Charlevoix county herald., 1911-10-21
John Alden

Into the open air John Alden, per-
picked and bewildered,
Rushed like a man insane, and wan
dered alone by the seaside;
Paced up and down the sands. and
barred his head to the east wind,
Cooling his heated brow, and the fire
and fever within him.
Slowly as out of the heavens, with
apocalyptical splendors,
Sank the City of God, in the vision
of John the Apostle,
So. with its cloudy walls of chrysolite,
jasper, and sapphire.
Sank the broad red sun, and over its
turrets uplifted
Glimmered the golden reed of the
angel who measured the city.
Welcome, o wind Of the East" he
exclaimed in his wild eXultation,
welcome. o wind of the East. from
the caves of the misty Atlantic!
Blowing Ger fields Of dulse. and
measureless meadows of sea-
grass,
Blowing DER rocky wastes, and the
grottos and gardens of ocean!
Lay thy cold, moist hand on my burn
ing forehead, and wrap me
Close in thy garments Of mist, to al
lay the fever within mel"
Like an awakened conscience, the
sea was moaning and tossing,
atiRgJremorseful and loud the mu
table sands of the sea-shore.
Fierce f. his soul was the struggle
and tumult of passions contend
ing;
Love triumphant and crowned, and
friendship wounded and bleeding.
Passionate cries Of desire, and i'm
Fortunate pleadings of duty!
'Is it my fault" he said, that the
maiden has chosen between us?
Is it my fault that he failed,-my fault
that l am the victor?"
Then within him there thundered a
voice, like the voice of the
prophet:
'It hath displeased the Lord!"-and
he thought of David's transgres-
sion,
Bathsheba's beautiful face, and his
friend in the front of the battle!
Shame and confusion of guilt, and
abasement and seif-condemnation,
Overwhelmed him at once; and he
CRIED in the deepest contrition:
"Tt hath displeased the Lord! 1t is
the temptation of Satan!"
Then uplifting his head, he looked
at the sea, and beheld there
Dimly the shadowy form of the May
flower riding at anchor,
Rocked on the rising tide, and ready
to sail on the morrow;
Heard the voices of men through the
mist, the rattle Of cordage
Thrown on the deck, the shouts of the
mate, and the sailors AYE. aye,
sir!"
Clear and distinct, but not loud, in
the dripping air of the twilight.
Still for a moment he stood, and
listened, and stared at the vessel,
Then went hurriedly on, as one who,
seeing phantom,
Stops. then quickens his pace, and
follows the beckoning shadow.
Yes, 1t is plain to me now" he MUIR
INJURED; "the hand of the Lord is
Leading me out of the land OF dark
ness, the bondage of error.
Through the sea, that shall lift the
walls OF It's waters around me,
Hiding ~, cutting me off, from the
cruel thoughts that pursue me.
Back will go DER the ocean, this
dreary land will abandon,
HIo- o.hor. NAV not IOya him
whom my heart has offended.
Better to be In my grave In the green
- old churchyard In England,
trose by my mothers side. and among
the dust of my kindred
Better be dead and forgotten. than liv-
ing In shame and dishonor!
Sacred and safe and unseen, in the
dark of the narrow chamber
With me my secret shall die, like
buried jewel that glimmers
Bright on the hand that is dust, in the
chambers of silence and dark
ness
Yea, as the marriage ring of the great
espousal hereafter!"
Thus as he spake, he turned. in the
strength of his strong resolution,
Leavinln behind him the shore, and
hurrisd along in the twilight,
Through the congenial gloom of the
forest silent and somber,
Till he beheld the lights in the seven
houses of Plymouth,
Shining like seven stars in the dusk
and mist of the evening.
Soon he entered his door, and found
the redoubtable Captain
Sittirc alone. and absorbed In the
lal pages of Caesar.