Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-11-30
The Legend BcautIfil.

That Is what the vision said.
In his chamber all alone,
Kneeling on the floor OF stone,
Prayed the monk in deep contrition
For his sins of indecision,
Prayed for greater self-denial,
In temptation and in trial
1t was MONDAY by the dial,
And the monk was all alone.
Suddenly, as Heightened,
An unwonted splendor frightened
All within him and without him
In that narrow cell of stone;
And he saw the blessed vision
Of our Lord, with light Elysian
Like a vesture wrapped about aim.
Like garment round him thrown.
Not as crueified and slain,
Not in agonies of pain,
Not with bleeding hands AMI feet,
Did the monk his master see;
But as in the village street,
In the house or harvest field,
Halt and lame and blind He healed,
When He walked in Galilee.
In an attitude imploIing,
Hands upon his bosom crossed,
wondering, worshipipg, adoring,
Knelt the monk in rapture lost.
Lord. he thought, in heaven thai reignes
Whom am I that thus Thou d.eignest
To raveal Thyself to me?
Who am l, that from the Center
OF Thy glory, Thou shoulast enter
This poor cell, my guest to be
Then amid his exalta'ion,
Loud the convent bell ap paDing,
From it's belfry calling. calling,
Rang through court and corridor,
With persistent iteration
He had never heard before.
1t was now the appointed hour
When alike, in shine or shower,
Winters cold or summers heat,
To the convent portals came,
Ali the bind and halt and lame,
AL the eggars of the street,
For Their daily dole of food
Dealt them by the brotherhood
And their almoner was he,
Who upon his Bonded knee,
Wrapped in silent ecstasy
Ofdivinost self-surrenden
Saw the vision and the spfendor.
Deep distress and hesitation
Minded with his alteration;
Should he go, or should he stay
Should he leave the poor to wait,
Hungry, at the convent gate,
Till the vision passe / awayI
Should be slight his heavenly gues'.
Sight this visitant ce estial,
For crowd of ragged, bestial
Beggars at the convent gate
Would the vision there remain
Would the vision come again
Then voice within his breast
Whispered audihly and clear,
AS if to the outward ear:
"Do thv duty that is the bess.
Leave unto thy Lord the rest %
Straight way to hrs feet he started.
And with longing look intent
On the BILE ssed visica bent.
Slowly from his cell departed,
Slowly on his errand went.
At the gate the poor wera waiting
Looking through the ircaa grating.
Wi b that terror in tina eye
That 8 only seen In, these
Who, amid their wantssnd woes,.
Hear the sound Of dolrs that close,
And Of feet hat pass hem by;
Grown familiar wi h disfavor,
Crown fam liar with the SAVIOR
OF the bread by which men Die
But today they know not why,
Like the gate of Parable
Seemed the convent gate to rise.
Like a sacrament divine,
Seemed to them the bread aud wine.
In his heart the monk was praying.
Thiukirg Of the homeless poor,
What they suffer and endure;
What we see not, What we see ;;
And the inward voice was saying
whats oever thing thou docSt
To the least OF mine aud Lowest,
That thou doest unto mel"
Unto me but had the vision
Come to him in beggar's clethise.
Come a mendicart imploriug,
Would he then have knelt adoring.
Or have lis ened with erisiop.
And have turned away with loathing z
Thus his conscience put the question,
Full of troublesome suggestion,
AS at length, with hurried pace,
Toward his cell he turned his face
And beheld the convent bright
With a supernatural light,
Like luminous cloud expanding
Over floor and wall and ceiling.
But he paused, with awe-struck fee ling,
AT the thresholds of his door,
For the xision still was standing
AS he left it there before.
When the convent bell appalling.
From its berry calling, calling.
Summoned him 70 feed the peos.
Through the long hour intervening,
1t had waited his return,
And he fit his bO1om burn,
Comprehending all The me 4ning,
When the blass-d vision sail,
"Hadsr thou STAYED, must have fed -
Henry ". LonQfelSoa5 In December Atlantic
GOVERNOR FAIRCHILD's PRoCLl