Page:Fisher's drawing room scrap book; with poetical illustrations by L.E.L (1832).djvu/94

36 Or, shame to those weak thoughts, so fain
 * To have their wilful way;

God knoweth what is best for all—
 * The winds and seas obey.

At length a lovely island rose
 * From out the ocean wave,

They took him to the market-place,
 * And sold him for a slave.

Some built them homes, and in the shade
 * Of flowered and fragrant trees.

They half forgot the palm-hid huts
 * They left far o'er the seas.

But he was born of nobler blood,
 * And was of nobler kind;

And even unto death, his heart
 * For its own kindred pined.

There came to him a seraph child
 * With eyes of gentlest blue:

If there are angels in high heaven.
 * Earth has its angels too.

She cheered him with her holy words,
 * She soothed him with her tears;

And pityingly she spoke with him
 * Of home and early years.

And when his heart was all subdued
 * By kindness into love,

She taught him from this weary earth
 * To look in faith above.

She told him how the Saviour died
 * For man upon the tree;

"He suffered," said the holy child,
 * "For you as well as me."

Sorrow and death have need of faith—
 * The African believed;

As rains fall fertile on the earth,
 * Those words his soul received.

He died in hope, as only those
 * Who die in Christ depart—

One blessed name within his lips.
 * One hope within his heart.