found 
 
 The aged and the young, locked in a sleep profound. 
 
 Over that silent host the great deep rolls 
 
 Its glassy waves; o'er the grand ruin spreads 
 
 The tinted billows, in deep w^atery folds: 
 And azure drapery flows round those beds 
 Where sleeps the ghastly forms, and strange rich 
 threads 
 
 Of sea weeds fold them round for winding sheets ; 
 Fair wreaths of sea flowers wrap about their heads, 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 103 
 
 Like caps of white, and ever at their feet 
 
 To sing their mournful requiem the waters meet. 
 
 And yet the world above is hushed as death, 
 
 The spent clouds in their anguish cease to weep ; 
 
 All, all is silent, save the sighing breath 
 
 Of zephyrs moving o'er the throbbing deep. 
 Where the ark rests, like a sweet child asleep 
 
 Peacefully dreaming on the ocean's breast. 
 And e'er a gentle breathing seems to keep 
 
 Rocking it softly to its haven of rest. 
 
 Beneath the guardian care of the Wisest and the Best. 
 
 And yet the days and weeks move swiftly by, 
 
 And still the floods abate. The plains below, 
 The rugged mountain cliffs at last are dry ; 
 
 The clear streams find their channels, bright shrubs 
 grow 
 
 And bloom in the vale ; all creatures go 
 Forth from the ark, while over sea and land 
 
 Is seen a covenant, sealed in a bow, 
 With bright carnation dyed, design most grand, 
 Jlefracted by the light, and bent by God's own hand. 
 
104 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 ONE CHOSEN. 
 
 Fully two thousand years of time has passed 
 Since first the morning stars together sung 
 
 The brighter better day will come at last ; 
 Tho' the world lies in sin, and there is none 
 Sent to redeem, yet God has chosen one 
 
 Tried and found faithful, and this hope may cheer 
 The weary waiting ones; the promised Son 
 
 Will through this line and lineage appear, 
 
 And the much longed for and much sighed for time 
 is near. 
 
 The night of sorrow cannot last for aye. 
 
 Nor does the Lord forget ; He sends at last 
 Help to His chosen ones, to rend away 
 
 From them oppressions 3'oke, while thick and fast 
 
 The plague and ruin comes to overcast 
 The land of Egypt, and to overthrow 
 
 Those who oppress. The angel hurries past 
 Through darkest night to la}' the first born low. 
 While upon every home is poured out the last woe. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 105 
 
 In the King's palace there is mourning now, 
 The heart makes bitter mourning for the dead; 
 
 The haughty monarch unclasps from his brow 
 The roj'al diadem, and loosely spread 
 Sackcloth upon his loins ; with measured tread 
 
 The sentinels pass by ; in deep despair 
 
 The rulers wait. The Queen bows down her head 
 
 In grief too great for tears, the Princes are 
 
 Mourning in all the courts, for death has entered there. 
 
 Through the breadth of the land is the desolate oxy. 
 As the angel of death through the gloom hurries by ; 
 From palace to dungeon has rolled the dark wave, 
 In high places he brings down their strength to the 
 grave. 
 
 Every roof tree is shaded, every heart is in pain, 
 
 In every home circle the dearest is slain. 
 
 Through Egypt's fair cost is the soul crushing moan. 
 
 From the prince to the slave, from the cot to the throne. 
 
 From the humblest flower to the pride of the crown. 
 Their beauty is spoiled, every head is bowed down; 
 The stroke does not spare those in priestly robes dressed, 
 Their magicians in sorrow bow down with the rest. 
 
lo6 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 CROSSING THE SEA. 
 
 With quicken'd pace near to the water side 
 The eager people come, their guide holds o'er 
 
 The wave a rod, where the deep floods divide 
 Retreating from their place with fearful roar, 
 The ancient rocks, rich with the gathered lore 
 
 Of centuries untold, unfolds to sight. 
 
 The anxious ones pass on, down, down the shore, 
 
 Into the deep they come ; before the bright 
 
 Cloud of God's presence moves, imparting warmth 
 and light." 
 
 Among the wonders of the hidden deep 
 In silent awe they walked the ocean bed, 
 
 Down rugged cliffs, o'er rock belts broad and steep, 
 Onward, and onward pass with firmer tread, 
 O'er winding walks with sea flowers richly spread, 
 
 'Neath covered arches, and the coral caves. 
 O'er hills of topaz, where the ancient dead 
 
 Of Noah's time sleep in their lowly graves, 
 
 Around which forests dense, of bright green sea weed 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 107 
 
 The shore they gain ; their enemies pursue, 
 
 Through mist and tempests, and through blackest 
 night, 
 Their way they urge, no ray of hope in view ; 
 From out the troubled waters with aflfright 
 They cry unto their gods for help and light : 
 We are seeking for safety for storms are abroad, 
 In our trouble we cry unto Ramphan our god; 
 Around are dark waters and wild is the night, 
 May the star of our god through the gloom give us light. 
 Will thou deign to look down on the dangerous deep, 
 Bid the raging storm rest and the wrathful winds sleep 
 In time of such peril thou art powerless to save, 
 The darkness grows denser, deeper dashes the wave. 
 
 Thou fleet winged Aeolia come down to the sea, 
 lyift lightly the waves that our horsemen may flee. 
 From the hight of the hills hasten down to us pray. 
 On thy wdngs bear the weight of the waters away ; 
 Oh ! pass by in pit)', we perish, we die 
 From the wind, the winged gods will not answer our 
 cry." 
 
lo8 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 And wilder grows the scene, the coming morn 
 
 Uuvails the hidden terrors, they seek by flight 
 To save themselves ; urge they the scared steed on 
 \\liile there chariots are dashed on the rocky lawn. 
 
 The vivid lightnings hiss about their path, 
 
 And shadowy forms appear from out the cloud, 
 As Deity looks down on them in wrath ; 
 
 The augr}' floods o'er them are greatly bowed. 
 
 The wrathful thunders mutter wild and loud. 
 While the firm granite hills beneath them quake , 
 
 And augiy tempests now upon the proud 
 Defiant host in wrathful fury break. 
 The wail sounds wildlv out as the sea monsters wake. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 109 
 
 MIRIAM. 
 
 Morn looks upon the waters while the wail 
 The breezes bear aw^ay, on the moist sand 
 
 That whitely paves the beach is seen a frail 
 And graceful form, lightly her small fair hand 
 Moves o'er the timbrel's keys, waking the grand 
 
 Triumphant nete, while near her side the fair 
 Daughters of Judah tread the dewy strand, 
 
 Each keeping time to the melodious air ; 
 
 The joyous thime they chose has more of praise than 
 prayer. 
 
 "In the tempests roar the Lord's coming we hear, 
 In the pillow of fire doth His presence appear. 
 While the face of the foe becomes pallid with fear 
 
 The Lord reigns. 
 For the bright appearing the universe groans. 
 The noise of his coming shakes kingdoms and thrones. 
 
no ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 " His is the battle ax, shield and the bow, 
 The arrows are lodged in the heart of the foe, 
 The horse and his rider the floods overflow ; 
 
 The Lord reigns. 
 His chosen the captive of Judah are free, 
 While the foe's overwhelmed in the midst of the sea. 
 
 The Lord is our refuge, in glorious might 
 Extends He a hand for the rescue of right. 
 All earth shall be bathed in a deluge of light; 
 
 The Lord reigns. 
 From ocean to ocean the paean note shall trill, 
 Waking responses from mountain and hill." 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE SONG. 
 
 The ransomed people safely on the shore 
 
 Unite in songs of praise, " Now we will sing 
 
 Unto the Lord, our Help ; we will adore 
 
 The name of the Most High, for He is King 
 O'er earth and sky ; may every living thing 
 
 Worship His name, who fills immensity 
 Himself pervading all ; He'll safely bring 
 
 His chosen people home, while the proud be 
 
 Forever overcome by the terrors of the sea " 
 
 ' Jehovah is our strength, he is our song 
 He is our God, we will extoll his name, 
 
 He is a man of war; by him the strong 
 Foe is subdued, by might he overcame 
 The proud oppressor ; L,ord thou art the same 
 
 From everlasting ; thy hand safely brought 
 
 Thy people through the deep ; the foe with shame 
 
 Turned back in haste to flee. Those who had sought 
 
 To do thy chosen harm thy hand has brought to 
 naught. 
 
112 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 " Unto the name of the Most High let all His ransomed 
 
 sing, 
 For He is God, high overall, our Prophet, Priest and King ; 
 He saved us from that cruel hand, and holy is His name, 
 He led us safely while the foe were put to lasting shame. 
 
 "At His rebuke the haughtj' ones turned back in haste to 
 
 flee, 
 When in a moment they were swept into the mighty sea. 
 The horseman and the charioteer sank in the deep like 
 
 lead, 
 Low pillowed in the fearful depths are Egj'pt's noble 
 
 dead." 
 
 Proud captains and their famous host were quickly 
 
 overthrown. 
 While the Most High is a defense and a shield unto his 
 
 own ; 
 At His command we journey on, or when He bids stand 
 
 still ; 
 Thus e'er in labor, or in rest, we do His righteous will. 
 
 "The Angel of the Covenant is moving near our camp, 
 His presence through the darkness shines e'er like a 
 burning lamp. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE 113 
 
 "In pillow of a cloud he moves, and leads us day by day, 
 As by the light of fire b}- night he safely guides the way. 
 Prince of the everlasting age, and Jacob's God is this, 
 The L,ord, and Founder of the church formed in the 
 wilderness. 
 
 Until He comes we firmly go believing in His name, 
 The head and leader of His church through ever>' age the 
 
 same, 
 Who is the only Potentate, our Prophet, Priest and King, 
 Who to us everlasting peace, and righteousness shall 
 
 bring. 
 
 The Angel of the mercy seat, Jehovah is His name; 
 From everlasting Thou art God, through endless years 
 
 the same. 
 Who by His spirit and His grace the ancient prophets 
 
 spoke. 
 Who rules and kindly governs all, His favor we invoke. 
 
 He through the oracles divine to man revealed His will. 
 And shall at the appointed time His just decree fulfill ; 
 All mystic forms shall pass away, and fade before the 
 
 True; 
 He'll overturn and overturn till all be made anew. 
 
 —8— 
 
114 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE NEW DISPENSATION. 
 
 The new glad era dawns, the promised day, 
 
 Long looked for and long sighed for, comes at last. 
 
 Old forms depart, the shadows pass away. 
 
 These symbols are annulled, the darkness cast 
 Ivong o'er the nations now is fading fast. 
 
 As the new dispensation's ushered in. 
 He who was promised in the ages past 
 
 Has come to save his people from their sin. 
 
 The mystic age departs, the better j-ears begin. 
 
 A voice amid the lost creation cries: 
 "lyook unto me, I am the life, the light. 
 
 The righteousness, the wisdom of the wise; 
 
 Strength to the weak, and to the blind am sight, 
 Who in me trust shall not abide in night ; 
 
 I am from everlasting. Him who gave 
 
 His life to save the world, and by My might 
 
 Conquered the power of death, hell, and the grave, 
 
 And live forevermore, Omnipotent to save." 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 115 
 
 GOOD TIDINGS. 
 
 On Judea's plain, a band of shepherds there 
 
 Guard o'er their timid flock, serene browed night 
 
 Sits on the hills, while on the realm of air 
 
 Silence has breathed a charm, when sudden light 
 Gleams in the firmament, by wings of white. 
 
 The tremulous waves of ether now are stirred, 
 And anthems ring aloud, as tho' the bright 
 
 Organs of glory moved ; or every bird 
 
 Of paradise sang song sweeter than earth e'er heard. 
 
 Fear not, ye shepherds, for we come to bring 
 The tidings of great joy, and to proclaim 
 
 The glad news to all men, to thee a King 
 
 This night is born, and Jesus called by name, 
 A Prince, a Savior, to the world he came 
 
 For to redeem the lost, and turn away 
 Iniquity from man ; let tongues of flame 
 
 Sing to the blessed one high praise for aye 
 
 Much joy and peace to earth the herald angels say. 
 
U6 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Glory and ceaseless praise " the bright ones sing, 
 While shining myriads with tidings run 
 
 From world to world. May every living thing 
 In earth and heaven worship the only son, 
 Ye shepherds go and find the precious one 
 
 In a low manger laid; what wondrous grace 
 Is manifested here; our God has done 
 
 As was forshown in that most humble place, 
 
 The mighty L,ord of heaven has manifested his face. 
 
 Praise be the Most High! to man good will, 
 
 All earth give praise while tongues above unite 
 
 In sweet accord, and the transporting trill 
 Of glory moves the tremulous waves of light. 
 And the exulting song from height to height 
 
 Is wafted on, remote, glad echoes start. 
 
 From the shining ports of glory 
 
 Comes the angel band, 
 To the hills of earth descending 
 
 Bearing tidings grand ; 
 Down the plains of trackless ether, 
 
 Bend on starry wing, 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE 117 
 
 With glad song and sweet hosanna ! 
 Tribute to their King. 
 
