The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-10-27
John Alden

John Alden
Into the open air John Alden, per-
picked and bewildered,
Rushed like 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 it's 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 DER 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 me-"
Like an awakened conscience, the
sea was moaning and tossing,
Beating remorseful and loud the mu-
table sands of the sea-shore.
Fierce in 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 1t 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 Numbered a
voice, like the voice of the
prophet:
ut 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 self-condemnation
Overwhelmed him at once; and he
cried in the deepest contrition:
ut hath displeased the Lord! It 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 a phantom,
Stops. then quickens his pace, and
follows the beckoning shadow.
Yes, it 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 its waters around me,
Hiding me, cutting me OF, from the
cruel thoughts that pursue me.
BACK VIII l go DER the ocean, this
dreary land will abandon,
Her whom l may not love, and him
whom my heart has offended.
Better to be in my grave in the green
old churchyard in England,
Close 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 a
buried jewel that glimmers
Bright on the hand that is dust, in the
chambers Of silence and dark.
ness
Yes. as the marriage ring Of the great
espousal hereafter!"
Thus 90 he spake. he turned, In the
strength Of his strong resolution
Leaving behind him the shore. and
hurried along in the twilight,
Through the congenial gloom Of thu
forest silent and somber.
TN 10 bshSld the lights in the seven
houses Of Plymouth,
SHINING IKE seven stars In the dust
and mist Of the evening.
eooo ~ sntscsd his door. ana found
~ rsdoubtabis Captain
seans aloae. and absorbed II ~
martial pages Of Caesar,