Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-07-29
From The .Ne,U Ymk Mirror.

How unconscously, in the pure reveres Of boy.
hood, do the exquisite pictures Of the Bible take
form and color, and enlarge and become vivid in the
glow Of i'm ,ginaton Who has not sat in church.
and during the aim music of the voluntary fed his
though, upon some passage of the sublime in Holy
Writ, which, Just read, fingers in his ear II
after such dream, suggested by passage Of
Scripture, that we wrote the lines that follow;
II was green spot in the wilderness,
Touched hy the river Jordan. The dak pine
Never had droppd its tassels on the moss
Tuf,ing the leaning hank; nor on the grass
Of the broad circle stretching evenly
To the straight larches. had heavier foot
Than the wild hcron's trodden. Softly in
Through long aisle Of willows, dim and cool,
Stole the clear waters with their muffled feet,
And hush;ng as they spread into the light,
Clrced the edges Of the pe'hled bank
Slowly then rippled through the woods away.
Hither had come tn Apostle Of the wild,
Winding the rivers course. Twas nor the flush
Of eve, and, with multitude around,
Who from the cities had come out TO hear,
He stood breasthgh amid the running stream,
Baptizing the Spirit gave him power.
His simple raiment was of camei's hair,
A leathern eirdle close about bis loins,
His he ,rd nnshorn. and for his daily meat
The locust and wild honey Of the wood
But like the face Of Moses on the mount
Shone his rapt countcnance, and in his eye
Burned the mild fire of love AS he spoke,
The ear lean'd to him, and persuasion swift
TO the chnin'd spirit fthe listener stole.
Silent, upon the green and soping bank,
The people sat, and while the leaves were shook
With the birds dropping ealy to their nests,
And the gray eve came on. within their hearts
They musd if he were Christ. The ripping stream,
Still turned its silver courses from his breast
As he OWNED their thought. ~ bu, haptize,"
He said, with water; but there comeih One
The latchcs, Of whose shoes may not dare
Ev'n to unloose. He will haptize with fire
And with the Holy Ghost And 10! while yet
The words were on his lips, he ras'd his eyes
And on the bank stood Jesus. He had laid
His raiment oil. and with his loins alone
Girt with mantle, and his perfect limbs,
In their angelic slightncss. merk and bare,
He waited to 60 in. But John forbade,
And hurried to his feet and stay'd him there,
And said, "Nay, Master have need of thine,
Not thou of mine ~ And Jesus. with a smile
OF heavenly sadness, met his earnest looks,
And answered, "Sulfer il to be so now;
For thus it doth become me to fulfil
All richteouness" And, leaning 20 the stream,
lie took around him the Apostles arm
And drew him gently to the midst
The wood
Was thick with the dim twilight as they came
Up from the water. With his clasped hands
Laid on his breast, tn Apostle silently
Followed his masters s,eps-when 10! light,
Bright rs the tenfold glory Of the sun,
Yet lamhen, a. the softly burning stars,
Envrlop'h them. and from the heavens away
Parted The dim blue ether ike veil;
And as a voice, fearful exceedingly,
Broke from the mids': "1hiS is my much iOu'd sol,
T., h., 7 ,,.,U ,,IcospH white dove
Floating upon its wings, descended through,
And shedding a swift music irnm its plumes,
Circled, and au,,er'd to the Saviour's breast.
N. p. w.