 Glory in the highest, glory, 
 
 Hear the bright ones say. 
 For He comes the long expected 
 
 Who shall reign for aye. 
 
 See, heaven's Mighty Prince and Sovereign 
 
 Cometh to His own, 
 To the fallen bringing blessings 
 
 From the Father's throne; 
 Peace on earth to every creature, 
 
 And a sweet good will, 
 May the song of holy rapture 
 
 Peal from hill to hill. 
 
 See the ranks of holy angels 
 
 Coming from afar, 
 Bear they tidings of salvation 
 
 Up from star to star ; 
 IvO, Earth great ! and crowning epoch 
 
 Grandly has begun. 
 
ii8 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Ushered in with songs of praises, 
 To the first born Son. 
 
 All the shining heirs of glory, 
 
 Worship and adore, 
 May the sound of hallelujah 
 
 Peal from shore to shore, 
 He has come to Earth in pit3% 
 
 Lord and Prince of all, 
 Leaves the Father's throne to rescue 
 
 Mortals from the fall. 
 
 Hail the advent of His coming 
 
 All ye sons of light. 
 In the song of adoration 
 
 Earth and heaven unite. 
 The band of shining angels from the sight 
 
 Of finite man make ready to depart. 
 
 While that key note of joy is folded to each 
 heart. 
 
 Upon the azure vestment of the night 
 
 A Star of Promise brightly dawns to view ; 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 119 
 
 Eastward it takes its course, and its clear light 
 Falls in rich blessings on the fields of dew, 
 So all the plains are gladdened by its hue ; 
 
 The wise men ask, " Is this what one foretold, 
 
 Whose eyes the Lord had opened, who saw through 
 
 The vista of the future, days of old. 
 
 Which bright fulfillment now our favored eyes 
 behold." 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM. 
 
 The same fair light that rested on the idew 
 
 Of Judah's verdant fields, serenely falls 
 O'er sleeping Bethlehem, with fairer hue. 
 
 Bathing in beaut)'- bright the humble walls, 
 
 Beneath whose lowly roof, in manger small, 
 A child reposes, while the mother, near, 
 
 Keeps watching hour by hour. In the low stall 
 The sluggish cattle feed ; devoid of fear, 
 Trample they on the herbage, grown so brown and sear. 
 
 Some Magi of the East, led by the mild 
 
 Star light, have hither come; and gifts they bear, 
 
 Of gold and incense, for the Holy Child. 
 
 On the straw-covered walk their footsteps are 
 Heard to approach, and now they enter where 
 
 The smiling infant lies; a peaceful raj- 
 
 Of light looks through the thatching o'er a fair 
 
 Form sweetly pillowed on the new mown hay, 
 
 The long expected one, and the Most Blessed, for aye. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 121 
 
 Here is the Lord of lords, the King of kings, 
 
 Beneath this humble roof. The Wise Men, when 
 
 They see Him, bow in praise, and offerings 
 To Him present. The fond hopes of all men, 
 Lo, here are found ! Long the prophetic pen 
 
 Has pointed to this hour; Time's full-orbed Sun 
 Has risen o'er earth; through ages that have been, 
 
 Unto time's latest year, the light shall run, 
 
 Earth's ever crowning age has gloriously begun. 
 
 And in His day the Lord shall strike through kings, 
 
 And the haughty nations be brought low 
 At His rebuke ; and there shall living springs 
 
 Of water from the house of David flow 
 
 For those who thirst. This Righteous One will show 
 Favor unto His people, and the meek 
 
 Will He teach of His way, that they may know 
 His power to save. The stray ones He wall seek. 
 Like a good shepherd, bear in His strong arms the weak. 
 
122 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 WATER TURNED TO WINE. 
 
 The feast is ready for the waiting guests, 
 Jesus and Mary and the Twelve are there, 
 
 In festal scenes they mingle with the rest. 
 Upon the spacious board are viands rare, 
 And fruits the choicest, yet the hand of care 
 
 On the kind hostess' brow traces a line. 
 
 Mary perceives the reason and comes where 
 
 Her Son is, and say low, as on His fine 
 
 Features she fondly looks, "They have not any wine." 
 
 The porters heed the summons, as they stand 
 
 E'er ready to obey ; Jesus speaks low 
 Yet earnestly. They bring, at his command, 
 
 The water secretly ; a pleasing glow 
 
 Lights up the Master's face as the drops grow, 
 Most suddenly transformed. Unto the Guest 
 
 The new sweet wine is passed. They may not know 
 By whose skilled hand the choice, fair fruit was pressed 
 That yielded the rich draught, the finest and the best. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 123 
 
 With joyful lip tlie cup is handed round 
 
 To each and all. How say they have no wine, 
 
 When thus among the wedding guests is found 
 The matchless form of Him who is Divine, 
 And the marked beauty of that image fine 
 
 Reflects full in the cup, which grace doth fill 
 
 The waters with surprise? O'er each curved line 
 
 The deep blush surged until the small coy rill 
 
 Became transfigured; then to each drop went the thrill. 
 
124 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE TEMPEST. 
 
 The hoarse winds mutter, and the dismal night 
 Unsheaths its jetty wing. Dismay has crowned 
 
 Genesaret's dark waters; crests of white 
 
 Foam upward madly dash. And, tempest-bound, 
 Is seen a little barque. The direful .sound 
 
 Of thunder spreads alarm. A watery grave 
 Threatens the mariner; wildly around 
 
 The storm fiends gather. Who has strength to brave. 
 
 On such an hour as this, the anger of the wave? 
 
 While o'er the sea the tempests madly sweep, 
 
 Within a ship, far driven from its place 
 Of mooring, Jesus, the great Master, sleeps, 
 
 Unmindful of the storm. Over His face 
 
 A holy, heavenly peace its sweet lines trace. 
 The ship's crew waken Him; in their alarm 
 
 Implore His power to save. With composed grace 
 He rises from the pillow: with a calm 
 Look A-iews the troubled sea, whose proud waves feel the 
 charm. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 125 
 
 Then sweetly went out on the troubled air, 
 
 To the storm's heart, the gentle "Peace, be still," 
 
 Hushing the clamorous cry. The clouds repair, 
 O'er the great deep runs the transporting thrill. 
 The bashful waves are passive to His will, 
 
 The timid mist rolls back, that potent Word 
 The sea and raging wind haste to fulfill. 
 
 That gentle sound the listening tempest heard, 
 
 And its deep throbbing heart with peace is softly stirred. 
 
126 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE MANIAC. 
 
 Within the mountain caves of Gadara, 
 
 And oft among the tombs, there dwelleth one 
 
 Of human form, and often in despair 
 He cast himself against the flinty stones 
 That from the cliff project, and there are none 
 
 To calm that troubled mind ; there daj' by day 
 He has his dwelling place. The noonday sun 
 
 Burns his unshielded form, and beasts of prey 
 
 May prowl around by night, and none durst pass 
 that way. 
 
 For him no song bird sings, no bright flowers bloom 
 For over all his life has come a blight, 
 
 And no fair ray of hope will e'er illume 
 
 Reasons dark court ; he gropes Viithout the light 
 Through weary days, as one bereft of sight, 
 
 Seeking for rest, yet seeking it in vain. 
 Beneath the cover of one starless night, 
 
 Despair has bound him in its fettering chain. 
 
 So long and cruelly, that life is utter pain. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. \Yj 
 
 A tall and manly form from a moored boat, 
 
 Steps on the rocky shore of Gallilee ; 
 His unshorn locks down on his shoulders float 
 
 In golden waves. On those around him, see, 
 
 He looks in love ; we know that this must be 
 Jesus, the Lord ; down the rude ledge of stone 
 
 The maniac leaps; he turns as if to flee, 
 But now to Jesus comes, "Thou art the Son, 
 Of the Infinite God, we know thee blessed One." 
 
 Jesus commands, and the dim shades of night, 
 
 Like willing servants, hasten to obey 
 As at Creation's morn ; " Let there be light," 
 
 And the strange forms of darkness flee awaj-, 
 
 As o'er the soul's calm waters the young day 
 Looked forth, and mirrored there her features mild ; 
 
 Into the heart's great deep, then, fell a ray 
 Which wakened Hope, that joyous fair-browed child 
 Who from her place looked up to heaven's clear blue 
 and smiled. 
 
128 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. 
 
 From yonder princely mansion bitter cries 
 Are carried out upon the waves of air, 
 
 For there a sudden pain has veiled all eyes; 
 The minstrels are assembled now, and there 
 The mourning women have come in to bear 
 
 A solemn part, and streams of grief they pour 
 In plaintive words, as if in wild despair 
 
 They ring their hands, and pace the marble floor. 
 
 While for the precious dead thus bitterly deplore. 
 
 " There's shadows falling, fearful shadows falling, 
 
 Upon the heart's great deep ;"' 
 Thus with a sorrow that is sore appalling 
 
 The minstrels wildly weep. 
 The grave has closed upon our hope forever, 
 
 Those skilled in mourning say. 
 No angel from that gloomy portal ever 
 
 Can roll the stone away. 
 
ECFrOES ALONG THE SHORE. 129 
 
 A father's heart is overcome with sadness, 
 
 She was his only pride ; 
 No other child, with fawn-like step, brought gladness 
 
 To that palace home beside ; 
 'Tis sad to see the gloomy shadows creeping 
 
 Upon the frescoed wall, 
 'Tis sad to see her young companions weeping, 
 
 As they pass out the hall. 
 
 Those little ones, in bitter anguish crying, 
 " Will the shadow ever rise?" 
 
 lyong is death's fearful night, we hear them sighing, 
 " It is a strange surprise." 
 
 Those mourning children, with their tear-stained 
 faces, 
 And terror on their brow, 
 Glance timidly at the familiar places 
 Where silence lingers now. 
 
 While our own heart is aching, sadly aching 
 
 To hear them sob and weep, 
 As tho' their own were breaking, truly breaking. 
 
 With a sorrow dark, and deep. 
 
 —9— 
 
igo ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 We hear them say, " Her song of hght, and gladness, 
 
 Is hushed forever more ;" 
 O'er Nature's face there seems to come a sadness, 
 
 Our loss all hearts deplore. 
 The happy birds now cease their joyous singing. 
 
 And fold their wings to rest. 
 As though death's fatal arrow too was stinging, 
 
 Deeply each little breast. 
 
 Her cherished flowers too seem to droop and languish 
 
 For her who comes no more. 
 Into their heart there creeps a cold, dull anguish. 
 
 And a silence evermore. 
 The vine she trained unclasped its twining fingers 
 
 From off the chilly walls, 
 And in the shadow droopeth, briefly lingers 
 
 Then fading, dying falls. 
 While the winds move the silken curtairs slowly 
 
 Around her silent bed ; 
 Like anxious watchers that are bending lowly, 
 
 They whisper she is dead. 
 
 Jesus and his disciples have come near 
 
 The place of mourning ; by the outer wall 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 131 
 
 They slowly walk ; we may distinctly hear 
 The sweet sound of their sandals, as they fall 
 Upon the marble steps, into the hall 
 
 Silent they come ; the minstrels cease to play 
 The organ now ; throughout the palace all 
 
 Is hushed, and still as death ; their lutes they lay 
 
 Aside ; Jesus beckons the multitude away. 
 
 Jairus leads the Master to the place 
 
 Where the dead form is laid ; as yet the pall 
 ' Has not been settled on that lovely face;" 
 From o'er her brow the silken tresses fall 
 In waves of glossy jet, shading the small 
 
 Ear part from view ; the eyelids fair are pressed 
 Down as in gentle sleep, and over all 
 
 There is a settled peace ; upon her breast 
 
 The tiny snow v/hite hands, like fair twin lilies rest. 
 
 The Lord clasps one in his, fixing his eye 
 
 Full on that pure young face ; through the deep 
 hush 
 
 Is said in gentle voice, " Maiden, arise."' 
 
 Those sweet words break death's spell, and a soft 
 blush 
 
132 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Mantles those cheeks, fair as the ruddj^ flush 
 Of tinted sea shells, as her mild eye meets 
 
 The bright glance of the Lord. The pulses gush 
 Warm through the heart ; with joyous lip she greets 
 The dotingparents, who that answering smile repeats. 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 133 
 
 THE STORM AT SEA. 
 
 The fierce storm troops are gathering from afar 
 Riding the swift black cloud, the winds pass o'er 
 
 The foaming deep ; the rattling of their car 
 Wakens the thunders, which with angry roar 
 Answer to thunder ; clouds along the shore 
 
 To battle rush. Their livid armor gleams 
 Upon the storm's dark bosom, as they pour 
 
 Volleys upon the waves of fiery streams ; 
 
 The Titans rend the air by their appalling screams. 
 
