Page:The Soul of a Century.djvu/86

 And whispered haltingly, their grievous news To the queen. King Abgar slept and did not feel The flow of burning tears that fell Upon his wasted head; nor did he feel The mother’s greying, gently stirring hair With which she deftly wiped the tears away. Suddenly, Abgar opened wide his eyes And the room was filled with pure-white, blinding rays, And He, who was to have been Abgar’s guest Appeared in all the burning glory there And with a tender voice of mystic dreaminess He said to Abgar; “I came unto your house To realize the wish you had expressed. Your city is wondrous, dreaming in the grove, But far more wondrous is my city, O King! Come with me hence! Your soul will rest and heal.”

And while the mother, tremulous with grief, Pressed Abgar’s body to her aching heart, His soul went up with Christ. For he was not Of those whose kingdom is upon the Earth.