Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/90

 Then they both knew what the meaning
 * Of this strange scene did imply,

And upon each Christmas midnight
 * To the church they went to spy,

Who of all their living neighbors
 * To the grave was drawing near,

For not one that they saw praying
 * Would outlive the coming year.

And one year they looked with horror—
 * Thought it was the Judgment day!

For the church was filled with people
 * Sitting, crowding all the way;

And they could not count the number— Filled were they with horror great. But next year the plague came raging,
 * Many people met their fate.

And as once they went to notice
 * Who should die the coming year,

With a start of inward terror
 * Saw the warden, himself near.

He was kneeling by the threshold
 * And the priest the mass did say

Then they knew, beyond all doubting,
 * This year they should pass away.

Then they knelt in earnest prayer,
 * While the priest, his hands upraised,

Saying, “Oh, Almighty Father,
 * Be Thy name forever praised!

Grant that death may find us worthy
 * Of that heaven Thou hast won.”

And the warden answered humbly,
 * Father, let Thy will be done.”

And they praised the Lord while living,
 * Lying down, and getting up;

Giving to the poor and needy,
 * What they had on plate and cup.

Very heedful of their footsteps,
 * Not to miss the narrow way,

And before the year was finished
 * Both in God had passed away.