The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-01-22
TIE RICH YOUNG RULER,
By zITELLA COOKE.

Dear Friends, come nearer, for cannot speak
As was wont to do whea, IN the courts
OF proud Jerusalem, sat and spake
As Ruler of the Jews. How long ago
It seems! All yes, it must be long ago
For was young and rong, and trod the ways
OF man with quick and eager feet and oft
Made ioyful haste to where the solemn chant
OF Davids Psalms made music to my soul
The Temple of the Ever Living Godl
Methinks cen now l see her glorious walls,
Her golden eensers and her incense sweet
That mingled with her peoples glowing prayers!
NV steps are heavy noW-JehOvsh's House
Razed to the ground by cruel heather hands.
Her sacred affairs low-her glory gonel
Can forget thee, o Jerusaleml
Nav. nav. let my right hand her cunning lose,
Nv tongue be mute-mine eyes be closed in death
Ere forget the City of Our King!
The 10y of the whole earth
Throw open wide
The wind,w See, how tenderly the light
Of evening plays upon Judea's hillsl
No shining Temple from her gEttering heights
Gives back the sun his glorions radiance,
And vet methinks his hing ring rays are 10th
To leave the hallowed spot he once so loved
MY Friends read to me from the sacred scroll
The law, in which loved to mediate,
Which have kept from my first youth
Unto this day. Alss-Alas-my youth,
When men did call me beautiful, and loved
To sound my praises in mine esr,-whieh l
Did love too well to hear, nor did know
What strength or weakness in me lay. nor yet
How much lacked to win eternal life.
But there came ne, who looked down IN my hear
And read the deep, mysterious characters
That burned upon its inmost core. The time
When | came running kneeling at His feet,
The look of love, that stirred the very depths
OF being-sre with me now. Not so well
Ny Friends, do remember you.
The day
Was calm and beautiful; the tender earth
Smiled like paradise, beneath the blue
Of heaven; the fragrant air bresthGi harmony
And sweetest peace. Then looking up, saw
The Master, in His arms little child,
Which, with tenderness unspesksble,
He blessed o what masOhless picture there
Divine compassionl - -ChildhoOd's innOcencel
/ followed in the way and kneeing, asked
His blessing. q What shall do good Master
To gain eternal hfe2 The holy Law
Have observed from my youth ups and straight
He gazsd upon me with look of such
Unutterable love that almost
ForsEore earth's joys to follow at His side.
And then He spake and my proud heart was grieved,
For He with God-Ike ken had touched the thing
Of sin, the serpent Self whose poisonous fangs
Till then lurked in their secret hidingplace.
Sell all my vast possessions for the poor
Take up the cross Not so did Moses teach
My heart was sorrowful and forsook
His path-the way that led to truth aud life.
o bitter, bitter thought How Oft felt
Like some deserted soul God had cast off,
Yet in the sunny haunts Of memory
That look divine-ot love inefsble-
Remained, ard through the lapse of after years
1t was my dream, my JOY, my hope that
With trembling hand hugged to my breast
What restless yearuing then possessed my soul
Day after day, listened to the words
OF Him, who spake as God, and oft afar
/ followed as He trod the toisome way,
And when he in the Temple taught, my heart
Did burn within me-