 By the unsteady glare is seen a form 
 
 Walking the billowy deep, with brow all calm 
 
 And all unshielded from the driving storm, 
 The ships crew see him, and with new alarm 
 The mariner cries out, " Fear ye no harm," 
 
 A voice like music sounded o'er the deep. 
 " For it is I." That peaceful sound can charm 
 
 The troubled sea ; the billows sink to sleep, 
 
 The storm clouds in their joy at once lorget to weep. 
 
134 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Said Peter to the Lord, " If it be Thou, 
 Then bid me come to Thee upon the sea, 
 
 Upon the dimpling waves of crystal how 
 Proud to be able thus to walk like Thee, 
 And feel the laughing waters bend in glee 
 
 Beneath my feet ; alas, the hungry wave ! 
 Is opening the mouth to swallow me ; 
 
 O'erwhelmed I sink into a watery grave, 
 
 I perish Lord, I pray reach forth thy hand to save." 
 
 Unto the doubting one the Master's hand 
 
 Is in compassion reached, E'er the night wore 
 
 Away, the ship again is brought to land. 
 
 Whither they wished. And many on the shore 
 Come forth to greet him ; there are many more 
 
 Who bring thejr sick, and lay them in the way, 
 So that at least his shadow might fall o'er, 
 
 And many cures were wrought by him this day, 
 
 Forms of the world unseen his just commands obey. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 135 
 
 DIVERS OPINIONS OF CHRIST. 
 
 Though clothed in the mortal form, even as God, 
 
 Among men Jesus moves, majestic, grand 
 Earth trembles at His word ; all things are awed 
 
 Into obedience at His command, 
 
 I'nto the maimed saith He, " Extend thy hand,'' 
 And instantly that member was made whole. 
 
 And all material things in sea or land, 
 Or imniatenai, are at His control. 
 The Word that calmed the sea can well transform a sonl. 
 
 And oft with regal pomp the masses sought 
 To crown the Eord , in festal halls they sung 
 
 Sweet tribute to His name- "Are we not taught 
 
 By inspired Writ," they ask, "that Christ shall spring 
 Of David's lineage, whom we trust to bring 
 
 Our nation out of bondage ; are ye sure 
 
 This is the Christ, God's own annointed King 
 
 Sent to redeem, whose Kingdom shall endure 
 
 The changes of all time, most glorious and pure?" 
 
136 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Yet there are divers fancies, some there say- 
 Will the Most Holy One delight to show 
 
 His favors to the meek? E en deign to shed 
 His gracious smile on those who walk the low 
 And obscure paths of life ? Do ye well know 
 
 This IS the very Christ ? Will the Allwise, 
 Whose goodness cannot err, honor bestow 
 
 Upon the poor ? or shall the day-star rise, 
 
 Out of obscurity to bless and cheer all eyes ? 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 137 
 
 THE DEAF AND DUMB MAN. 
 
 One they are bringing to the Master now, 
 
 Whose senses are apparently locked in 
 By some mysterious spell ; upon whose brow 
 
 A vague light rests. Yet, from the strife and din 
 
 That reigns without, he's free. And what of sin 
 Could he have known, the time his spirit knelt 
 
 At the e'er silent shrine? No sound can win 
 Him from that deep repose, or voice can melt 
 His heart e'er with charm. He joys like those ne'er felt. 
 
 And those about him very little know 
 
 Of that strange occupant within that wall 
 
 Of finite clay, for speech has failed to show 
 The figures passing through the curious hall 
 Of fancy, with light tread, if shadows fall 
 
 O'er reason's court. At least no joyous sound 
 From the fair world without can ever call 
 
 Forth a response of joy from that one crowned 
 
 With silence evermore, where mysteries fold around. 
 
138 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 "Be opened!" and at that all-potent word 
 The bars fell off that strongly bolted door 
 
 And sweet sounds from without the captive heard. 
 Silence within that temple reigned no more, 
 From reason's pane the dusty blinds were torn 
 
 And sound of speech heard the astonished one ; 
 A holy peace, as was unknown before, 
 
 Thrilled through the heart and soul ; there quickly run 
 
 A gentle line of light, like dawning of the sun. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 139 
 
 THE WIDOW'S SON. 
 
 A large procession from the gate of Nane 
 
 Are moving down the street, with measured pace, 
 
 Behind a covered bier. Long is the train 
 That follows on. In many an eye a trace 
 Of sadness is, while to the resting place 
 
 They slowly bear the dead. There's only one 
 Mourner who follows. Down her furrowed face 
 
 The tear drops course — it was her only son — 
 
 The aged mother is by the sad stroke undone. 
 
 This is a bitter cup for her, O, God! 
 
 It was her only hope; the very last 
 Survivor of her kin. This was the rod 
 
 On which she thought to lean. Toward the past 
 
 Now memory turns, while blinding tears fall fast, 
 When looking back upon life's changeful wave. 
 
 How often has the way been overcast 
 With deepest gloom — now sadder than the grave 
 Since God took back again the precious gift He gave. 
 
I40 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 We see approaching slowly a small band, 
 
 Each with his head uncovered, as a sign 
 Of reverence for the dead. A form more grand 
 
 Than angel there is seen ; his features fine 
 
 Are trul}' radiant with love divine. 
 It is the Lord. When the pall-bearers hear 
 
 His gentle voice they pause. A mild, fair line 
 Of light is on his brow, as he comes near. 
 Placing a gentle hand upon the resting bier. 
 
 They put aside the pall from off the still, 
 Cold, lifeless form ; Jesus bids him arise. 
 
 To that hushed heart those sweet words sent a thrill. 
 The waking dead sits up, fixing his eyes 
 Full on the Savior's face, in mute surprise. 
 
 While crimson richly mantles brow and cheek. 
 As from the quickened soul death s shadows rise, 
 
 And consciousness returns. His clear glance seeks 
 
 The one familiar face, that one name softly speaks. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 141 
 
 LAZARUS. 
 
 She rises hurriedly and bathes her brow 
 
 And then goes out, her troubled features grow 
 
 Far more composed, for she is going now 
 
 To meet the Lord. She yearns to tell her woe 
 To that sufficient Friend, for He will know 
 
 Best how to soothe her grief, when the dark wave 
 Of sorrow o'er her heart is beating so ; 
 
 His word can still the storm, and He can save 
 'Our precious brother from destruction of the grave." 
 
 Jesus, and others are yet in the place 
 
 Where they first came ; and Martha has come near 
 To where they wait ; still on her careworn face 
 
 Traces of grief are seen ; " Had'st thou been here" 
 
 She said unto the Master, "then our dear 
 Brother might not have died. Death's fatal dart 
 
 Would have been powerless then." A dewy tear 
 From the kind Saviour's eye in pity starts, 
 Showing the cherished love of that One Heart of 
 hearts. 
 
f42 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Mary approaches now, and with her those 
 
 Who try to soothe her grief. To those who are 
 
 Weeping Christ says, " Believe,"while His voice shows 
 How much His soul is moved. He asks them where 
 The dead is laid ; and slowly they repair 
 
 To the lone place. Here nature seems to grow 
 Silently sad ; the clifis of dark rocks wear 
 
 A mournful look. The sighing breezes go 
 
 Past the steep rugged hills breathing a tale of woe. 
 
 The massive stone is slowly rolled away 
 From off the silent place, while gently o'er 
 
 The sleeping form there falls a slanting ray 
 Of sunshine now, inside the narrow- door. 
 All things remain as they were placed before. 
 
 The straightened form upon the narrow bed, 
 Beneath those icy palms, the heart no more 
 
 Will joy or sorrow feel ; most softly tread, 
 
 All ye who come to look once more upon the dead. 
 
 To sight appears that slightly covered face, 
 
 Like a design in marble made complete, 
 The shaded outlines we can hardly trace, 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 143 
 
 While o'er the rigid form the winding sheet 
 In snowy folds is straightened to the feet ; 
 
 The icy hands upon the silent breast, 
 Like sculpture finely cut, together meet, 
 
 A life-like statue, locked in endless rest ; 
 
 The snowy pillow dimples, where his head has pressed. 
 
 Lift not the cover from that altered face, 
 
 Think of the visage changed, those sightless eyes 
 
 How deeply sunken, no familiar trace 
 
 Those features bear. Now the deep, pent-up sighs 
 Without restraint break forth in bitter cries ; 
 
 Impressive scene ; this is a time when souls 
 
 Through the deep waters pass. Toward the skies 
 
 The Master looks, and silent converse holds 
 
 With the All Father now, who light and life controls. 
 
 He as in presence talks ; that earnest prayer 
 
 He offers up by Deity is heard. 
 He bids the dead, "Arise," and from Him there 
 
 Goes virtue out. By that life-giving word 
 
 That sleepmg soul with energy is stirred. 
 And through the heart the quickened pulses thrill, 
 
 The lamp of reason burns, and to the blurted 
 
144 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Eyes wonted light returns, as through the chill 
 Limbs warmth and life revives ; he moves, or rests at 
 will. 
 
 Heart to heart in answering thrill replies, 
 
 As friends remove the tight bands from their place. 
 
 And look upon those features in surprise; 
 How radiant ! How fair ! there is no trace 
 Of death's decaj"^ uppn that ruddy face. 
 
 The pure blood quickens through that healthful 
 frame, 
 And his limbs move with all their former grace. 
 
 Most reverently they speak the Saviour's name, 
 
 While thoughtfully returning by the way they came. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 145 
 
 TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST. 
 
 On peaceful Tabor now the holy calm 
 
 Of evening rests. The wild goats cease their play 
 Among the cliffs, among the mountain charm 
 
 They sweetly now repose, when in the gray 
 
 Of twilight's hour four friends pursue their way 
 Far up the rough ascent. The mountain air 
 
 Exhilarates their mind, as slowly they 
 Journey along. It seems all nature there 
 In winning words invites souls to unite in prayer. 
 
 Earth never looked upon a finer scene 
 
 Than Tabor's flowery slope presents to-night ; 
 Forests of oak, like fields of waving grain, 
 
 Along the margin fair spread out to sight : 
 
 Far westerly forever rolls the bright 
 Waves of the mighty sea, and from the high 
 
 Still eminence the stars, like gems of light. 
 Dazzle, and burn, until the orient sky 
 Is truly luminous to the beholder's eye. 
 —in— 
 
146 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 The mountain music mils the timid fawn 
 
 Gently to sleep ; the folded flowers seem fanned 
 
 By angel's passing wing, yet on, and on 
 
 The four pursue their way, until they stand 
 Upon the noble summit of the grand 
 
 Old eminence. The pale moon has begun 
 Its nightly course. Three of that little band 
 
 Are Peter, James, and John, the other one 
 
 Jesus of Nazareth is, Mary's beloved Son. 
 
 And as they tarry there, behold ! surprise 
 
 Seizes the three, as suddenly a light 
 Shines round about. Before their wondering eyes 
 
 The face of Mary's Son becomes too bright, 
 
 Too radiant with heaven for finite sigh^ 
 To steadily behold. The entire grace 
 
 Of it is changed. His garb becomes as white 
 As the fair drifted snow, while o'er the place 
 A cloud of glory rests ; transformed appears each face. 
 
 The circle of bright glory grows more broad, 
 
 Two forms divine, behold from heaven appear. 
 And talk familiar with the Son of God. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 147 
 
 But admiration soon gives place to fear, 
 As from those sacred lips they plainly hear 
 The words, Mount Olivet, and Calvary, 
 
 Sufferings on the Cross. In accents clear 
 Speak they of death, and they distinctly say 
 Something pertaining to a resurrection day. 
 
 While they converse transcendent glory fills 
 The consecrated place ; light seems to run 
 
 Down to the earth from the celestial hills, 
 
 And a voice speaks, " This is my much loved Son, 
 In whom I am well pleased." And every on 
 
 Of the astonished three fall to the ground 
 In sore dismay, not knowing what is done ; 
 
 When they have strength to stand no man is found 
 
 With them save Jesus there, and hushed is every 
 sound. 
 
 The holy land seems happy, from above 
 The sun looks sweetly on the peaceful hill 
 
 Of lovely Olivet. The gentle dove 
 
 Among the swaying palms doth softly trill 
 Forth cooing note, and all hearts feel the thrill. 
 
148 FCHOES .il.OXC TfJF SflORE. 
 
 Ana every cheek and brow are gently fanned 
 
 By the sweet breath of joy; and Kedron's rill 
 Goes babbling gaily o'er the stoiu- strand, 
 Its cheerful song, for aye, charming the listening sand. 
 
 There is the gorgeous Fane, the walls set strong 
 About the Holy Place. O, happy sight! 
 
 And groups of happy people pass along 
 
 The pleasant, shady walks, while with delight 
 Mewiory turns oft to some spot made bright 
 
 By smiles of loving friends, where from the throng 
 Is tasted purest joy, within the light. 
 
 And smiles of home. Thoughts of the evening song 
 
 Cheers the lone wanderer whilst journeying along. 
 
