Litchfield enquirer., 1867-10-17
1)oetrpp.
The following is from MT. J. G. Hol- lands new Poem, Kathrina:"


 /! The following is from MT. J. G. Hol lands new Poem, Kathrina:"
 It was Communion Day. 1 The simple table underneath the desk Was draped with hnen on whose snow was sprea, The feast of lOve-the vases filled with wine, The separated bread and circhng cups. The venerable pastor had come down From his high pulpit, and assumed the seat Of presidence, and, wi.h benignant eyes, Sat smiling on his flock The deacons ali Rose from their pews-four old brown handed men With frosted halr-and took the ancient chairs 1 That hanked the table. All the house was still, Save here and there the rustic of a silk Or folding of a fan and over all Brooded the dove of peace. had no part 1 In the fair spectacle, but could feel That it was beautiful and sweet as heaven, When the old pastor rose, with solemn mein, 1 looked to see the lady lit her head ] But still she bowed ]: and then heard these words !" The person who unites with us to-day, Will take her place before me in the aisle, To give her answer to our creed and speak i ," The pledges of our covenant" Then first saw her face With modest grace she rose Lifted her hat, and gave it to the hand Of companion, and within the aisle Stood out alone. My heart beat thick and fast With vision of her perfect loveliness, And apprehension of the heroism That shone within her eyes and made her act Christ-like sacrifice. O! lily throat and cheeks of faintest rose! O! brow serene, enthroned in holy thought O.! soft, brown sweeps of hair! O shapely grace Of maidenhoOd, enrobed in virgin white! Why in your rapt inconsistencies of me And all around you-in the presence-hal Of God and angels-at the marriage feast Of Jesus and his chosen-did my eyes Profane the hour with other feast than yours? heard the 'sYou Believe" of the old creed Of puritan New England /; and heard ha Of itr Her bow of reverent assent to all The knotty dogmas, and her silent pledge Of faithfulness and fellowship, I saw. These formularies were the frame of oak Gnarled, strongly csrved, and swart with age and Which held the lovely picture of my saint, And showed her saintliness and beauty we'll. At close of the recital and response. The pastor raised the plain, baptismal bowl, And she, the maiden devotee advanced And knelt before him. Lifting then her eyes To him and heaven, with look of earnest faith And perfect conservation, she received Upon her brow the water from his hand. The trickng chrism shOne on her cheeks like tears "KATHRINA, BAPTIzE THEE IN THE NAME OF FATHER, SoN AND HOLY GHOST AMENl' Still kneeling like saint before shrine, She closed her eyes. Then lifting up toward heaven His hands, the pastor prayed-prayed that her soul Might be forever kept from stain of sin; That Christ might live in her and through her life Shine into other souls might give her strength To master all emptation, and to keep The VOWS that day assumed might comfort her In every sorrow, and in deaths dread hour, Bear her in hopeful triumph to the rest Prepared for those who love him.
 All this scene I saw through binding tears The poetry That like soft aureola embraced Within it's cope those two entrusted forms; The eager observation aud the hush That reigned through all the house; the breath
 less spell Of sweet solemnity and tender awe Which held all hearts, when she, the Beautiful, Received the sign of marriage to the Good, Overwhelmed me, and wept. Shall confess That in the struggle to repress my tears And hold my swelling heart, grudged her gift, And felt that by the measure she had risen, She had put space between herself and me, And quenched my hope?
 She stood while courtesy Of formal Christian welcome was bestowed ,se---~ Then straightway sought her seat as though no eyes But those of One unseen observed her steps. | I saw her taste the sacramental bread, And touch the silver chalice to her lips And while she thought of him, the Spotless One Whose flesh and blood were symboled to her heart, And worshiped in her thought, I ate and drank Her virgin beauty-with what guilty sense Of proclamation! .--