Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/89

 Then a chill of horror shook him—
 * And his hair it stood on ends.

With his thoughts in wild confusion
 * From the church his steps he bends.

To the priest he goes, and wildly
 * Tells him of the wondrous tale.

Though astonished the priest calmly
 * Speaks of God who cannot fail.

See this wild fear we must conquer.”
 * Holy water now he takes,

Sprinkles it upon them saying,
 * God will save us for His sake.”

To the church he bends his footsteps,
 * With his own eyes now to see,

While the warden half-dead follows,
 * That strange sight once more to see.

And there truly, he can see them,
 * People that he knows full well,

At the altar they are gazing,
 * They are praying, one can tell.

Not one turns to look about him,
 * They are praying with a will.

As the clock strikes one, the shadows
 * Pass away in silence chill.

Here it changes, there it changes,
 * And the lights fade one by one;

Then the scene grows dim and faded,
 * Like a dream that now is done.

Little time had passed, and several
 * Went from out this world away;

Then another one was bidden
 * All his farewells quick to say;

And before the year was finished
 * Every one that they had seen

Had been called by God Almighty,
 * To a brighter, happier scene.