Cottage Poems Part 4

Her father is dead, and her brother-- And now she alone with her mother Will spin on her wheel, And sew, knit, and reel, And cheerfully work for their living.

To gossip she never will roam, She loves, and she stays at, her home, Unless when a neighbour In sickness does labour, Then, kindly, she pays her a visit.

With Bible she stands by her bed, And when some blest pa.s.sage is read, In prayer and in praises Her sweet voice she raises To Him who for sinners once died.

Well versed in her Bible is she, Her language is artless and free, Imparting pure joy, That never can cloy, And smoothing the pillow of death.

To novels and plays not inclined, Nor aught that can sully her mind; Temptations may shower,-- Unmoved as a tower, She quenches the fiery arrows.

She dresses as plain as the lily That modestly glows in the valley, And never will go To play, dance or show-- She calls them the engines of Satan.

With tears in her eyes she oft says, "Away with your dances and plays!

The ills that perplex The half of our s.e.x Are owing to you, Satan's engines."

Released from her daily employment, Intent upon solid enjoyment, Her time she won't idle, But reads in her Bible, And books that divinely enlighten.

Whilst others at wake, dance, and play Chide life's restless moments away, And ruin their souls-- In pleasure she rolls, The foretaste of heavenly joys.

Her soul is refined by her Lord, She s.h.i.+nes in the truths of His Word: Each Christian grace s.h.i.+nes full in her face, And heightens the glow of her charms.

One day as I pa.s.sed o'er the mountain, She sung by a clear crystal fountain (Nor knew I was near); Her notes charmed my ear, As thus she melodiously chanted:

"Oh! when shall we see our dear Jesus?

His presence from poverty frees us,-- And bright from His face The rays of His grace Beam, purging transgression for ever.

"Oh! when shall we see our dear Jesus?

His presence from sorrow will ease us, When up to the sky With angels we fly-- Then farewell all sorrow for ever!

"Come quickly! come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Thy presence alone can appease us; For aye on Thy breast Believers shall rest, Where blest they shall praise Thee for ever."

Oh, had you but seen this sweet maiden!

She smiled like the flowers of Eden, And raised to the skies Her fond beaming eyes, And sighed to be with her Redeemer

While thus she stood heavenly musing, And sometimes her Bible perusing, Came over the way, All silvered with grey, A crippled and aged poor woman.

Her visage was sallow and thin, Through her rags peeped her sunburnt skin; With sorrow oppressed, She held to her breast An infant, all pallid with hunger.

Half breathless by climbing the mountain, She tremblingly stood by the fountain, And begged that our maid Would lend her some aid, And pity both her and her infant.

Our maiden had nought but her earning-- Her heart with soft pity was yearning; She drooped like a lily Bedewed in the valley, Whilst tears fell in pearly showers.

With air unaffected and winning, To cover them, of her own spinning Her ap.r.o.n of blue, Though handsome and new, She gave, and led them to her cottage.

All peace, my dear maiden, be thine: Your manners and looks are divine; On earth you shall rest, In heaven be blest, And s.h.i.+ne like an angel for ever.

More blest than the king on the throne Is he who shall call you his own!

The ruby, with you Compared, fades to blue-- Its price is but dust on the balance. {233a}

Religion makes beauty enchanting, And even where beauty is wanting, The temper and mind, Religion-refined, Will s.h.i.+ne through the veil with sweet l.u.s.tre.

THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.

The sun s.h.i.+nes bright, the morning's fair, The gossamers {233b}float on the air, The dew-gems twinkle in the glare, The spider's loom Is closely plied, with artful care, Even in my room.

See how she moves in zigzag line, And draws along her silken twine, Too soft for touch, for sight too fine, Nicely cementing: And makes her polished drapery s.h.i.+ne, The edge indenting.

Her silken ware is gaily spread, And now she weaves herself a bed, Where, hiding all but just her head, She watching lies For moths or gnats, entangled spread, Or buzzing flies.

You cunning pest! why, forward, dare So near to lay your b.l.o.o.d.y snare!

But you to kingly courts repair With fell design, And spread with kindred courtiers there Entangling twine. {234}

Ah, silly fly! will you advance?

I see you in the sunbeam dance: Attracted by the silken glance In that dread loom; Or blindly led, by fatal chance, To meet your doom.

Ah! think not, 'tis the velvet flue Of hare, or rabbit, tempts your view; Or silken threads of dazzling hue, To ease your wing, The foaming savage, couched for you, Is on the spring.

Entangled! freed!--and yet again You touch! 'tis o'er--that plaintive strain, That mournful buzz, that struggle vain, Proclaim your doom: Up to the murderous den you're ta'en, Your b.l.o.o.d.y tomb!

So thoughtless youths will trifling play With dangers on their giddy way, Or madly err in open day Through pa.s.sions fell, And fall, though warned oft, a prey To death and h.e.l.l!

But hark! the fluttering leafy trees Proclaim the gently swelling breeze, Whilst through my window, by degrees, Its breathings play: The spider's web, all tattered flees, Like thought, away.

Thus worldlings lean on broken props, And idly weave their cobweb-hopes, And hang o'er h.e.l.l by spider's ropes, Whilst sins enthral; Affliction blows--their joy elopes-- And down they fall! {235}

EPISTLE TO A YOUNG CLERGYMAN.

"Study to show thyself approved unto G.o.d, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."--2 TIMOTHY ii. 15.

My youthful brother, oft I long To write to you in prose or song; With no pretence to judgment strong, But warm affection-- May truest friends.h.i.+p rivet long Our close connection!

With deference, what I impart Receive with humble grateful heart, Nor proudly from my counsel start, I only lend it-- A friend ne'er aims a poisoned dart-- He wounds, to mend it.

A graduate you've just been made, And lately pa.s.sed the Mitred Head; I trust, by the Blest Spirit, led, And Shepherd's care: And not a wolf, in sheepskin clad, As numbers are.

The greatest office you sustain For love of souls, and not of gain: Through your neglect should one be slain, The Scriptures say, Your careless hands his blood will stain, On the Last Day.

But if pure truths, like virgin snows, You loud proclaim, to friends and foes, Consoling these, deterring those-- To heaven you'll fly; Though stubborn sinners still oppose, And graceless die. {237a}

Divide the word of truth aright, Show Jesus in a saving light, Proclaim to all they're dead outright Till Grace restore them: {237b} The great Redeemer, full in sight, Keep still before them.