Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-17

POETRY

4.ssgtsb The PrayerIess One. a
He never prays! The God of heaven has watched
DER all his steps, and with that careful eye
Which never sleeps, has guarded him from death,
And shielded him from danger Through the hours
The thoughtless hours Of youth, hand unseen
Has guarded all his footsteps o'er the wild
And thorny paths Of life, and led him on st
In safety through them ALL In later days,
Still the same hand has ever been his guard
From dangers seen and unseen. Clouds have loweret
And tempests oft have burst above his head,
But that protecting hand has warded off
The thunder strokes of death and still he stands
monument Of mercy. Years have passed,
Of varied dangers and of varied guilt,
But still the sheltering wings of love have been
Outspread in mercy DER him. He hath walked
Upon the beauteous earth for many years,
And skies, and stars, and the magnifcence
Of mighty waters, and the warning voice
That speaks amid the tempest, and the notes
Of softer tone that float on evening winds
All these have told him of God who claims
The homage of the SOUL And he has lived,
And viewed them in their glory as they stood
The workmanship of God; and there has breathed
Around him even from infancy, voice
That told Of mercy bending DER him
With looks of angel sweetness-and Of power
Kesistless in its goings forth-but stayed
By that seraphic mercy still he stands,
Cold and unfeeling as the rock that braves
The ocean billows: still he-never prays!
He never praysl A lonely wanderer cast
On life's wild thorny desert, urging on 9
His needless steps through many a secret snare
And many danger. Darkness closes round
His dubious path, save here and there ray
That fits along the gloom but still he seems
From some bewildered meteor Of the night
To ask for guidance and direction still 81
He never prays-
Earth's many voices send their songs 81
Of grateful praise up to the throne ~
Of the Eternal-morning, noon, and night,
On every side around him, swell the notes
of alteration, gratitude, and joy;
The lake, the grove the valley, and the hill,
Swell the loud chorus-and some happy hearts,
Redeemed from error and restored to peace
And blest communion with the Holy One,
Join in the glad, the humble, blissful strain
But still-he never praysl
When evening spreads
Her solemn shades around him, and the world
Grows dim upon his eye, and many stars
Scattered in glory DER the vault Of heaven,
/ Call on the spirit to retire awhile 1882
From earth and its low vanities, and seek
The high and holy intercourse with God
Vouchsafed to mortals here-he never praysi
When morning kindles in the eastern sky,
With all its radiant glory, and the sun
Comes up in majesty, and Ger the earth
Wakes all her active tribes to busy life,
And breaks the death like solitude that reigned
Erewhile DER Natures face; when on his eye
Earth smiles in beauty meath the lucid ray,
And feathered songsters pour their strains of joy
Upon his ear; still not note of praise
Or humble prayer arises from his lips
Morn after morn returns in all its sweet
And peaceful loveliness, and oft invites
His spirit to commune with God but still
He spurns the offer-still he never prays!
Short is the dream of Life. Its days Of care,
Its hours of pleasure, soon will pass away;
And on the wondering eye shall pour the broad
Unceasing splendor of Eternity. w
Oh, when the scenes of Life have faded all
Like morning visions, and my spirit stands
Before the Judgment Throne, and finds its deeds
And words and thoughts all registered in heaven,
Then may it not be found recorded there
Of me-he never prays Fa