The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-04-08
MIDNIGHT In THE HOUSE OF MUIR,
DER.
py KLIzABETB oAxEs SMITH.

alDNlGHT IN THE HOUSE OF MUF
DER.
py ELIzABETH oAKEs SMITH. w
There are more things in heaven and cart
Horatio,
Than ate dreampt Of in your philosophy"
lShokespea'
"MR. ULLMAN--The ha II was very dark.
he gas turned off"
"CoRoNER--Had il never been so before
Ma. ULLMAN-Oh, yes; but it SEEMED UNI
IuALLv DARK"
GCoroner's Inq't on The Burdea Murds
Up the Observation-Disclosures
Walked the weary feet that night;
Hollow echoes answer lonely
To the foot, however light.
Up the staircase, to the broadstair,
Turns he sharply tothe right,
There is anguish in the still air,
Thete are shapes athwarl the sight.
No, the eye was only treasured,
Diamond-like, hidden ray;
/ And by this, the darkness measured,
Shows il darkest ere the day.
w an tud' c'Su uutidf efSUfus
Was that groan from human heans
Was that sob from lips in dying!
There's whisper--"We depart"
Murky thick the blacknes seeme,h,
he gropes although the gloom,
Like TO one, who sleeping dreamelh,
That he wakes within tomb.
And the balusier he hoIdeth
Has cold sepulchral damp,
And the heavy air enfoldeh
Clean and gloom like dying lamp.
There's a vapor, fn,id, stealing
Over all the shudderins sense,
Like a charneI house, revealing
What wn are, The spirit hence.
Sure, The darkness is appalling
Deeper than all midnight gloom
Voices muflled, shriekiug, calling,
Such as fill haunted room.
Thrills the flesh beneath The fingers
OF dim and shadowy band,
And breathing family lingers--
Now, a touch is on the hand,
Now, presence slowly gliding
Up the stairs before his ieel,
Without football, slilly sliding,
Making darkness more complete.
Sure, the way is very darksome-
Sure, the stiffness voice hath found
For through all the chambers lonesome,
Comes call as from The ground.
Thus the stranger upward vending,
Marked how deep The deepened night,
Never kn0wing The wild randing
OF soul upon ils flight.
Unannealsd, and prayerless, driven
To the Judgment seat on bigh-
Unrepented sins unshriven,
"God be merciful," the cry,
Smoihered ere il left the portal
OF the terror.s;ricken bTa,n--
Oh! the cry, so more than mortal,
May We never hear again.
For The blood Of this, our brother,
Cries from ont the startled earth,
And unwillingly our mother
Takes up The monslrous birth;
All her children, where they languish
In her caves and cells profound,
Answer back the cry of anguish
"Human blood is on the ground."
And il reached the deep pavilons
or Gods everlasting throne,
Calling forth lis many millions,
Startled al the anguish-tone.
High archangels downward bending,
From their crystal walls TO know,
What poor human heart is rending
lu It's agonized woe.
Gentle spirits, gref-enfolding,
Chant evan9els low and sweet,
How Gods love is ever holding,
Mercy nearest to His feet;
"God be piiiful," are chanting,
From their dear, supernal spheres,
With their white wings downward slantint
Where exhaie poor human Tears.
Not alone the dear God leaves US,
But with cheering ha1d and voice.
Thua assuaging all that grieves us,
Doubling joy when we rejoice.
: We are neediul each 10 other,
In the battle. field of life
We are needful, friend and brother,
Household links--the husband, wife.
We must walk with kind endeavor--
Not alone, but linked in love,
That Gods angel-bands may never
Fail 10 see MS from above
And the cherubim all flaming,
AS of old at Eden's gate,
In Gods book our record naming,
Round our paradise shall wait.