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And, at times, my worn feet press

Spaces of cool quietness,

Lilied whiteness shone upon

Not by light of moon or sun.
Hours there be of inmost calm,
Broken but by grateful psalm,

When I love Thee more than fear Thee,

And Thy blessed Christ seems near me,

With forgiving look, as when

He beheld the Magdalen.

Well I know that all things move
To the spheral rhythm of love,-
That to Thee, O Lord of all!
Nothing can of chance befall:
Child and seraph, mote and star,
Well Thou knowest what we are;
Through Thy vast creative plan
Looking, from the worm to man,
There is pity in Thine eyes,

But no hatred nor surprise.

Not in blind caprice of will,

Not in cunning sleight of skill,

Not for show of power, was wrought

Nature's marvel in Thy thought.

Never careless hand and vain

Smites these chords of joy and pain;

No immortal selfishness

Plays the game of curse and bless :

Heaven and earth are witnesses

That Thy glory goodness is.

Not for sport of mind and force
Hast Thou made Thy universe,
But as atmosphere and zone
Of Thy loving heart alone.
Man, who walketh in a show,
Sees before him, to and fro,
Shadow and illusion go;

All things flow and fluctuate,

Now contract and now dilate.

In the welter of this sea,

Nothing stable is but Thee;

In this whirl of swooning trance,

Thou alone art permanence;

All without Thee only seems,

All beside is choice of dreams. Never yet in darkest mood Doubted I that Thou wast good, Nor mistook my will for fate, Pain of sin for heavenly hate, Never dreamed the gates of pearl Rise from out the burning marl,

Or that good can only live

Of the bad conservative,

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And through counterpoise of hell Heaven alone be possible.

For myself alone I doubt;
All is well, I know, without;

I alone the beauty mar,
I alone the music jar.

Yet, with hands by evil stained,

And an ear by discord pained,

I am groping for the keys
Of the heavenly harmonies;
Still within my heart I bear
Love for all things good and fair.
Hands of want or souls in pain
Have not sought my door in vain ;
I have kept my fealty good

To the human brotherhood;

Scarcely have I asked in prayer

That which others might not share.

I, who hear with secret shame

Praise that paineth more than blame,

Rich alone in favors lent,

Virtuous by accident,

Doubtful where I fain would rest,

Frailest where I seem the best,

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Only strong for lack of test,

What am I, that I should press

Special pleas of selfishness,
Coolly mounting into heaven
On my neighbor unforgiven?
Ne'er to me, howe'er disguised,
Comes a saint unrecognized;

Never fails my heart to greet

Noble deed with warmer beat;

Halt and maimed, I own not less

All the grace of holiness;

Nor, through shame or self-distrust,
Less I love the pure and just.

Lord, forgive these words of mine:

What have I that is not Thine? -
Whatsoe'er I fain would boast

Needs Thy pitying pardon most.
Thou, O Elder Brother! who

In Thy flesh our trial knew,

Thou, who hast been touched by these

Our most sad infirmities,

Thou alone the gulf canst span

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