Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-03-08
WOODSTOCK, W.T., WEDNESDAY, MARCH s, 1875.

The courteous master hears, and thus replies
"Without vain, without grudgng heart
To him who gives all, | yield part ;
From him you come, for him accept it here,
A frank and sober, than costly cheer
He spoke, and bid the welcome table spread,
Then tak'd of virtue till the time OF bed
When the grave household round his hall repair.
Wmn'd by bell, and close the hours with prayer
AT length the world renewd by calm repose,
Was strong for toll the dappled morn arose.
Before the pilgrims part, the younger crept
Near the close cradle, whre an infant slept
And wrih'd his neck the landlords little pride
O strange return grew black, and gaspd and died.
Horrors of horrors what his only son !
How lookd our Hermit when the fact was done!
Not hell, though hel's black jaws in sunder part,
And breathe blue fire. could more assault his heart.
ConIilsd and struck with silence at the deed,
He flies but, trembling, fails to fly with speed.
His steps the youth pursues the country lay
Perplexd with roads servant showd the way;
"A river cross the path the passage ocr
Was nice to find the servant trod before
Long arms of oak an open bridge supplied,
And deep the beneath the bending branches glide.
The youth, who seems to watch time to sin,
Approached the careless guide and thrust hun in:
Punging he falls, and rising lifts his head
Then flashing turns, and sinks among the dead.
Wild sparkling rage inhames the fathers eyes
He bursts the bands of fear, and madly cries.
'Detested wretch But scarce his speech began,
When the strange partner seemd no longer man
HIS youthful face grew more screne sweet
His robe tmnd white, and how'd upon his feet
Fair rounds of radiant points invest his hair
Celestial odours breathe through p1rped air:
And Wings whose colours gterd on the day,
Wide at his back their gradual plumes display,
The form ethereal bursts upon his sight,
And moves in all the majesty of light
Though loud at first the Pilgrims passion grew,
Sudden he gazd. and visit not what to do;
Surprise in secret chains his words shspends,
And in calm his settling temper ends.
But silence here the beautous angel broke,
(The voice of music ravishd as he spoke y
"'Thy prayer, thy praise thy life to vice unknown,
In sweet memorials rise before the throne
These charms success in our bright region find.
And force angel down to calm thy minds
For this commissond, forsook the sky
Nay, cease to kneel thy iellow-servant |.
Then know the truth Of government Divine,
And let these scrupes be no longer thine
"The Maker justly claims that world he made;
In this the right of Providence is laid
Its sacred majesty through all depends
On using second means to work his en's
Ills thus, withdrawn his state from human eye.
The Power eXers his attributes on high
Your actions USES nor controls your will,
And bid the doubling sons of men be still
'What strange events can strike with surprise,
Than those which lately struck thy wondering eyes
Yet taught by these, confess the Almighty JUST
And, where you can't umiddle, learn to trust.
'Ihe great, vain man, who tard on costly tood
Whose life was too luxurious to be goo; ;
Who made his ivory stands with gobets shine,
And torcd his guests to morning draught OF wine;
Has with the cup the graceless custom lost.
And still he welcomes, but with less of cost
"The mean, suspicious wretch, whose bolted door
Neer mov d in pity to the wandering poor,
With him left the cup, to teach his mind
That Heaven can bless if mortas will be kind.
Conscious OF wanting worth, he views the bowl,
And feels compassion touch his grateful soul.
Thus artists melt the sulen ore of lead,
With heapng Goals of fire upon its head :
In the kird warmth the metal learns to glow,
And, loose from dross, the silver runs below
"Long had our pious friend in virtue tlod,
But now the child hafweand his heart from God
Child of his age) for him he livd in pain,
And measurd back his steps to earth ,gain
10 what excesses had his dotage run!
But God to the father took the son.
To all but thee in fits he seem'd to 60;
And twas my ministry to deal the blow.
The poor fond parent, humbed in the DUST
Now owns in tears the punishment was Just
"But how had all his fortunes felt wreck,
Had that false servant sped in safety back
This night his TREASURED heaps he meant to steal,
And what a fund of charity would fail
Thus Heaven nstucs thy mind this trial DER,
Depart in peace, resign and sin more"
On sounding pinions here the youth withdrew
The sage stood wandering as the seraph flew.
Thus lookd Elisha, when to mount on high
His master took the chariot of the sky:
The fiery pomp ascending left the view
The prophet gaz'd, and wishd to follow too
The bending Hermit here prayer begun:
Lord ! as IN heaven, earth hy qoW be done.
Then, gladly turning sought his ancient place,
And pass life of piety and peace.
-PARNELI.