The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-12-10
" TIE LEGEND BEAUTIFUL"

Avn f.,,ow has contributed to the curre'
Nv of the .4fiaa,c tho following Poet
49,, nm a pleasing and instructive leger
he Convent
=. IJadst ,hou stayed. must nave lieu
THAT liz what the VISION salo'
', hi. CHI amber MI alone.
ifnreIiur ON the iloor OF stone.
PInyri the Monk. in deep contrition
Fo, his slus OF indecisioh
pray.d for greater sclfdenia!,
In Temptation and in trial;
IL was MONDAY by the dial
And the Monk WAS all alonc.
Suddenly, rs if 1t lisktcned,
An unwontod spl. ndor brisntehe"
All within hid, and without MIN.
In that narrow cell OF stone;
And he saw the Blessed Vision
OF our Lord, with light flysiah
Like a yesture Wrapped about hlm'
Like n garment round him thro"n.
Not "A crucifei and slain, -
Not in agonies OF pam.
Not with bleeding hands ana iees'
hid The Monk his Master see;
I'm. as in the village street,
IN the house Or harvest heln -,
halt and lame and blind he heaie"
When he walked in Gaiiiee.
In nm atti, ude imploring.
Hands upon his bosom crossed,
Wondering worshiping, adoIins'
Knet the;Monhs; in IN r n.aven tina. reisnos,
Who am !, that thus thou dsiSnest
To reveal til yself to me-!
W no am l. that from the centre
or thy glory, thou shouldst enter
This poor cell, my guest 10 DC
Then amid his exaltation.
Loud the convent bell appalling
From its beIfry calling. calling.
Rang through court and coInoo''
With persistent iters,tion
lie had never heard before
II was now the appointed hour
When, alike. IN shine or shower,
winters cold or summers heat,
To tho convent portals came
All the blind and halt and lame,
Ali the beRgars OF the street,
For their daily dole OF food
Dealt them by the brotherhood; III
And their almoner was be,
Who, upon his Bonded knee.
wrapped in silent ecstacy
OF diyinest self-surrender
.tSaT the Vision and the Splendor.
Deep distress and hesitation
Mineled with his alteration
s ssoa% he he i f.; "s the i poor to wait
Hungry at tho convent cato
TIL the Vision passed away
should he slight his heavenly guest.
Slight this visitant celestial;
For . crowd of ragged. bestiai
BecRsrs at the convent gateI
Would the Vision there remain!
Would tho Vision come again
Then a voice within his breast
whispered. audibly and clear,
As If to the outward ear:
Do thy duty, that is beat
Leave unto thy Lord the rest
Straightway to his feet 10 started.
And 18th longing look intent
On the Blessed Vision bent,
Slowly from his cell departed,
slowly on his GRAND went
At the gate the poor were waiting,
Looking through the iron grating
With that terror in the eye
That is only seen in those
VI Il tr n q
Hear the sound Of doors that close,
And of feet that pass them by
Grown familiar With disiavor,
Grown familiar with the SAVIOR
or the bi cad by which men die
But to-day, they knew not why
Seemed tie eonl eas gate to rise;
Like q sacrament divine
Seemed to them the bread and wine.
In his heart the Monk was praying,
Thinking of the homeless poor,
What they suffer and endure;
What see not, what we see;
And the inward voice was saying:
- Whatsoever thing thou doest
To the least OF mine ana lowest
That thou doest unto me-!
Unto me. but had the Vision
Come TO him IN beggar . clothing
Come n mendicant mploring.-
Would he then have kneit adoring,
Of have listened with derision,
And have turned away with loathing'
Thus his conscience put the question,
Full OF troublesome suggestion,
As at length, with hurried pace.
Towards his cell he turned his face,
And beheld the convent bright
With a supernatural light.
Like a luminous cloud, expanding
Over floor and wall and ceiling.
But he paused. with awe struck feeling,
At the threshold of his door,.
For the vision still was standing
"A he left il there before,
When the convent bell appalling,
From Its bellfry calling, calling.
Summoned him to feed the poor.
Through the long hour intervening
IT had waited his return,
And he felt his bosom burn,
CompreEepdipG ali the meaning,
When the blessed Vision said:
Hadst thou STAYED, must have fled
HENRY w. LoNGFELLow.