Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-20
THE UNION AND AMERICAN.


1t is beautiful and just idea, that in
the most vicious and degraded of human
souls there is ever a vague longing for and
possibility of good, which, if appealed to
by the principle of good, tenderly simpli-
flying itself to its low capacity, wiIlsurely
develop into sympathetic virtue The
philosophy of this idea is simply and ex-
quisitely illustrated by R. c. Prutzis pa
thetic little poem of "Tbe Robber, which,
being scarcely known TO the readers of
English, is here translated:
At cross-road Of the forest,
In the Crucihx's shadow,
Stood the treacherous robber, waiting:
In his hands the shining sabre
And the darkly cleaning rifle
Waiting to surprise the merchant,
Who, with goods and money laden,
From the msrket-town had started.
Sunken was the sun already,
And through clouds the moon was glancing
or the robber, peering, waiting,
In the CrucihKs shadow.
Harkl there sound, like areels' voices,
Softest sighs; and loving prayers
Come, as clear as bells Of evening,
Borne uron the twilight zephyr;
Sweet, with unsccust0med cadence.
Steals the prayer upon his hearing,
And he bends his head to listen
''Oh, Thou Guard Of tho defencslessi
OF the lost Thou kind Protectorl
Lend, oh lend Thy heavenly presence,
Bright and eurhke, blessed, smiling,
Over us, poor little children
Open wide those arms so loving,
That we're on the Gross extended,
Like two wings to shelter father
That no storm beset his pathway,
That his good steeds may not stumble,
And no trescherous rObber, lurking
In the forest, may surprise him.
Oh, Thou Guard Of the defenceessi
OF the lost Thou kind PrOtectorl
Bring us home our dear, good fatherW
And the robber hears distinctly
In the Crucinxs shadow
Crossing his unsuilied forehead
With the holy sign, the youngest
Folds his baby hands, and whispers:
''Biessed Christ! Thou art almighty,
Sitting on the throne Of Heaven,
Under stars 30 shining, golden,
Cluster'd round with joyous angels,
As the nurse has often told me-
Oh, be merciful dear Saviour,
Give the robbers, hungry, daring,
Give them bread in greatest plenty,
That they need no more to plumber,
Nor to murder our dear father!
Did know q robbers dwelling,
This gold chain I'd gladly give him,
With this crucifx and girdie,
Saying, dearest, dearest rObber,
Take this chain, and cross, and girde,
That thou need no more to plumber,
Nor to murder our dear fatheri"
And the robber hears distinctly
In the CruciAxs shadow.
DistAntly sound arises
Noise OF wheels, and horses tramping;
Leisurely he grasps his sabre
Leisurely the loaded rife:
And thus stands he long, rejecting,
In the Cruciaxs shadow.
Still tho little ones are kneeling:
''Oh, Thou Guard Of the defenceless.
OF the lost Thou kind Protector!
Bring us home our dear, good Fatherm
And the father, unmolested,
All his goods and gold in safety,
Through the gloom Is seen approaching,
Clasps the children to his bosom,
Blessed lisping, sweetest kisses!
Where no longer stood the robber,
They but found the naked sabre,
Found the darkly cleaning rife,
In the Crucifi1's shadow:
From his hands they both had fallen!
In this quiet, yet wonderfully dramatic,
tue picture in verse, the spirit OF Good, 1
ovingly simplifying itself TO the crude,
ldefnite better capacity of Evil, is happi.
2 personified as a little child praying
,r a fathers safety, and, at the same
me, ingenuously invoking blessings for
lat fathers enemies. The philosophy of
le picture is perfect, and suggests much
lore than pretty, child-like sentiment.
he good that would develop one glimmer
its own fair likeness in a fallen soul,
ust approach its task with that perfect
eedom from all intellectual or sancti-
onious pride which charscterizes the in
ocence of childhood, and becomes, even
J child praying with child, Sin the cruci-
KS shadow"