 Thronged by the thoughtless multitude is one 
 
 Who seems by joy unmoved. The earth and sky. 
 
 And quiet grandeur of the setting sun, 
 
 Wakens no thrill. With spirit's unvailed eye 
 He views the future years. He sees one die 
 
 For these upon the Cross; and sees and knows 
 The certain fate of everj- passer-by. 
 
 And of the Hoh' Place; while for their woes, 
 
 Their sad and certain doom, the tear of pity flows. 
 
ECffOES ALO.W; TUi: SHORE. 149 
 
 Still further down the misty track of years 
 
 Can His far-sighted vision clearly trace 
 The fearful, solemn change, when there appears 
 
 The Roman ensign in the sacred place ! 
 
 Terror traces a line on every face, 
 As at the conflagration bitter cries 
 
 Are borne upon the air, when Jacob's race 
 Perish by flame and sword, yet the deep sighs 
 Of the afflicted ones to Heaven unheeded rise. 
 
 Through time yet more remote does He behold 
 The land that now with pleasant scenes abound 
 
 A dreary waste ; the sacred place a fold 
 
 For the offenseless herds. Unto the ground 
 The mural stones are laid, and there is found 
 
 No scepter and no king. In the streets, where 
 Is flowing now on every breeze the sound 
 
 Of noisy mirth, no Levites left to bear 
 
 The Holy Ark of God — no Passover is there. 
 
 lyong after death has passed, and time's no more, 
 
 Does pity's eye behold the fearful night, 
 Rayless and merciless, bend o'er the .shores 
 
ijo ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Of black dispair, and there no ray of light 
 Can ever come. Lips that laugh now are white 
 With terror there. They might, but would not, hear 
 Mercy's sweet call. O'er these, and that sad sight, 
 May eyes that see through the eternal years 
 In deep compassion shed, for them, the pitying tears. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 151 
 
 GOING INTO JERUSALEM. 
 
 Down the broad street almost a countless throng 
 Follow the Kingliest one as He doth go 
 
 Into the city ; as they pass along 
 
 lyOw words of admiration they bestow 
 On the meek King of Zion. Praises flow 
 
 On every breeze ; the timid ones grow bold 
 In giving praise. Tell His beloved, lo! 
 
 He's entering her gates, that He may hold 
 
 With her the nuptial feast, prepared of joy untold. 
 
 The multitudes of people gathered say 
 " Let our loved Zion with glad praises ring 
 To Him that cometh," and they pave the way 
 Where He may go, while youthful voices sing 
 The sweet hosanna, unto Christ their King. 
 " Hosanna in the highest," they repeat ; 
 
 The little children choicest offerings bring; 
 Flowers into garlands wreathed, strew at His feet, 
 Saying with one accord, " Praise unto Him is meet." 
 
i52 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 IN THE GARDEN. 
 
 The ebon wing of night is spread abroad 
 Over the face of earth, and naught around 
 
 Disturbs the soHtude ; nature seems awed 
 
 By the strange spell that moumfullj' has crowned 
 The passing hour. No life or motion's found 
 
 Beneath the folds of night, save winds that go 
 Piercing the shadows with their drear)' sounds, 
 
 And olixe branches swaying to and fro, 
 
 Like groups of mourners pressing to their hearts 
 their woe. 
 
 Except this constant rustle, all is still 
 
 And voiceless as the dead ; shadows enshroud 
 
 In deepest mourning Olivet's lone hill. 
 
 And Kedron's waves scarce dare to sob aloud 
 Their pent-up grief. Behind the darkest cloud 
 
 Luna has veiled her face, afraid to raise 
 
 A glance to earth, and ever)- flower is bowed 
 
 With dewy eye, each pallid with amaze. 
 
 While from the coming scene each star withdraws 
 its ravs. 
 
ECHOES AI.OXG THE SHORE. 153 
 
 And not one silvery beam pierces the dark 
 That can almost be felt. A woe has stirred 
 
 Now, nature's inmost soul. How sadly! — Hark I 
 What sounds were those that we distinctly heard 
 From yonder bower, as tho' some holy word 
 
 From seraph lips fell on the midnight air, 
 
 With pathos deep. It is the Lord at prayer. 
 
 To Gethsemanes lone mount he oft times doth repair 
 
 Enter a moment this e'er sacred place, 
 
 While no pure stars like angel watchers keep 
 
 Guard from above. Here bowed upon their face 
 Are found the Chosen Twelve wrapped in a deep 
 Unconsciousness. Awake, how can ye sleep, 
 
 His favored ones? Could ye not watch one hour, 
 WTien far abroad the storms of darkness sweep. 
 
 And all hell's terrors are arrayed in power 
 
 Over the earth and sea, impending tempests lower. 
 
 Oft' hath the Holiest tarried all night long 
 Even till break of day in that lone place. 
 
 In fervent prayer ; and even there more strong 
 In spirit grew ; familiar, face to face 
 With the known Father, for a guilty race 
 
154 ECIfOES ALOXG THE SI f ORE. 
 
 With agonizing plead, that God might spare 
 
 Them through the merits of redeeming grace, 
 That He might longer with their ways forbear. 
 If those now lost in sin His holiness might share. 
 
 But look again ! What an affecting sight 
 
 There meets the view! The Lord of Glory bowed 
 
 Upon the cold, damp ground. O, gloomy night ! 
 Draw a dark veil around ; thou moon enshroud 
 Thy mournful face behind the darkest cloud. 
 
 And all ye stars of light withdraw in fear, 
 For with a woe too great to breathe aloud. 
 
 The Holiest heart is wrung. Ye shades draw near 
 
 And witness to the pain, ye stones of hardness hear. 
 
 Note ye the moan that wrings Emmanuel's breast. 
 
 What pain, what woe, the Prince of Glory knows ! 
 Lo, every nerve is to the utmost pressed 
 
 By sorrow's crushing weight ! O, dreadful throes ! 
 
 I^nparalleled b}' mortal's keenest woes, 
 Whilst the Incarnate One in meekness bore 
 
 The sins of all ; for this the life blood flows. 
 Streaming in copious drops from every pore, 
 Can there be added one p.ang to the suffering more ? 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 155 
 
 Crimes of a guilty race, with crushing power 
 
 Bows down that head ; well might you worlds be 
 awed 
 
 By the deep cry, "O, save me from this hour ! 
 L,et this cup pass, if possible my God, 
 
 Yet not my will, O, L/Ord ! but thine be done." 
 And now alone, while evil is abroad. 
 
 The press He treads, save that a feebler one 
 
 From Glory bright appears to soothe the suffering 
 Son. 
 
 But once again, what were those sounds we heard, 
 Which thus with discord trilled the midnight air, 
 As tho' the powers of darkness fiercely stirred ? 
 What means this coming band? The scene how 
 
 dare 
 They to approach ? What fiendish scowls they wear 
 Of hellish spite ! What bitter curses loom 
 
 Up from the heart's dark pit ! Their leaders bear 
 Each one a torch that glimmers out through the 
 
 gloom ; 
 Whence came their army forth ? "Whom seek ye, tell 
 us whom.'' 
 
156 EC//OES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 " Jesus of Nazareth is whom we seek ;" 
 
 One Judas leads the van, with serpent's hiss 
 " Hail, Master ! Hail !" he cries; kisses the cheek. 
 O, words that mock ! O. treacherous, cruel kiss! 
 O. faithless soul ! What perfidy is this? 
 Such gross deceit, did pure love ever know ? 
 
 O, broken vow ! Ah, thou false-hearted ! wist 
 Ye not the cup was full to overflow. 
 That ye should seek to add more to the brimming 
 woe. 
 
 Designing one, yet Jesus calls him, " Friend, 
 If ye seek me then let these go their way." 
 
 Why should devouring wolves thus seek to rend? 
 Why should their greedy hate delight to slay 
 That spotless Lamb, then revel o'er their prey ? " 
 
 Ye troops with armor quickly flee apace. 
 Ye who are set in proud and bold array 
 
 Fall to the ground in awe before the face 
 
 Of Him ye seek, who could confine you to the place. 
 
 My kingdom is not here, or we'd contend 
 
 With the besieging host. The cause of right 
 Mv faithful servants srladlv would defend 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 157 
 
 And crush the power of Satan, and of Night ; 
 
 Emmanuel's crown is of design more bright 
 Than worldly fame; that peaceful rule begun 
 
 Will never cease. Not man's, or demon's spite, 
 Can dim the glory of the Conquering One 
 Who reigns forevermore more radiant than the sun. 
 
 Altho' the;, lead him forth, 'tis not by might, 
 
 Or by the force of arms. Their boasted tower 
 Of strength how weak, how unsufficient quite 
 
 To do the work of this auspicious hour ! 
 
 Truly, they have the will, but not the powei 
 He who has sovereign right unto the throne 
 
 While spirits last may mock, and tempests lower, 
 Makes the atoning .sacrifice alone, 
 By him to fallen man is free salvation shown. 
 
 While o'er Jerusalem night's shadows yet 
 Are drawn around, within the halls of .state 
 
 The nobles of the land, behold, have met 
 In council now! Here are the lordly great, 
 And their false witnesses before them wait 
 
 For to condemn the Just. And they have brought 
 
% ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Against Him things He knew not of; with hate 
 
 The envious that faultless life have sought 
 
 To rashly take a\va3% and Him they set at nought. 
 
 Pilate inquires, "Art thou the Son of God?" 
 
 And in the presence of the Holy One 
 That man of worldly hopes is conscience awed. 
 
 As devils may believe, he on the Son 
 
 Of God likewise believes, although not won 
 By love divine, and seeks he to release 
 
 That Righteous One through fear. " What has he done 
 That ye against Him cry?" O, when will peace 
 Say to the heart's proud wave, thy bitter striving cease? 
 
 A message is sent in this very hour 
 
 From one who with the spirits of the dead 
 
 Claim intercourse, with supernatural power 
 Foresee events. She, with entreaty, said: 
 "Tell Pilate, o'er me came a fearful dread, 
 
 As in a dream I saw the Spotless Son 
 
 Of God condemned to die ; then o'er me spread 
 
 Horror of darkest night, to that Just One, 
 
 By thy hand faithful friend, may not the deed be done.'* 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 159 
 
 Ah, faithless Peter, heard thou not the sound 
 That three times thrilled the midnight air apart? 
 
 Or, was it that sad look of the One crowned 
 With a thorn wreath that three times pierced thy heart, 
 Like the keen cutting of a new-formed dart ; 
 
 That thou for anguish doth avert thy face 
 
 From that all-searching glance, while the tears start? 
 
 Or, dost thou seek through shame a darker place 
 
 To find without the wall, and wouldst the past erase? 
 
 "I know him not, I do not know the name," 
 
 Didst thou, O faithless one, with cursing say? 
 Unstable-minded man, this time how came 
 
 Thy lips to be untrue? Ah, Peter, pray! 
 
 And could thou also turn thy face away? 
 Though all forsake, yet will not I, thou said. 
 
 Could not thy heart with the lone sufferer stay, 
 When they in mockery bowed? or didst thou dread 
 The cup of scorning poured upon that righteous head? 
 
 Or did their cruel smiting quite disarm 
 
 Thee of thy trust? Did curses of the base, 
 
 Heaped on thy Leader, fill thee with alarm, 
 
 That thou, faint-hearted, sought to hide thy face 
 
i6o ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 From the vile ones; to shun the foul disgrace 
 While they upon him spit? At the blows dealt 
 
 To Him who stands in the accused one's place 
 The flinty heart of adamant might melt. 
 Grief His pure spirit bowed, as soul of man ne'er felt. 
 
 Peter, unstable one, how can thou fear 
 
 The ire of man? The ser\'ant, didst thou know, 
 
 Is not above his Lord? Canst thou be clear 
 Then of their spite, when the full cup of woe 
 Those sinless lips have pressed? Or, will they show 
 
 More kindness to the least? If they have said 
 Words evil of thy Master, shouldst thou grow 
 
 Fearful at heart; w^ouldst thou avert thy head 
 
 From the descending stroke, or drink the gall with dread? 
 
 Think, Peter, of that night upon the sea. 
 
 When the fierce raging of the tempest spread 
 
 Terror around! What hand was reached to thee 
 To stay thee up? Think what an utter dread 
 Came o'er thy heart at thoughts of that damp bed. 
 
 Whose voice across the waters didst thou hear. 
 Hushing the storm to silence of the dead? 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. i6i 
 
 'O, Peter, it is I; be of good cheer." 
 Then wherefore shouldst thoii doubt, and wherefore 
 sink with fear? 
 
 Think of the days when there were seventy sent 
 By two, and two, to preach the precious word, 
 
 Who through the many towns and cities went 
 Doing mysterious works; and all who heard 
 Were forced to own that they had not conferred 
 
 With flesh and blood, but of the Holy One 
 
 They had been taught; think how thy heart was stirred 
 
 With holy zeal as gracious cures were done 
 
 Through thee by even Him, Jesus, the morning sun. 
 
