The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-11-04
DEATH OF ST. JOHN, THE BE-
LOVED.

Tn growing old. This weary head
/ That hath so often leaned on Jesus breas
In days long past that seem almost, I
Is bent and hoary with the weight oi
Those limbs that followed Him-rny Mas.
From Gaiiiee to Juda: yea, that stood
Beneath the Cross and trembled with His
Refuse to bear me even through the
To preach unto my children; even my lips
Refuse to form the words my heart sends
My ears are. dull, they scarcely hear the
OF my HGV5 own children gathered round my
God lays lays his hand on me--yes. His Hand.
And not His rod-the gentle Hand that 1
Felt those three years, so often pressed
In friendship as such as passeth woman S
I'm old " so old 1 cannot reconect
The faces of my friends, and forget
The words and deeds that make up daily
But that dear Face and every word lie
Grows more distinct as others fade away,
So that l live with Him and holy dead
More than with living.
Some seventy years ago
l was fisher by the sacred sea.
II was at sunset How the tranquil tlue
Bathed dreamiy the pebbles! How the
crept up the distant hills, and in its
Soft purple shadows wrapped the dewy
And then He came and called me. Then
For the first time on that sweet Face,
From out out Of which. as from a window,
Shone
Divinity. looked on my inmost soul.
And lighted it forever. Then His words
The whole world musical. lncarnate
Took hold of me and claimed me for its
I followed in the twilight, holding fast
His mantle
OH what holy walks We had
Through harvest fields, and desolate
weary wastes.
And often times He leaned upon my arm
Wearied and way-worn-l was young and
And 50 upbore Him-Lord, now am
weak,
How strong Thou art! The twilight draws
apace.
What say you. friends?
That this is Ephesus, and Christ has gone
Back TO His Kingdom? Aye, it's SO, It's
l know it all: and yet, just now I seemed
To stand once more upon my native hills
And touch my Master. Oh! how oft I've
seen
The touching of HIS garments bring back
strength
To palsied limbs, 1 feel it has to mine.
Up.-bear me once more to my church!
There let me tell them of a Savior's love,
For, by the sweetest of my Masters S |
voice
lust now / think He must be very near
I truSt break the veil which |
Has worn so thin that can see beyond
And watch His footsteps.
So. raise up my head:
How dark it is! l cannot see |
rhe faces of my flock. Is that the sea
That murmurs so, or is it weeping? |
Ny little = children! God so loved the
lie gave His Son. So love We one another. !
1ove God and man. Amen. Now bear me
back.
Ny legacy unto an angry world is this.
feel my work is finished. Are the
streets so full?
What call the flock my name? The holy
John?
Iay. write me rather Jesus Christ's be-
md lover of my children. Lay me down
)nce more upon my couch, and open wide
ne EASTERN window. See. there comes a
ike that which broke upon my soul at
eve
When. in the dreamy isle of Patmos,
Gabriel came
md touched me on the shoulder. See! it
grows
= when he mounted toward the pearly
gates.
krow the way. I trod it once before.
md harlI. 1t is the song the ransomed
IF Glory to the Lamb! How loud it
sounds,
md that unwritten one! Methinks my
soul
an join it now! But who are these that
crowd
he shining way? say!-joy! tits the
eleven
With Peter first, How eagerly he looks.
low bright the smiles are beaming on
James face,
am the last. Once more We are COM
o gather round the Paschal feast. My
place
next my Master. @ my Lord my Lord!
ow bright Thou art, And yet the same
loved in Galilee. 'Tis worth the hundred
years
0 feel this bliss. So lift me up dear
Lord,
nto Thy bosom. There shall l abide 4
FOREVER.
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