Page:All quiet along the Potomac and other poems.djvu/285

 BETTER THAN DIAMONDS. 279

When the shining cross she had worn that night

O er her weary, unquiet breast Took a grander shape, as a prairie church

In the midst of the wilderness ; The diamond drops that had graced her ears,

Transformed, had good tidings to tell, When the voices of grateful saints thanked God

For the sound of the sweet church-bell.

Her gold, shod stronger and fleeter feet

Than her own, for the King s highway, And her little hands held an open purse

Evermore for the pilgrims stay. When safely at last on life s upper stair

She turned by the gateway near, Lo ! a shining cross glittered fair to see

By the banks of the river clear.

There they sang together, the succored saints

And the beautiful ballroom belle, For each had the glowing redemption-song

And the tale of His love to tell. &quot;Better than diamonds,&quot; echoed the harps

&quot; Yes, better than diamonds far !&quot; So the shout rang out through the ransomed ranks,

So repeated the morning star.

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