 Think of that holy night when thou wast found 
 With Him upon the mount. Think of the bright 
 
 Glory ineffable that shone around 
 
 When heaven appeared to open to thy sight, 
 And through a cloud of uncreated light 
 
 A low voice spoke: "This is my own loved Son, 
 In whom I am well pleased." Of those in white. 
 
 Think of their burning words. What hast thou done. 
 
 In that thou hast denied, with oath, the Holy One? 
 —11— 
 
l62 ECHOKS .ILOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 And on this night that agonizing look 
 
 In Gethsemane ; the soldiers drawn in line; 
 
 That cruel kiss; and then when thou partook 
 There of the bread, and of the uumingled wine 
 From the full cup — emblem of the divine — 
 
 Body of Him ! Think thou, unstable, how 
 A look could melt thee and thy heart refine ; 
 
 Think of thy broken consecration vow, 
 
 While tears course down thy cheeks, what memories 
 waken now. 
 
 Still o'er Jerusalem darkness spreads wide 
 
 Its jetty wing, while down the dim streets pour 
 
 The motley crowd forth in a living tide ; 
 The cruel floods of the ungodly roar 
 Like angry floods that smite the rocky shore 
 
 In hours of wrath. By Calvary's lone hill, 
 Lo, tens of thousands pass. Curses are borne 
 
 Out on the air; a fearful gloom doth fill 
 
 Earth truly with amaze, its heart has felt the chill. 
 
 Yet on, and on, in frenzied rage doth pass, 
 Along the rugged way, the gaping crowd. 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 163 
 
 By the hillside surges the living mass, 
 
 Enveloping its borders like a cloud. 
 
 Voices are heard, and acclamations loud, 
 All clamoring for blood. This hour the sky 
 
 Over the earth in wrath is greatly bowed; 
 As the dim shadows of the night pass by, 
 The wind upon the shore goes uttering a Qxy. 
 
 'Tis morning, and upon the rugged hill 
 Arrows of light descend, a vivid shower 
 
 Gilding the distant slopes; yet a gloom still 
 O'er all the land prevails, and shadows lower 
 The day cannot disperse, when hour by hour 
 
 Death's angel hovers near, as the rude gale 
 
 Breaks the bruised reed, and bows to earth the flower. 
 
 Behold the sun within its course grows pale. 
 
 While from the troubled deep sounds out a piercing wail. 
 
 Still on, and on, sweeps the ungodly mass, 
 The uncouth soldiery with sword and spear. 
 
 From hamlets rude, the inmates as they pass. 
 Gaze out with wondering eye. The soldiers jeer, 
 And oaths profane fall on the sinless ear 
 
i64 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 Of Him who meekly walks among the crowd. 
 
 They mock, they scoff, and with words insincere 
 Worship tl:at worthy name. With voices loud 
 Pour they contempt on Him, who is with .sorrow bowed. 
 
 Upon that King of kings no vassals wail, 
 
 But near, two victims with their gaunt limbs bound, 
 And .quite bared to the sun; objects of hate; 
 
 Lo, one on either side the Just is found. 
 
 Yet no upbraiding look, no murmuring sound. 
 Escapes those sinless lips. "Father forgive, 
 
 May thy compassion to those foes abound, 
 To those who now revile, I freely give 
 My life an offering that even they may live." 
 
 Up the highway the boastful Pharisee, 
 
 The prince, the slave, together pass along 
 In slow procession. Now on bended knee 
 
 Hear them in mocker^^ join. The babbling throng 
 
 On either side aid in derisive song. 
 With cruel jests taunt they the Stricken One. 
 
 Fainting beneath the cross. At this great wrong 
 Call home thy raj's, thou much astonished sun, 
 Before the last great deed of cruelty is done. 
 
ECHORS ALOXG TfFE SHORE. 165 
 
 Woe to the earth by reason of the voice 
 Of the fifth angel that prepares to sound ! 
 
 Tremble ye rocks and mountains, while the choice, 
 Full clusters of the vine are being ground 
 In the wine-press of wrath ! Darkness fold round 
 
 Zion's fair hill, and Ariel's angels weep 
 
 Over the Holy Place, with heads uncovered 
 
 And hand upon the mouth, whilst o'er the deep 
 
 Places of mystery the shadows strangely sweep ! 
 
 Luke 2:^:45. And the sun waa darkened, and the vnil of thf temple 
 was rent in the midst. 
 
 Silence in heaven ! What means this fearful pause 
 That's felt in bliss? So the celestial throng 
 
 Around the throne in attitude that awes 
 
 Heaven with amaze. While the seraphic song, 
 Falters, and dies away on burning tongue ; 
 
 Each lofty angel hath a shaft of light 
 
 Bent in his hands, now as they pass along 
 
 The sapphire walk, and with his robe of white 
 
 Rent fearfully. Did heaven e'er witness such a sight. 
 
1 66 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 All there have sackcloth on, and even God 
 Himself is mute ; and every blessed head 
 
 By woe is crowned; the hierarchy are awed. 
 Far, far abroad that mournful look has spread, 
 O'er all the plains of light. A sense of dread 
 
 O'er all prevails; my God, what meaneth this ? 
 What ails yon worlds? Is Heaven's beloved dead. 
 
 That notes of woe moves every harp in bliss? 
 
 What voice ye seraphim among you do )'e miss ? 
 
 The stars of heaven turn pale, and down through space 
 That meaning pause is borne, for natures heart 
 
 Has felt the throe. Yon orb what canst thou trace. 
 That thou shouldst veil thy rays and backward start 
 From thine accustomed course, as tho' thou art 
 
 Sorely dismayed at the terraqueous sphere ? 
 
 Earth ! Earth ! What ails the Earth ? . What woe 
 could part 
 
 Thy stony lips ? Why tremble so with fear? 
 
 What do thy listening stones on rugged Calvarj^ hear? 
 
 Earth ! Earth ! Convulsing earth what has been done ? 
 
 Upon thy heaving breast what guilty stain. 
 What deep of darkness thus could veil the sun. 
 
ECirOES ALONG THE SHORE. 167 
 
 And spread dismay abroad ? Canst thou refrain 
 To raise thy voice, O, Calvary, when pain 
 Rends thy strong heart. That piercing cry might break 
 
 The hardest rock, and rend the veil in twain ; 
 From that One dying there a word could make 
 The firmest mountain tremble, and the earth to shake. 
 
 See ye the cross upraised ! The mocking crowd, 
 The bleeding hands and side, that sinless head 
 
 By weight of suffering so greatly bowed ! 
 Well might yon sun of glory veil with dread 
 Its beams in heaven, and darkness widely spread 
 
 A mourning weed o'er earth and sea abroad. 
 When mid the desolation it is said 
 
 My God ! hast thou forsaken me, my God? 
 
 At an Emmanuel's woe well might yon worlds be awed? 
 
 Hast thou forsaken me ? Hear ye that lone 
 Voice, that amid the lost creation cries, 
 
 Eloi ! Eloi ! Unto the Father's throne 
 
 That woe a.scends, and to those groans and sighs, 
 The sympathizing Heart of L,ove replies 
 
 By silence deep, while mournfully around 
 
i68 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 The High and Holy One, in mute surprise 
 Waiteth the Seven ; on the fair heights are found 
 The bright angelic host, with sore amazement crowned. 
 
 On earth a feeble band are waiting near 
 
 The upraised cross. And yet more distant see 
 
 The Twelve are mingling with the crowd for fear 
 Of being slain. Ye chosen ones can ye 
 Still have a lingering doubt who this may be 
 
 Who hangs upon the cross? Ponder ye wise 
 The strange events, all nature's moved, and we 
 
 Behold the righteous dead to life arise ; 
 
 B}- this know well 'tis the Eternal One who cries. 
 
 " It is finished;" well might thou be amazed 
 
 And smite thy breast, thou stranger greatly awed. 
 
 At such a scene as this, with thine eyes raised 
 To Him upon the tree. Far, far abroad 
 A dimness strangely steals. The stupid clod 
 
 Seems with emotion moved ; might thou exclaim 
 That " This man truly is the Son of God." 
 
 This precious truth well might thy lips proclaim 
 
 Unto a d^•ing world, declare a Saviour's name. 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. i6c) 
 
 His visage is more marred than any son 
 
 Of man has been, while that his soul is made 
 An ofTering for sin. That stricken One 
 
 Was bruised, vile one, for thee ; on Him was laid 
 
 Iniquities of all. B}' Him is paid 
 The forfeit for thy sin. For thee He gave 
 
 His life a ransom here, and thereby- bade 
 Justice to sta}' its rod. E'en to the grave 
 Has mercy reached her hand a ruined world to save. 
 
 What love is this, what wondrous love is this; 
 
 Ye who stand round the throne of God. well might 
 Ye be amazed ! and eA'er^' harp in bliss 
 
 Be silent here I j'e eldest sons of light 
 
 This wondrous theme of dying love is quite 
 Too deep to grasp that the Emmanuel's heart 
 
 Should so o'er sinners j-earn, to leave the bright 
 Mansions of bliss to die, thus to impart 
 The gift of life to man. Love, Love Divine, thou art . 
 
 Three days and nights the massive stone has pressed 
 
 x\gainst the narrow doorway of the tomb, 
 Where silently the hopes of ages rest, 
 
170 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Shrouded away within the coffined gloom. 
 
 Three days and nights angels have watched o'er 
 whom 
 The fate of earth depends, afraid to raise 
 
 Scarcely a lisp! Shall life immortal bloom 
 For man beyond the grave? O, day of days, 
 On which the destiny of all the living weighs. 
 
 O, the momentous point! What think ye bright 
 
 Watch of eternity, that fond hope will 
 Be quenched for aye in the abyss of night ? 
 
 Three days and nights a solemn pause doth fill 
 
 The court of heaven, and every harp is still. 
 Three days and nights is darkest sack-cloth spread 
 
 Upon the throne, and from the shining hill 
 The countless numbers watch, with bowed head 
 The mighty wrestling in the valley of the dead. 
 
 But hark ! a peal of rapture trills the sky ! 
 
 Haste shining angels, roll away the stone. 
 On wings more fleet than light ye bright ones fly; 
 
 Bear the glad news this hour from sun to sun ; 
 
 Exult thou earth and heaven, the Wrestling One, 
 Doth over death and hell strongly prevail. 
 
KCflOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 171 
 
 Swift messengers with the glad tidings run, 
 The dead's alive again, to men All Hail! 
 Tremble ye Powers of Night, ye death watch set grow 
 pale. 
 
 Fall to the ground vain guards with trembling fall 
 Before the Conquering One, speechless with fear ; 
 
 Wax nerveless as the dead. Come near j-e small 
 Frail band of mourners, come. Be of good cheer. 
 View 5'e the place, the Master is not here. 
 
 The risen Morning Star has gained its place 
 
 At God's right hand, a ransomed world brought near 
 
 Unto the throne, and an apostate race 
 
 Brought back again to God through his atoning grace* 
 
172 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE PRESENT AGE. 
 
 And many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased 
 
 Five thousand years have rolled their rapid round 
 Since time began its course ; the earth is fanned 
 
 Now bj' more ardent gale-s. There is the sound 
 Of voices strange, as revolutions grand 
 Sweep o'er the earth ; both sea and solid land 
 
 Are with convulsions stirred. As the sixth seal 
 Opens on time a light o'er every strand, 
 
 Like flushes of the morning gently steal. 
 
 Hearts of the living ma.ss the strong vibrations feel. 
 
 Did the beloved, who kept the holy day 
 At lonely Patmos see, when from His face 
 
 Tbe mystic veil was rent, far, far away 
 
 Through the dim mist of years, there did He trace 
 The changeful .scene, as the prospective race 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 173 
 
 Came and hence passed away, till the far skies 
 
 Seemed dark with forms : and in that cheerless place 
 While visions of the Holy met His eyes. 
 Did he behold the morn of the millenium rise? 
 
 Behold the shadows of the night have passed 
 
 Away from every land; the prophet's eyes 
 This in a vision saw. The darkness cast 
 
 Over the nations long, like vapors rise. 
 
 While o'er earth's circles, fair-browed, knowledge flies 
 On lightning wing; science, that clear eyed one, 
 
 Speaks with a mighty voice, the peaceful skies 
 Reveal to every land a cloudless sun, 
 And by the morning song all hearts are strongly won 
 
 Night spreads o'er all the land, night long and deep, 
 A night devoid of light ; the chill wind sighs 
 
 Over the broken wall. The watchmen keep 
 Calling unto the watch. Pray do the skies 
 Yet change in hue ? Can not thy wakeful eyes 
 
 In the far distance trace a single ray 
 
 Prophetic of the morn ? The watch replies 
 
174 FC//OKS .-I/.OXCT THE SHORE 
 
 Unto the watch.. " W'e know the promised day 
 
 Will sometime dawn in sight, tho" it may long delay." 
 
