328. LITTLE CHILDREN BLESSED. But the disciples with officious zeal Silenced the suppliant with this stern rebuke— "Why troublest thou the Master?" Jesus heard, And in displeasure turned his radiant eye With gentle accents briefly thus replied― Then Jesus took the infant in his arms, "Suffer these little ones to come to me," LITTLE CHILDREN BLESSED. Thrice blessed they! who guide, with gentle hand, Which, rightly trodden, leads the wanderers home, C. Huntingdon. 329 The Ruler's Faith. "Come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live." And Jesus arose and followed him, and so did his disciples.-ST. MATTHEW ix. 18, 19. DEATH Cometh to the chamber of the sick: The ruler's daughter, like the peasant's child, Deep the wail That speaks an idol fallen from the shrine. Solaced itself with garlands, and beheld Father, 'tis o'er! That voice is silent which had been thy harp, Quickening thy footsteps nightly toward thy home, Mingling, perchance, an echo all too deep Even with thy temple worship, Should deal with God alone. THE RULER'S FAITH. What stranger-step Breaketh the trance of grief! Whose radiant brow Beside the bed of death? "She doth but sleep ; The damsel is not dead." A smothered hiss, Contemptuous, rises from that wondering band, Who beat the breast, and raise the license wail Of Judah's mourning. Look upon the dead! Heaves not the winding-sheet? Those trembling lids, How beautiful! Oh, mother! who doth gaze Upon thy daughter, in that deeper sleep, Which threats the soul's salvation, breathe her name To thy Redeemer's ear, both when she smiles In all her glowing beauty on the morn, Or when at night her clustering tresses sweep 331 |