Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-04-04
THE HEBREW's PRAYER.

There is high degree of beauty and power in the
following extract. Itisecpied from the Sd London
edition Of poem called The DEVILS Progress
published in lS49 the titie-page of which announc-
es the author to be the editorof the Court Journal,
but tie poem was written by Thomas j. herver-I
Hebrew kaeIt, in the dying light
His eyes were dim and cold,
The hair on his brow was silver white,
And his blood was thin and old.
He lifted MS look TO the latest sun
For he knew that his pilgrimage was done
And as he saw Gods shaGolc there,
His spirit poured itself in prayer!
81 come unto death g second birth,
Beneath \ stranger ar.
A Pilgrim on 4 dull, cold earth.
As all my fathers were;
And men hare stamped me Wlta curse
7 feel Il is net Thine,
Thy me-cy-lil1e yon sun-Tas made
On me as them-to shine!
And therefore dare | lift mine eye,
Through that-to Thee.-before die.
s.In this great temple built by Thee,
Whose alters are divine,
Bencath yon lamp. that, carelessiy,
Lights up thine own true shrine;
o. take my latest sacrifice
Look down-and make this sod
Holy. SIS that, where long ago,
The Hebrew met his God.
ST have not caused the widows :aars,
Nor dinmed the orphans eye,
have not stained the Virgins years
Nor Knocked the mourning cry.
s'Thc songs of Zion, in mine ear,
Have ever been most sweet,
And aIways~when felt Thee near,
BY, shoes, were of my feet"
At havo known Thee in the whirIaiai,
have known Thee the Hill,
have loved Thee IN the voice OF birds,
Or the music OF the rill.
/ dreamt Of Thee. in the shadow,
/ saw Thee in the light
/ heard Thee in the thunder peal,
And worshipped in the night,
All beauty while it spoke OF Thee
Still made my heart rejoicc es
And nv spirit bo1ed within itself,
To hear thy still small voice"
have rot felt II ysclf thing, 81.
Far from thy presence driven,
By flaming sword or waving wing,
q, Shut out from Thee and Heaven.
.Must [ the whiriwind reap because
My-Eathers sowel the storm,
Orshrink-becausc Gl10tt6y ahmed,
Beneath thy red right arm
Oh much of this we dimly sean,
And much is all unknown
But will not take my curse from H;zHI
turn to Thee. alone
Oh bid my fainJiug spirit live
And what IS dark reveal,
And what is e@il-oL forgive,
and what is broken heal,
and cleanse my nature from above
In the deep Jordan of Thy love-
know rot If the Christian Heaven
Shall be the same mine,
l only ask to be forgiven,
Ard taken home to thine,
weary on a FAR. dim strand,
Whose rnansohs are rs tombs,
And long TO find the fathcr-lind,
Where there are many homes
On grant. of al yon starry thrones,
Some dim and distant star.
Where Judah's lost aud scattered sons,
May lose Thee frcm afar.
When ali Earth's nyriad harps shall meet,
IN choral praise and prayer,
Shall lions harp of old so sweet,
Alone be waiting there,
The Christians scorn-the Christian 8 jest
But let me see-and hear
From some dim mGsion in the sky.
Thy bright ones and thy melody
The sun goes down with sudden CLEAN,
As beautiful lovely dream
And silent as the air
When the vision of dark-eyed girl,
With long and raven hair.
Glides in-as guardian spirits glide
And To- Is kneeiing at his side;
As if her sudden presence there.
Tas sen. in answer TO his prayer.
(0h say they not that angels tread
Around the good mans dying bed
His chIld-his sweet his GInless child
And as he gazed on her,
He knew his g Cd was reconciled,
And this the messenger,Ez
As sure as God had hung on high
The promised bow before his eye
Earth's purcst hope thus 0 oer Kim flung,
To point his heayenward faith, sfE -
And life most holy feeling strung
To sing him unto death.-s--s z.sr- -. 4s
And on his daughters stainless breast.
The dying Hebrew sought his rest -