 Now boldly forth goes all the fiends of night, 
 
 While that our watchmen on the walls are few 
 Throughout the land the foe is marching strong. 
 
 O, thou upon the watch, e'er tried and true. 
 
 Ye've tarried till thy locks are wet with dew. 
 Pacing the wards all night with longing eye 
 
 Fixed on the starless east ; can ye not view 
 Yet any trace of day ? Is yet the sk> 
 Quite veiled in midnight gloom, while sadly the winds 
 sigh i* 
 
 Over the hills of earth, scarcely a breath. 
 
 From the fair heaven land lifts the drooping flowers; 
 A gloom o'er all prevails, mournful as death. 
 
 For over all the world gross darkness lowers. 
 
 And revolution fiercely shakes the powers 
 That be on earth. The moon, and ever>- star 
 
 Have veiled their rays in darkness of the hours. 
 And the earth quakes, and fearful thunders jar 
 The nations of abroad : the sea roars from afar. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 175 
 
 How long this fearful night? Pray look once more 
 Watchman, and tell us all that meets thy sight ; 
 
 The worst we fain would know. Do the waves roar, 
 And frightful tempests in their anger smite 
 Against the rocks ? Say, on this two-fold night 
 
 Have any changes passed? Does the same hue 
 Enshroud the hills ? Is there no gleam of light 
 
 Upon the distant mountains yet in view? 
 
 Mark carefully each point, and tell us then most true. 
 
 It still is night, and fierce beasts are abroad 
 
 Throughout the land, and the chill night winds sigh 
 
 Among the mournful pines. Men's hearts are awed 
 At dismal sounds they hear, and many die 
 On the dark mountains e'er their wistful eye 
 
 The morning light beholds. Before our face 
 Spreads out intensest gloom ; in all the sky 
 
 As yet our much pained vision cannot trace 
 
 A ray of promise to this a benighted race." 
 
 Oreat signs, and fearful sights are everywhere 
 
 Now to be seen, that might the heart's life chill 
 And lips turn pale, and on the midnight air 
 
176 ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 Most dismal sounds are borne, while on the hill 
 The wolves destroy the precious sheep at will ; 
 And many in the flames shamefully die, 
 
 Others vile tortures bear, while darkness still 
 Covers the people here, and the deep cr\- 
 Of blood g:oes up from earth to Him who rules on high. 
 
 "Tis mournful news indeed, our soul is pained 
 
 At the sad thought. Yet thou most faithful say 
 Will respite come? Will e'er the wolf be chained ? 
 
 And will this fearful darkness pass away. 
 
 From off" the earth ? Each moment seems a day ; 
 The eager people long to see the light. 
 
 And more, they almost faint to hear the lay 
 Of morning birds ; say, watchman to thy sight 
 Have any signs appeared to cheer this gloomy night ? 
 
 It truly seems a change has faintly pa.ssed 
 Altho' we dare not say. As yet the seas 
 
 With storm and cloud are darkly overcast, 
 But yet across the plains a gentle breeze 
 Down from the green hill blows ; true, by degrees 
 
 The shadows fade ; the outlines of the hills 
 We hardlv trace, and we see men as trees 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. ijy 
 
 Walking along the vale, but no bird trills 
 
 A joyous note as yet; night veils the low lands still. 
 
 The moments flee apace, across the east 
 
 The rose blush comes ; the waking ones admire 
 
 The day tides' flow ; the storm its moan has ceased. 
 And of the watchmen some awhile retire 
 From toil to rest, but yet the bright watch-fire 
 
 Upon the mountain burns, while in their place 
 Stands up a countless host. Behold, still higher 
 
 Ascends the Morning Star, all eyes can trace 
 
 Its penciling in the veiled lines of exceeding grace. 
 
 The glory deepens till the distant isles 
 
 Feel the transporting thrill. The watchmen see 
 
 Now eye to eye, by day's effulgent smile. 
 
 Thou faithful one, still found on bended knee. 
 What are the signs of the good things to be ? 
 " The tokens truly thrill wnth lofty cheer 
 
 Our longing hearts, the captive bold and free 
 
 Steps forth in the fair light, and we can hear 
 
 The riven fetters fall. The promised hour draws near." 
 
 —12— 
 
178 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 The news indeed is bliss, yet once more tell 
 Us all ye hear, and of the sights thine eyes 
 
 This hour behold ; what answer? "All is well ; 
 The shout of victory peals the beaming skies, 
 From every shore and rock the shadows rise ; 
 
 The morning birds their carols have begun 
 In the green groves ; the herald angel flies 
 
 Bearing glad news to all lands 'neath the sun." 
 
 But what glad news, we ask, beneath that Shining One? 
 
 What news from China doth that strong one bring ? 
 
 Watchman, let not one word escape thine ear, 
 What news we ask ? " The bells of morning ring 
 
 Sweetly from ever>' vale their lofty cheer. 
 
 And at this hour the morning skies are clear, 
 Without a cloud." 'Tis truly joyous word, 
 
 But praj' what else? "From every shore we hear 
 More rapturous strains than mortals ever heard. 
 With sweet hosanna sound all hearts are gladly stirred." 
 
 What welcome tidings doth that angel bear, 
 
 From India, and the islands of the sea ? 
 From Madagascar, what good news from there ? 
 
ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 179 
 
 From Ceylon, and the Friendly Isles for we 
 For tidings greatly long, if good there be ? 
 Upon those hills do any watchmen run 
 
 Bearing glad news, " Tell us if 3'et more free 
 Heart of the millions beat, thou shining one 
 Standing upon the wall in full light of the sun ? 
 
 A wakened world hears well the joyful sound 
 Of the swift wheels of peace; Ceylon is fanned 
 
 By heavenly gales, and India's shores abound 
 With cooing note; in all that ransomed land 
 The dusky host stand up with outspread hand, 
 
 And eyes turned sunward now^ praising the light. 
 From Ethiopia and Borneo the grand 
 
 Song surges out ; the ransomed ones unite 
 
 In song with sweet accord; Millenial dawn's in sight. 
 
 Isa. '21: VI. The inornliifj- i-ometh, mid mIso the night. 
 
 The morning cometh, and also the night, 
 With dusky features, cometh on apace ; 
 The dark sea roars, and its waves madlv smile 
 
i8o ECHOES ALOXG THE SHORE. 
 
 Against the rocks. Thou watchman, with thy face 
 
 Toward eternity, what visions trace? 
 "The sky looks ominous, and every flower 
 
 Is earthward bowed, while softly from their place 
 The shadows come. The gray clouds sadly lower, 
 Cheerless and strange around, time's solemn sunset hour. 
 
 Look on the tinted fields, this hour behold ! 
 
 The ripened grain bows down its modest head 
 In the wan smile of sunset's passing gold; 
 
 And the full clusters of the vine are red 
 
 With wine of wrath. Justice prepares to tread 
 The vintage out, and stains of blood are seen 
 
 On girdles of the horses ; and, with dread. 
 All hearts are faint. Earthward the high towers lean ! 
 O, ever faithful Watch, what do these tokens mean? 
 
 Ferocious beasts are creeping from the rocks 
 In search of prey; the form of error springs 
 
 Forth from its place ; the shepherds leave their flocks. 
 To be destroyed, in search of most vain things. 
 While 'mong the mountains dim the siren sings 
 
 Men's souls to sleep. O'er all the land is found 
 
ECHOF.S .U.OXG THE S/fORE. . i8i 
 
 Most fearful sights ; and Babel's ruin rings 
 Incessantly with strange, discordant sounds ! 
 There the vile Satyres cry, as their mates dance around. 
 
 The watchmen on the wall are very sad. 
 
 For what their eyes behold. The nations are 
 
 Drunken, though not with wine ; they have gone mad 
 Through strange excess, have mingled as it were 
 Of things forbidden, more than they can bear; 
 
 So that a trembling cometh over all. 
 
 The coming day of vengeance will not spare 
 
 The guilt}^ ones, they totter to their fall, 
 
 As tho' bereft of light, bows down both great and small. 
 
 O, thou upon the watch, pray look again ! 
 
 And read the signs and tokens of the sky, 
 As the last solemn moments slowly wane ; 
 
 Mark ye the changes with a careful eye, 
 
 As the most awful time is drawing nigh. 
 Ah, harken well ! Can ye not plainly hear 
 
 From every land the dismal battle cry. 
 Now that Abaddon's host in line appear? 
 All faces become pale, and all hearts faint with fear. 
 
1 82 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 "The fiends approach, our false friends are abroad, 
 
 Through all the world, are gathering on this hour,. 
 Their hosts together to the day of God. 
 
 At this time watch ; be constant on the tower ; 
 
 The wily foes exalt themselves in power, 
 While the Destroj'er goes through all the land. 
 
 More ominous the skies above us lower ; 
 Make readj^ ye who on the watch-towers stand, 
 Have thy lamps trimmed, and the drawn sword in hand. 
 
 How goes the battle now ? tell us again, 
 Thou faithful one upon the clouded wall. 
 
 Of the King's enemies, are many slain? 
 
 And of our own ranks, are there some that fall, 
 To try their faith ? Good Watchman tell us all 
 
 About the fray; triumphs the Truth o'er Wrong? 
 Is error made to bow? Do the most small. 
 
 In the encounter, hourh- grow more strong ? 
 
 This cruel conflict, .sa}*, shall it continue long? 
 
 " Faint, yet pursuing ; ever}' heart is .sad. 
 By reason of the raging of the foe. 
 Perilous times have come ; exceeding mad 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 183 
 
 "With rage, the enemy, behold, doth grow, 
 Because his time is short. Beneath his blow- 
 Many are wounded, and grow cold at heart ; 
 And many faint with fear as the last woe 
 Is poured out on the earth ; many a dart 
 Thins off our stricken ranks, few bear a faithful part." 
 
 A time when souls are tried, ye feebler ones, 
 Take heed unto thy goings lest ye may 
 
 Forego thy trust when the exalted sons. 
 
 Are in the furnace proven ; error bears sway 
 And may seek now to prevent the way. 
 
 By vainest hope, and many weak ones fall, 
 On the rough places, nevermore for age 
 
 To rise again, a dimness over all, 
 
 The land becomes intense, to try both great and small. 
 
 Thou ever faithful One, we beg thee tell 
 Us hour by hour, about the fearful fray ; 
 
 Thou valiant for the truth, while the last bell 
 Tolls mournfully for the departing day; 
 And Michel and his men, are in array. 
 
 Contending valiantly against the wrong, 
 
1 84 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Do they prevail? Thou Aveary "Watchman say 
 Does the strong foe give back? Tell us how long, 
 Ere our Lord shall return, crowned with triumphant 
 song? 
 
 " The pleasant Mountain is laid sadl}' waste, 
 By hands profane, our altars too, the}- tore 
 
 Shamefully down, and still the foe makes haste. 
 We hear a fiend shout mid the battle roar, 
 Truth they have slain, and equit}- no more; 
 
 Righteousness is wounded, and the sword falls 
 From Justice's hand." Soon they prest will fiy 
 
 The valiant ones ; boldly the night fiend calls, 
 
 Unto our wearv Watchman waiting on the walls. 
 
 Even at this hour, the patient watchman hear 
 Some of their numbers sing in accents low and clear. 
 
 It would be vain to pile up gold 
 
 Upon this foreign shore, 
 Or seek for fame, or wealth untold 
 
 To leave soon evermore. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 185 
 
 The little while we here remain, 
 
 What is there worth our care ? 
 And why discomforted complain 
 
 Tho' hard and coarse the fare ? 
 
 We could not wish life's burden light 
 
 The few short hours we roam, 
 Or for the comforts of a night 
 
 Fit up a princely dome. 
 
 We need not look for scenery grand 
 
 Along this beaten waj-, 
 While through a dreary desert land 
 
 We sojourn for a day. 
 
 And should we e'er complaining go, 
 
 Whatever ill may come, 
 It is enough tired one to know, 
 
 W>'re on our journey home. 
 
 Tho' rude the storm, and rough the way, 
 
 'Twill very soon be passed, 
 And o'er the flood the glow of day 
 
 Will greet our eyes at last 
 
i86 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Well might joy thrill us as we near 
 
 The foaming river side, 
 For naught have we to bind us here, , 
 
 Our home's beyond the tide. 
 
 We thank thee, patient one, for things ye tell ; 
 
 Good watchman on the wall, we love to hear 
 At this important time if aught is well. 
 
 And to be warned of any danger near ; 
 
 Hast thou for pilgrims any other cheer? 
 " The prospect is not pleasing, yet we may 
 
 Still hope for better things when most we fear. 
 Truth perishes from earth, and few are thej^ 
 Who with faith undimmed walk in the Kings highway." 
 
