Page:The Christian Year 1887.djvu/198

 What they had deemed her genial wing Was Error's soothing blind.

She treasures up each throbbing prayer: Come, trembler, come and pour Into her bosom all thy care, For she has balm in store.

Her gentle teaching sweetly blends With this clear light of Truth The aerial gleam that Fancy lends To solemn thoughts in youth. -

If thou hast loved, in hours of gloom, To dream the dead are near, And people all the lonely room With guardian spirits dear,

Dream on the soothing dream at will: The lurid mist is o'er, That showed the righteous suffering still Upon th' eternal shore.

If with thy heart the strains accord, That on His altar-throne Highest exalt thy glorious Lord, Yet leave Him most thine own;

Oh, come to our Communion Feast: There present, in the heart As in the hands, th' eternal Priest Will His true self impart. -

Thus, should thy soul misgiving turn Back to the enchanted air, Solace and warning thou mayst learn From all that tempts thee there.

And, oh! by all the pangs and fears Fraternal spirits know, When for an elder's shame the tears Of wakeful anguish flow,

Speak gently of our sister's fall: Who knows but gentle love May win her at our patient call The surer way to prove?