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A CHANT.

A CHANT.

I.

WHO is the Angel that cometh?

Life!

Let us not question what he brings,
Peace or Strife;

Under the shade of his mighty wings,
One by one

Are his secrets told;

One by one,

Lit by the rays of each morning sun,

Shall a new flower its petals unfold,
With the mystery hid in its heart of gold.
We will arise and go forth to greet him,
Singly, gladly, with one accord: -
"Blessed is he that cometh

In the name of the Lord!"

II.

Who is the Angel that cometh?

Joy!

Look at his glittering rainbow wings, -
No alloy

Lies in the radiant gifts he brings;

Tender and sweet,

He is come to-day,

Tender and sweet;

While chains of love on his silver feet

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Will hold him in lingering fond delay. But greet him quickly, he will not stay, Soon he will leave us; but though for others All his brightest treasures are stored, "Blessed is he that cometh

In the name of the Lord!"

III.

Who is the Angel that cometh?
Pain!

Let us arise and go forth to greet him;
Not in vain

Is the summons come for us to meet him;
He will stay,

And darken our sun;

He will stay

A desolate night, a weary day.

Since in that shadow our work is done, And in that shadow our crowns are won, Let us say still, while his bitter chalice Slowly into our hearts is poured, "Blessed is he that cometh

In the name of the Lord!"

IV.

Who is the Angel that cometh ?
Death!

But do not shudder and do not fear;

Hold your breath,

INCOMPLETENESS.

For a kingly presence is drawing near.
Cold and bright

Is his flashing steel,
Cold and bright

The smile that comes like a starry light,
To calm the terror and grief we feel;
He comes to help and to save and heal:
Then let us, baring our hearts and kneeling,
Sing, while we wait this Angel's sword,-
"Blessed is he that cometh

In the name of the Lord!"

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INCOMPLETENESS.

NOTHING resting in its own completeness

Can have worth or beauty; but alone

Because it leads and tends to farther sweetness, Fuller, higher, deeper than its own.

Spring's real glory dwells not in the meaning,
Gracious though it be, of her blue hours;
But is hidden in her tender leaning

To the Summer's richer wealth of flowers.

Dawn is fair, because the mists fade slowly
Into Day, which floods the world with light;
Twilight's mystery is so sweet and holy
Just because it ends in starry Night.

Childhood's smiles unconscious graces borrow
From Strife, that in a far-off future lies;
And angel glances (veiled now by Life's sorrow)
Draw our hearts to some beloved eyes.

Life is only bright when it proceedeth
Towards a truer, deeper Life above;
Human Love is sweetest when it leadeth
To a more divine and perfect Love.

Learn the mystery of Progression duly;
Do not call each glorious change, Decay;
But know we only hold our treasures truly,
When it seems as if they passed away.

Nor dare to blame God's gifts for incompleteness;
In that want their beauty lies; they roll
Towards some infinite depth of love and sweetness,
Bearing onward man's reluctant soul.

SOWING AND REAPING.

OW

Sow with a generous hand;

Pause not for toil or pain;

Weary not through the heat of summer,

Weary not through the cold spring rain;

But wait till the autumn comes

For the sheaves of golden grain.

SOWING AND REAPING.

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Scatter the seed, and fear not,
A table will be spread;

What matter if you are too weary
To eat your hard-earned bread :
Sow, while the earth is broken,
For the hungry must be fed.

while the seeds are lying

Sow;
In the warm earth's bosom deep,
And your warm tears fall upon it, -
They will stir in their quiet sleep;
And the green blades rise the quicker,
Perchance, for the tears you weep.

Then sow;

for the hours are fleeting,

And the seed must fall to-day;
And care not what hands shall reap it,
Or if you shall have passed away
Before the waving corn-fields

Shall gladden the sunny day.

Sow; and look onward, upward,

Where the starry light appears,
Where, in spite of the coward's doubting,
Or your own heart's trembling fears,
You shall reap in joy the harvest
You have sown to-day in tears.

LET thy gold be cast in the furnace.

For gold must be tried by fire,

As a heart must be tried by pain!

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