 " From the tempest beat valley the winds never cease. 
 To waft upward and skyward sweet whispers of peace • 
 We are only tired pilgrims here passing along, 
 To a country more bright and more fair we belong. 
 Tho' our traveling suit gathers dust by the way, 
 These toils and privations are but for a day ; 
 Tho' sorely afflicted by poverty here 
 We have treasures on high and the title is clear. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 187 
 
 Our father is rich, both in lands and in gold, 
 
 Secure in his coffers are treasures untold ; 
 
 Tho' spurned by earth children, for that should we sigh 
 
 While passing along to our mansions on high ? 
 
 We crave not the grandeur earth's titles may bring, 
 
 Who are heirs to a crown and sons of a King. 
 
 We are traveling on to our beautiful home, 
 
 The friends over there will keep watch till we come. 
 
 When we tread on the gold of that beautiful street 
 We'll forget the sharp thorns that are hurting our feet. 
 In our own Father's house we will hunger no more, 
 For the shadow of want never passes the door : 
 The cry of the tempest then ever shall cease, 
 For the sigh shall be hushed on the bosom of Peace." 
 
i88 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE GREAT SACRIFICE. 
 
 Watchman, what of the night? " Lo, in the sky! 
 
 Tokens of wrath appear, all cheeks are pale 
 As sudden winds from every quarter rise ; 
 
 Earth to its center quakes, a fearful wail 
 
 Goes out from every land, as crushing hail 
 Breaks every tree ; both bond and free men pray 
 
 The rocks to cover them ; to Hanionah's vale 
 The fowls of heaven are bade without delay 
 Unto a kingly feast; we hear a strong voice say:" 
 
 *' The repast's spread, ye birds of every feather, 
 
 Of hateful note from greatest to the least, 
 Make haste and come, gather yourselves together, 
 
 From north, from south, from west, and from the east. 
 
 Assemble ye, and every ravenous beast ; 
 The chiefest for the sacrifice are slain. 
 
 Come every one unto the sumptuous feast. 
 That is prepared on Armagidon's plain, 
 Come ye of greedy kind, as time's last moments wane." 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 189 
 
 "All ye carnivorous host, with haste, with haste, 
 
 Come ye and dine, who gloat beneath the sun, 
 For of the ample supper all may taste ; 
 
 Come satisfy your cravings every one. 
 
 That which was spoken of, of old, is done, 
 It is fulfilled. The broken clusters stain 
 
 The wine-press of fierce wrath. Now has begun 
 The feast of kingly meats. None need refrain, 
 The precious wine shall be the choice blood of the slain." 
 
 The battle horse doth with its rider fall 
 
 Now heavily to the earth. This moment great 
 
 Convulsion shakes the world, till every small 
 Stone to its heart is rent. The hour is late. 
 And the King's chariot will no longer wait. 
 
 The waters of iniquity have rose. 
 
 Unto a mighty flood. Earth meets its fate. 
 
 The stars refuse to shine, and fierce wrath blows 
 
 The sun out, as time comes quickly unto a close. 
 
rgo ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 IT IS DONE. 
 
 Rev. 16-17. And the Seventh A-ngel poured out his vial into the 
 air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from 
 the throne, saying, it is done. 
 
 Lo, it is done ! Swift and the vivid light, 
 
 The seventh strong angel, doth his vial pour 
 Upon the waves of air, while armor bright, 
 
 Gleams in the firmament, and thunders roar. 
 
 The elements dissolve. The rocks are torn. 
 With great convulsions, while a mighty one 
 
 Proclaims aloud that Time shall be no more. 
 Voices are heard ; that fearful shock has run 
 Through nature's palsied frame, 'tis felt from sun to sun. 
 
 Through the receeding mist, of ages flown, 
 The flaming judgment seat appears in sight, 
 
 For Christ has left the mediatorial throne, 
 
 And comes in wrath. The mj'riads clothed in white, 
 Attend Him on ; from out a cloud of bright, 
 
 Intensity, the vivid lightnings dart. 
 
 Nature desolves at the transcendent light. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. igi 
 
 Afrighted now, the heavens and earth depart, 
 The universe is rent, unto its mighty heart. 
 
 Behold the islands of the sea have fled, 
 
 The sea is no more found; convulsions shake 
 
 Receeding atoms, while the kindred dead, 
 
 From their long dreamless sleep surprised awoke, 
 As the last trumpets sound, deaths fetters break, 
 
 A fearful quaking opens every tomb ; 
 
 As the just judge comes quickly forth to take 
 
 Vengeance on earth ; Lo, the vast myreads whom. 
 
 Have slept for ages past, come forth to meet their 
 doom. 
 
 Come forth to judgment all ye guilty seed. 
 Of Adam, come unto Gods bar draw near, 
 
 Keep silent while the Judge aloud will read, 
 The solemn doom of all, in words so clear. 
 That all in heaven, and all in earth, may hear. 
 
 The name of each one called. A perfect chart 
 Of all lives are preserved. What crushing fear; 
 
 What stunning anguish moves each guilty heart 
 
 As they the sentence hear, "All ye accursed depart." 
 
192 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE BOOKS OPENED. 
 
 Lifes secret volumes carefully are brought, 
 
 And opened leaf by leaf, for to be read 
 Before assembled worlds, each impure thought 
 
 Or action good or bad, and each word said 
 
 For a long lifetime, now are plainly spread 
 Out there to open view. At the court all, 
 
 Nations assemble near, and with bowed head 
 The guilty prisoners wait. Both great and small 
 Receive theirjust reward. The screen from all lives fall. 
 
 Before the open firmament with care. 
 
 The books are searched, to every sentence found 
 Within the volume, memory will bear 
 
 Witness to all. In courtly splendor crowned, 
 
 The saints in judgment set, while far around. 
 The judgment Throne, lost Souls, and Demons wait 
 
 To hear their doom. There scarcely is a sound 
 To break the fearful stillness at the great 
 Tribunal Bar, as each awaits his awful fate. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 193 
 
 THE LAND OF REST. 
 
 The children of our God are bidden home 
 
 From the white throne a voice cries, " It is done!" 
 
 The kingdoms of this world have now become 
 The kingdoms of our lyord, and of His son, 
 All praise ascribe unto the Blessed One. 
 
 Loud hallelujah, like the joyous sound 
 
 Of many waters start ; our Christ has won 
 
 All honor to Himself. The shout goes round 
 
 From heart to heart, while that the kings and priests 
 are crowned. 
 
 Old things have passed away ; O, vision bright ! 
 
 O, land of Rest! where the most lovely things 
 Joyously float among the waves of light ; 
 
 Out o'er the plains of ether sweetly rings 
 
 Songs of celestial birds, and mist of wings, 
 Like clouds of golden haze move to and fro. 
 
 From the fair hills of sapphire living springs 
 O'er drifts of crystal sand e'er murmuring flow 
 Refreshing the green banks in the calm depths below. 
 
194 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Notes of seraphic song forever trills 
 
 The minstrel band, while o'er the organ keys 
 
 Fair mists of fingers glide. The happy rills 
 
 The theme takes up. What lines of noble trees. 
 In living verdure dressed, where the pure breeze 
 
 Forever floats, and flowers surpassing bright 
 
 There sweets unfold ; what skies, what crystal seas 
 
 Where the redeemed of God walk in the light ! 
 
 What spotless robes, what crowns ! O, the transporting 
 sight ! 
 
 Here friend meets friend in bliss no more to part ; 
 
 Here is the source of jo}^ of all, the best ; 
 Here hand clasps hand in love, and heart meets heart. 
 
 'Tis perfect bliss ; souls are at perfect rest, 
 
 Pulses of love thrill every happy breast. 
 Soul blend with soul, and life is sinking down 
 
 In perfect peace ; hearts perfectly are blessed ; 
 Glory meets glory on each blessed crown 
 In rapture of the hour, each murmuring thought is 
 drown. 
 
 On that bright shore the hopes that we here miss 
 Are found again ; no shadows ever lay 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 195 
 
 On the clear waves of life that flow through bliss 
 No night is there, the pure light shines for aye, 
 No sorrow felt, old things have passed away, 
 
 No sighing and no tears, in that world none 
 Say, " I am sick," but there in open day 
 
 All eyes have strength to look upon the sun 
 
 And see the beauty of the Blessed One. 
 
 Before the great white Throne they bow the knee. 
 And they their crowns most reverently lay by. 
 
 While they adore the L,amb where e'er they see 
 His glory manifest they holy cry. 
 While voices and deep thunders make reply. 
 
 And holy, holy the unnumbered throng 
 In thrilling words repeat, and every eye 
 
 His face beholds while the exulting song 
 
 With the sweet sound of harp, the breezes waft along. 
 
 "All praise be unto Him who once was slain 
 Yet lives again and reigns forever more. 
 
 To Him who has redeemed us," and again 
 Serene and deep as the transcendent roar 
 Of many waters, hallelujahs pours 
 
196 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 O'er every strand and e\^ery wave of light 
 
 With glory trills, while all in Heaven adore 
 That worthy name, all honor, power and might 
 To God and to the Lamb ascribe through ages bright. 
 
 O land of peace ! O sea of shoreless love ! 
 
 Through cloudless ether souls may soar and soar 
 And freely plunge and bask and rise above 
 
 In all the life of God; forevermore 
 
 Drink they of fresh supplies and on the shore 
 New pleasures find. The stream of joy they trace 
 
 There to its source, and wondering adore 
 The Glorified while in the holy place 
 Before the consumate each cherub vails its face. 
 
 O world of day ! Here soul unfettered learn 
 The blissful lore; O city paved with light, 
 
 Where cherubim far searching eyes discern 
 The mysteries of God. No wave of night 
 Vails with uncertainty enraptured sight 
 
 Of the strong ones who nobly excell 
 
 In knowledge of their God, and his own might. 
 
 Expansive mind puts on ; they that blessed spell. 
 
 Cry holy as the flood of glory rise and swell. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. iqy 
 
 O land of bliss supreme ! where pure hearts yearn 
 
 For God alone, high on the holy hill, 
 The souls of seraphim with ardor burn 
 
 Before the throne and each heart pulse doth thrill 
 
 With love supreme, only their sovereign will 
 Seek they with strong desire, and thirst to know 
 
 The source divine while they go on, and still 
 Excell in strength, In love's own smile they grow. 
 Souls sweetly blend in love meet and together flow. 
 
 Ye sentinels of light who hourly stand 
 
 In the full effulgence of full consumate day. 
 Tell us if from that beatific strand. 
 
 The radience will ever pass away? 
 
 Or on heaven's dial will the peaceful ray 
 E'er backward slant? or will the risen sun 
 
 E'er cast a feebler light? Celestials say 
 Will the year ever wane, when centuries have run 
 Their ever blissful round? " Pleasure has but begun." 
 
 Note ye the joyous age, does the spring wane, 
 While e'er the golden cycles fill their round? 
 Ye shining host, on the celestial plain 
 
198 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 Where green leaves wave and living springs abound, 
 
 Is there decay of autumn ever found? 
 Do chilly winds there ever blight the flov/ers, 
 
 In Bulah's grove is ever heard the sound 
 Of sighing seas? "Beneath the living bowers 
 The light serenely shines through all the tranquil hours." 
 
 When ages more have passed, then look again, 
 Mark well the sunny epochs as they fill 
 
 From the fair sky, does yet the glory wane? 
 Doth balmy fragrance ever cease to thrill 
 The heart of June from the eternal hill? 
 
 Say do the day birds ever hush their song? 
 Will beauty fade, or will the heart grow still 
 
 Beside the stream of life, where the fair throng 
 
 With hand in hand and crowned with bright bays pass 
 along? 
 
 As the celestial ones bend o'er the grand 
 
 Old tomes of knowledge on the shining shore. 
 
 Do those bright pupils turn with weary hand 
 Or weary thought those glowing pages o'er 
 As they pursue the strangely thrilling lore? 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 199 
 
 With diligence each one with gUstening eyes 
 
 Unfathomed depths of mysteries explore, 
 Each flaming volume of the starry skies, 
 To eager minds unfolds some ever new surprise. 
 
 As the class pursues the extatic course 
 
 Of glories science souls can never tire 
 While mind is reaching upward to its source. 
 
 With new delight, higher and still higher. 
 
 Souls there in knowledge climb, thoughts unfleshed 
 lyre 
 Spirits of burning sweep, immortals find 
 
 On every page new beauties to admire, 
 As from the glorious work, the light refined 
 Flashes strange brightness on the peaceful waves of 
 mind. 
 
 In ocean of delight, souls rise and sink, 
 And through the ages of unclouded day, 
 
 At the exhaustless source of joy they drink 
 And of the living waters there they may 
 Quench their desires and still go on for aye. 
 
 From strength to strength, as they from light to light, 
 With free angelic ease pursue their way; 
 
200 ECHOES ALO\G THE SHORE. 
 
 Ai every step taste they of new delight 
 
 As they in wisdom climb e'er putting on new might. 
 
