The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-01-03
For the sentinel.l
SABBATH IN THE WEST.
sscated 10 The Rev. J. p. simmons.
BY join 5. REID, ESQ.

BY JOHN = REID, ESQ.
NIGHTS sable mantle in the eastern sky
Gave sign that Morning, nom her silken
couch,
Had woke from sleep and, dock'd in smiles,
Had Joined bright Phobus In his golden car,
And bursting wide the gates of ebOn gloom,
Flashed on the earth a flood flucid light,
bright as that morn when young creation
In life and beauty meath Jehovah's hand.
twas sabbath morn. blest day for wearied
man.
When from aflr, DER hill and lowly vale,
Rose natures anthem TO Jehovah's praise.
swee. was the wild birds note rs from the
bough
ofloftv elm he poured his tuneful strains,
While far beneath the wild bee humm'd its
drone,
Asswift from flower TO flower along it roved.
1be sporttve squirrel Ieapt swift from branch
to branch,
And cracked its nuts, rs not afraid OF man;
1he plough-boy's whistle, and the milk
maids song,
Now both were silent on this Sabbath morn
But bark I the Sabbath bell breaks on the ear
In solemn sounds-it Is the hour for prayer;
When the old servant of the Lord appears
In house not made with hands, deep In the
shade
Ofthe old forest, where the century oak
And giant hemlock form the arch and roof;
Where the bright sunbeams, slanting through
the leaves,
Pour their rich light on natures carpet green,
And warm and Illuminate the sacred grove.
Now pours the village forth Its busy sons
The gray haired SIRE and him in manhood's
prime,
And youths light step, and mothers with
their babes.
1heyoung, The lovely, natures tender buds,
All wend their way TO where the man of God
Proclaims the message of eternal love.
Oh, 1t is beauteous in the morn of life,
While yet the heart with virtue loves 10 stray;
While yet the cheek shows natures softest
bloom,
And like the dew drop on the violet's leaf
The soft eye gIistens, and the pearly tear
Stands on the eye-lash as the tale of woe
The aged servant of the Lord portrays.
Or should his harp In loftier strains resound,
And sing the triumphs of the Prince Of Peace,
When on that morn, foretold by ancient
seers,
The son of Glory from the grave should rise
Radiant in spIendor, like the Orient sun,
Proclaiming unto man the tidingS blessd
OF rich salvation, of redeemins love.
Or should he further soar and plume his wirg
And strong in faith, ascend the deep blue sky
Enwrapt In vision, and afar behold
Heavs MS mighty king arrayed in living light.
While fore Him bend in humble reverence
meet,
Cherub and sersph, with their harps OF gold,
Whose highe st duty is 10 oOey HIS will,
And celebrate from night to morn His praise
Sweet is the task to teach tn immortal soul
The path to glory and of end 'ess bliss;
Sweet TO instruct the youthful mind in deeds
Ofhonor
And OF heavenly lore. Sweet to fulfill
LIES highest duty the messenger of
heaven
And herald OF the great Immortal One.
Like the sweet landscape seen in southern
cline,
When bright the sur descends the western
sky,
And twilight comes, with silken veil OF night,
And DER the world spreads soft her dewy
wing
Such must the evening be of him who walked
And did his duty TO his God and man.
His life has been but one bright summers
morn,
And death comes calmly, like the autumn's
eve,
From branching tree. So sinks his life away.
Dust unto dust again returns, by heavens
decree,
Whilst the pure spirit, soaring upward, flies
To meet it's God and Father In the skies.