San Andreas independent., 1858-05-29
Written for the San Andreas Independent
The Young Preacher.

lie stood in the time honored Pulpit In his hand
Glittered the gilded volume of praise. mand
Within the glance of his dark eye Faith, and Com
Lay upon his lofty brow like bays;
And yet Meekness blent with all his ways;
While within the harmonious sound of his rich voice,
Was dimly revealed fount of love,
As measureless as Time deep Eternity,
And as boundless as the broad realms above.
Like earthly the clusters of his etty lair
Would wayward steal DER his pallid brow
And ever as they lightly slept unnoticed there
The blue veins stood strongly out: Een now,
Before that gentle majesty bow, Tight
Brought back with fresher by Memorys sacred
And dream-ke tones of voices hushd and gone
While amid the sullen gloom of grefs unchangng night
hail the futures family brightning dawn.
The world 18th all its charms endless pleasure
Had failed to fetter his spirits wing
And borne alot by Faith and Hope sordd treasure
OF earthly honors, could softly fling
Their weight upon his soul: such thing,
(Tho' weak as is common nature and feeby born)
Within faiths crystalline gates neer came;
Or forth upon mad world he would have thrust it back
And on Lis cheek have felt the glow of shame.
Ay as humble as a new born child he stood behind
The old-ashioned altar, soiled and worn;
While an Eden spread out its rare beauties DER his mind
And there, by descending angels borne,
Amid golden clouds all rent and torn,
He saw the martyrs unfading with stars inlad
And the faithful servants tear-bought prize;
Those precious gifts which we can never comprehend
And Know, oniy when in Paradise.
Ana as ne lld back the cover OF the Book of Life,
And spread its truth-bearng leaves apart;
Not waking sound was there to tell earthly strife,
Or dark passions brooding in the heart
OF blghted love, or grefs ranking dart
Covered DER in mockery by joys gayest smile
AS se-thorns are by emerald leaves;
While to the curious glance sweet and gentle calm.
Hides the deep gloom in which the spirit grieyes
Within the darkencd room each breath was softly drawn
And all but the speaking eye mute;
For hoary heads lowbending there and faces wan
With stern want and care, would glances shoot
Toward the altar; where Lifes rich fruit
Was @arnered long by Prophet hands from founs divine
Ere the star of Faith had set in gloom,
To arise in after years DER unbeefs strange night
And wild FanaticismS unholY tomb
Then downward through the shaded ases in liquid tones
His finely tund voice rang clearly out,
Answered betimes only, by those low and heartfelt
Which tell of an inward fear and doubt;
Yet as he slowly turned about
And with his slender finger repanted on the sky,
The fadeless dream ofimmortal bliss; [soon,
Like the mornings fragrant dew each cloud would vanish
And bows Of promise hang DER the abyss.
From a summer-nursing tinted cloud Train,
While smothered sobs but family heard rose up again.
As each better feeling spoke aloud;
Not heart was there too cold or proud
To own its guilt, or in silence to ask for mercy.
Ay! and even he the god-like wept
And the Deep strong OF his earnest soul forth
And a true record of their sorrows kept.
When with accord they meeky knelt that he might
With music on his trembling tongue, [pray
Did the Recording Angel wipe all their sins away;
While golden harps jubilee rung;
And as the last sweetest hymn was sung
And they together stood with brows upturned and bare
Like sentinels guarding Zions wall;
The richest and brightest beam Of waning day few in
And with its stainless glory Hooded ALL
VALLEc1ro May 20th 1858. ALPH.