 And as the never ending ages roll 
 
 Their blissful round beneath extatic sky, 
 
 Unfolding joy of heart, and wealth of soul. 
 Note the changes with a careful eye 
 As year by year their feet ascend more high 
 
 The hill of God. There yet may come a day 
 When the most feeble may with Ralphel vie 
 
 In loft)' song as they progress for aye, 
 
 Mind e'er expanding as they walk the heavenly way 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 THE SEA OF GLASS 
 
 Where waves of living light surge to and fro, 
 
 Upon a sea of glass mingled with fire, 
 The happy people clothed in white robes go, 
 
 Each bearing in his hand a golden lyre 
 
 Of sweetest sound; their fingers never tire 
 Moving the flaming keys, and in amaze 
 
 Their clear mind grasp at space as they admire 
 The works of God, and life's pure water sways 
 Forever to and fro with the burden of their praise. 
 
 Toward infinitude they turn their eyes 
 
 Where dusts of worlds like clouds of brilliant sand 
 Before God's flaming chariot wheels arise. 
 
 Which by the winds of glory e'er are fanned 
 
 In shining drifts o'er the eternal strand, 
 Toward immensity spreads out one broad 
 
 Expanse of worlds, peopled with souls and planned 
 Most wisely all, wdiile in amazement awed, 
 
 The saints repeat how great, how fair thy works, O, 
 God! 
 
2 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 And from the grandeur of the shining shore, 
 Down dark and steep declivities of space 
 
 Thought sometimes wanders down, where they before 
 Walked in earth's shadows dim ; in many a place 
 Familiar forms with brows all pale they trace, 
 
 And sweet sad eyes ; now memory loves to go 
 Where the weary watcher used to pace. 
 
 And shadows on the wall moved to and fro, 
 
 When the heart ties were riven by Death, s relentless 
 blow. 
 
 Now see they since the veil is drawn aside ! 
 
 There was no throe too great, or burden laid 
 Too heavy on the soul, what most them tried 
 
 Wrought out their greatest good ; their way was made 
 
 Dark that their wanderings might thus be stayed; 
 Had not that thorn been placed to guard the way 
 
 Their feet o'er flowery places might had strayed 
 Down in the way of death, and where the day 
 Might never, never shed its mild, benignant ray. 
 
 O'er mazes strange look they toward where lost 
 
 Souls weep, and weep. Mercy called them in vain; 
 
ECHOES ALO.YG THE SHORE. 203 
 
 They might, but would not come at any cost ; 
 Their own hands sowed the seed for every pain 
 Their souls now feel, and riveted the chain 
 
 That binds them fast. The blood-w'ashed in amaze, 
 Veiled each in light, sing on the shining shore 
 
 This angel song, " Most just and true thy ways, 
 
 Thou art and wast the same. Lord, worthy of all praise." 
 
204 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 WHENCE CAME THEY? 
 
 A voice inquired, what are these clothed in white 
 With starry crowns, who in high places stand, 
 
 Like men of kingly rank ? With faces bright 
 And radiant as the sun, and in their hand 
 Bear they the conquering palm. Tell us the land 
 
 From whence this noble line of princes came? 
 Who martialed forth so glorious a band 
 
 As- this most worthy host ? Under what name 
 
 Came the}' forth bearing palms with songs of living 
 flame? 
 
 Tell us their name, and of the place from where 
 
 Those white robed came, who crowned with bright 
 bays stand 
 
 In the full light of day; O, tell us ! were 
 
 These dwellers upon earth? Is that the land 
 Of their nativity ? Were their brows fanned 
 
 Sweetly b}- fame ? Did the admiring throng 
 Sing tribute to their name ? Serenely grand 
 
 Were life's clear waters gently borne along 
 
 By fervent summer gales, sweet as a sylvan song? 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 205 
 
 Whence came they forth ? Again we pause to hear. 
 
 Whence came that army forth ; pray from what shore ? 
 In princely courts did they their robes keep clear 
 
 From earth stains there? Did some fair Goddess pour 
 
 Her coffers at their feet? and could they soar above 
 The storms of time ? Did sorrow weigh 
 
 E'er on the heart? With bright skies smiling o'er 
 Did they 'mong crystal founts and fair scenes stay 
 Until their spirit to the sun land passed away. 
 
 Whence came they forth ? Not from among the rich, 
 Not from the princely dwellings of the great, 
 
 'Mid scenes of festal mirth ; not of those which 
 By their proud rank are heir to high estate, 
 At whose command both kings and kingdoms wail; 
 
 Not of the royal lineage, the admired 
 
 Of those who dwell on earth, but those who late 
 
 And early toiled, of men the most ignored, 
 
 On these worldly proud the cup of scorning poured. 
 
 The poor and the ignoble, and a race 
 
 Of serf were these, who now rejoicing stand 
 Bearing the harps of God; and every face 
 
2o6 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 By the delicious breath of joy are fanned, 
 And with the uncrowned elders of the land 
 Before the throne they bow, where the pure rays 
 
 Of glorj' rest they ever wake the grand 
 Angelic strain, as each head bows in praise, 
 " How marvelous are Thy works, how just and true Thy 
 ways ! ' ' 
 
 Now safe at home, no more their feet through night 
 Will weary grow, and nevermore will grief 
 
 Veil the clear sight of those who walk in white ; 
 Smooth tresses flow, like rippling waves of light, 
 
 O'er snowy shoulders ; how surpassing fair, 
 How strangelj' beautiful, their faces bright 
 
 Now as the noonday sun ! How strange compare 
 
 They with earth's pilgrims bowed beneath their weights 
 of care. 
 
 Those the redeemed from earth triumphant stand 
 In the full light of the refulgent shore, 
 
 Where flaming vespers unto life are fanned, 
 And where Perfection's arch" is bending o'er 
 The waves of peace ; here free immortals soar, 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 207 
 
 At the full fount they drink and ever trace 
 
 Life's pure stream to its source. Forevermore 
 All tears are wiped away from every face, 
 For the smile of the lamb illuminates the place. 
 
2o8 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE 
 
 THE MARRIAGE SUPPER. 
 
 The bells of the city with harmony ring, 
 For this is the nuptial day of the King; 
 The scenes of the land are most lovely and bright, 
 There are rich mounds of sapphire and rivers of light, 
 There are sparkling founts, and clear water jets there, 
 And singing of birds making joyful the air, 
 The hues of the rainbow here perfectly blend. 
 And clouds of sweet incense forever ascend*; 
 
 The trees all their banners of beauty unfurl. 
 
 The walks of the garden are dusted with pearl, 
 
 And flowers by the wayside are all in full bloom. 
 
 The fair ranks of angels appear in full plume. 
 
 The streets of the city are paved with pure gold, 
 
 The archway- is lighted with splendor untold. 
 
 The walls of the palace are frescoed with light. 
 
 There's flowers of all climes the most fragrant and bright. 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 2og 
 
 And things the most lovely, most costly, most rare, 
 The wealth of all countries and kingdoms are there. 
 There are palms of rare beauty and harps of fine gold, 
 And gems of such value as never were sold ; 
 There are choice diamond sets, precious gifts for the 
 
 bride. 
 And rubies, and topaz, and garlands beside, 
 The mansion is lighted with splendor most grand. 
 The guests are heaven's nobles, the flower of the land. 
 
 The patriarchs, martyrs, and prophets in white. 
 All crowned with a splendor surpassing the light ; 
 All the saints, all the beauties, the lovely, the fair, 
 The seraphs, heaven's poets, and prophets are there, 
 The bright ranks of cherubim there on gemmed wing, 
 Come in to partake of the feast of the King; 
 "NTow all things are ready, the table is spread, 
 There is milk there, and honey, abundance of bread. 
 
 And all kind of fruit from the trepical clime. 
 
 In clusters more fair than e'er ripened in time. 
 
 The date and the orange and dainties divine. 
 
 All hearts are made glad by the sweetly spiced wine; 
 
 The elder appear, every one in their place. 
 
2IO ECHOES ALOXC TffE SHORE. 
 
 And joy like the morning illumins each face ; 
 
 The children come in from the east and the west, 
 
 The Bride and the Bridegroom sit down with the guest. 
 
 O crowing of bliss! over peace spreads her wing, 
 
 'Tis the glorious nuptial feast of the king, 
 
 The Bridegroom's arrayed now in glory most bright, 
 
 To all at the feast his the joy and the light; 
 
 The Bride has attire of the loveliest hue, 
 
 That sparkles with gems far more clear than the dew. 
 
 The pearl of great price and the bright diamond band. 
 
 The pledge of affection adorns her fair hand. 
 
 And the bright morning blossoms, the seal of her vow, 
 Ivike a halo of glor}- are fresh on her brow, 
 Her neck decked with lilies, and jewels of grace, 
 Her garments are trimmed with the finest of lace, 
 And richly embroidered so stainless and nice, 
 But the purchase of these was a sum of great price. 
 The kings at the feast, all with glory are crowned. 
 And kindly to each the full cups hand round. 
 
 Of the good things provided, there's enough and to spare, 
 There's abundance of milk for the little ones there; 
 
ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 211 
 
 Each one have their portion, the great and the small, 
 
 The Lord of the feast pours a blessing for all, 
 
 But most dear to his heart and his joy and his pride 
 
 Is the fair blushing one at his own right hand side. 
 
 And dearly he won this sweet beatiful rose 
 
 With love for her ever his heart overflows. 
 
 To him of her choice, what a rapture untold 
 
 To read in her eye the pure bliss of her soul. 
 
 From heart to heart there the sweet charm has gone round 
 
 All voices commingle in one happy sound 
 
 Till the holy spell of the supper is o'er. 
 
 Now rapture is kindled more sweet than before, 
 
 The minstrels appear in their brightest array, 
 
 The organs of heaven they most skillfully play. 
 
 The singers come each with a harp in hand, 
 Connubial song the most sweet and the most grand. 
 Like ebb of the ocean now rises, now falls, 
 E'er waking new bliss, through the star-lighted halls, 
 With song of the seraph the music will blend 
 Forever and ever their joy has no end. 
 
AcV/C?A\s- .l/.O.VO THE SHORE. 
 
 NEW JERUSALEM. 
 
 The new Jerusalem, clear as the day 
 
 From heaven and God descends. O \ision bright ! 
 Fair as a bride adorned in soft array. 
 
 They need no sun there for the Lamb gives light 
 
 And gladness there. The nuiltitudes in white 
 Walk in brightness and behold His face. 
 
 The gates are never shut for there the night 
 Shades never come and watclnnen never pace 
 Those streets of finest gold, for naught defiles the place. 
 
 Xo shadows there, the mourners never weep, 
 
 Or sufferers count the long and weary hours, 
 But on the shore of bliss, hope lies asleep. 
 
 And joy looks upward from the rosy bower; 
 
 O rapturous scene ! what walks, what fadeless flowers 
 And crystal founts and walls of precious stone, 
 
 And gates of peal. Rut there no temple towers 
 For the most blessed and the most holy one 
 Is the fair temple there, the life, the light, the sun. 
 
F.cimi'.s Ai.oxc 1 f/r: shore. 213 
 
 City of C/od, O the ecstatic scene! 
 
 Where floods of ^lory in one living tide 
 Flow down the streets, past banks of fadeless green, 
 
 Here the blessed Lamb, walks with the trustful bride, 
 
 He gently leads his darling and his pride 
 By the clear fountains and the streams of light, 
 
 While the fair minstrels follow by their side 
 With sweetest song. The beatific height, 
 E'er echo back the strain through all the ages bright. 
 
 The flaming sapphires in the walls resound, 
 The thrilling music from the heavenly choir. 
 
 The morning stars give back the joyous sound. 
 As .seraphim, with hands that never tire, 
 Waken new rapture on the golden lyre. 
 
 Love, love is all there theme, love to their God, 
 The thrilling strains rise higher and still higher. 
 
 Waking sweet echo on the shores abroad 
 
 By the glad strain all hearts in sympathy are drawn. 
 
 The cherubim in the meridian blaze 
 
 Of glory sing of Him whom they adore ; 
 The dazzling arches echo with the lays, 
 
214 ECHOES ALONG THE SHORE. 
 
 The sound is wafted on, from shore to shore 
 Voices are heard like the transcendent roar 
 Of many waters. O'er the waves of light 
 
 To the Infinite One their free thoughts soar; 
 With pleasure reach they up from height to height, 
 Grasping for knowledge ever with increased delight. 
 
 While the redeemed of every people crowned 
 With gladness sing the praise of the Most High, 
 
 And all the flaming myriads around 
 
 The dazzling throne, to their words make reply, 
 " High hallelujah," the unnumbered cry. 
 
 As they in rapture, and in wonder gaze 
 On Him who came to suffer, and to die, 
 
 Yet lives forevermore. Through endless daj's 
 
 Unto the Lamb ascribe song of triumphant praise.