The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-02-21
POETRY.
rrom ,he New York Mirror.

f.
How unconsciously, in the pure reveries oi
boyhood do the exquisite pictures OF the Bible
take form aud color aud enlarge and become vivid
in the glow Of imaginatan! Who has not sat II
church, and during the calm music Of the volun
tary, fed his thoughts upon some passage OF tht
sublime in Holy Writ, which, just read, fingers IL
his ear! It was after such dream, suggested BY
passage Of Scripture, that wrote the lines tina
follow:
II was a green spot in the wilderness,
Touched by the river Jordan. The dark pine
Never had droop'd lis tassels on the moss
Tufne the leaning bank nor on the grass
or the broad circle stretching evenly
To the straight larches, hada heavier foot
Then the wild baron's trodden. Softly in
Through long aisle oi willows, dim and cool,
a Stole the clear waters with their muff1ed feet,
And hushing as they spread into the light,
Circled, the edges of the pebbed tank
Slowly, then rippled through the woods away
Hither had come the Apostle Of the wild,
Winding the rivers course. 'Twasnear the flush
OF eve, and. with multitude around.
Who from the cities had come olt to hear,
He stood breasi-high amid the running stream,
Baptizing as the Spirit gave him power.
His simple raiment was OF came's hair, uI
A leathern girdle close about his loins,
, His beard unshorn, and for his daily meat
\ The locust and wild honey of the wood
3 Butlke the face of Moses on the mount
Shone his rapt counteIance, and IN his eye
Burned the mild fire of love AS he spoke
Z The ear lean'd to him, and persuasion swift
To the chain'd spirit Of the listener stole.
Silent upon the green and slopins bank
Z The people sat, and while the leaves were shook
With the birds dropping early to their nests.
And the gray eve came on, within their hearts
They mus'd II he were Christ The ripping stream
q Still turned It's silver courses from his breast
As he OWNED their thoughts. "l but baptIze,"
He said Z" with wafer; but there cometh One
Z The latchet of whose shoes may not dare
Y Ev'n to unIoose. He wilfbaptizt with fire
+ And with the Holy Ghost" And 10! while yet
The words were on his lips, he rais'd his eyes
And on the bank stood Jesus. He had laid
His raiment off, and with his loins alone
8 Girt with mantle, and his perfect limbs,
In their angelic slighiness, meek and bare,
He waited to go in. But John forbade.
And hurried to his ieet and stay'd him there.
And said, "Nay, Master! have need of thine,
Not thou of minei" And Jesus with smile
OF heavenly sadness met his earnest looks,
And answered "Suffer il to be 50 now;
For thus it doth become me to fulfil
All righteousness. And, leaning to the stream,
He 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 casped hands
Laii on his breast tn Apostle silently
Followed his master's step--when 10 light,
Bright as the tenfold glory of the sun,
Yet lanbent as the softly burning stars,
Enveloped them, and from the heavens away
Parted the dim blue ether like veil;
And asa voice, fearful exceeding.
Broke from the midst This IS my much lou 'dson,
In ,chom I am ,ceU pirased," snow-whlte dove,
Floating upon its wings, descended through,
And shedding swift music from its plumes,
Cir,led, and hutter'd to the Saviour's breast.
N. w. P.