Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-16
A1efauoria 6az&ttt
SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 1G.
st. John the Aged.

st. 9OH1 IHc AscA.
I'm growing very old. This weary head
That hath so often leaned on jesus breast
10 days oug past, that seem almost dream,
Is beut and hoary with its weight of years.
These limbs that followed him, my Master, ot
From Gali!ee TO judah yea, that stood
Beneath the Cross and trembed with h'5
| groanS,
| Refuse to bear mo even through the streo!s
| TO preach unto ny children. lG'en my lips
Refuse to form tho words my heart send'
! forth
My cars arc dull they scarcely hear the sob1
OF my dear children gathered round my
couch
| My eyes arc dim they cannot sec their tears.
God lays his hand upon mc-yca, his hand
And not his rod-thc gentle hand that
| Felt, those three years, so often pressed 10
mine,
10 friendship such as passcth woman's love.
I'm old, 80 old cannot rccollect
The faces of my friends, and forget
The words and deeds that make up daily
life;
But that dear fac, and every word he spoke
Grow more distinct as others fade away.
SO that | live With him and tn holy dead
More than with the living.
Somo seventy years ago
| was a fisher Dy the sacred sea.
1t was at sunset. How the tranquil tide
Bathcd dreamiy tic pebbles. How the light
Crept up the distant hills, and in it's wake
Soft purple shadows wrapped the dcwy
fields.
And then he came and called nc. Then
gazed
For the first time on that swcot face. Thos:
From out Of which, as from window, shonc
Divinity looked on my inmost soul
And lighted it forever. Then his words
Broke on the silence of my heart, and made
The whole world musical. Incarnatc love
Took hold of nc and claimed for its own;
followed 10 tho twilight, holding fast
His mantle.
Oh ! what holy walks wo had
Thro' harvest fields, and desolatc, dreary
wastes
And oftentimes he leaned upon my arm,
Wcaried and wayworD. | was young and
strong,
And so upboro him. Lord, now | am weak,
And old and feeble. Let me rest on thoc.
So nut Thine arm around me. Closer still.
How strong thou art. The twilight draws
Como tI let US leave these noisy streets and take
The path to Bethany, for Mary's smile
Awaits US at the gate, and Matthias hands
lIavo long prepar'd the cheerful evening
meal
Come, James the Master waits, aud Peter, ace
Has gone somc steps before.
What say you friends?
That this is Ephesus, and Christ has gono
Back to his kingdom? Ay, It's so, It's So
| know it all and yet just now seemed
70 stand once more upon my native hills
And touch my Master. Oh, how olt I've seen
The touching of his garments give back
strength
To palsicd limbs. feel it has to mine.
In bear me once more to my churcl-onc,
more!
There let me tell them Of q Saviour 8 love;
For by the sweetness Of my Masters 8 voice,
Just now | think he must be very near
Coming | trust, to break the vail which time
Has worn 50 thin that can SEQ beyond,
And watch his footsteps.
So raise up my head.
How dark it is. | cannot seem to SEQ
The faccs Of my flock. Ii that the sea
That murmurs so, or is it weeping? Hush,
My little children. God SO loved the world
lie gave his Sou: so love ye one another;
II9vo God and man, Amen. Now bear mo
back.
Nv legacy unto the angry world is this.
| feel my work is Gnshcd. Are tho streets so
full?
What call the folks My name? "r"o holy
John?'
Nay, write me rather Jesus Chrisia beloved,
And lover OF my children.
lay me down
Once moro upon my couch, and open wide
The eastern window. Sec? There comes
light
Like that which broke upon nov soul at eve,
When 10 the d7cary isle OF Patmos, Gabriel
came
And touched me on the shoulder. See, it
grows
AS when VIC mounted toward the pcary gates.
| know tue way, trod it once before.
And hark, il is the soDg the rausoEcd sang,
OF glory to the Lamb. llow loud it sounds.
And that unwritten one. hlcthlnks my soul
Can join it DOW. But who arc those who
crowd
The shining way? Oh, joy, it is the eleven.
With Peter first, how eagerly he looks.
How bright the smiles arc beamlng on James
face.
| am the last. Onco moro VIC arc complete
10 gather round the Paschal feast. My place
Is next my Master. D my Lord, 10y Lord
| How bright thou art, and yet the very same
loved 10 Galilcc. 'His worth the hundred
years
70 feel this bliss. SO lift me up. dear Lord,
| Unto thy bosom. full Of perfect peace.
-Baltin.orc Episc0pal 4Nethoatst.
WILLIAM MURRAY,
~ YTs1