SAUL

Holding the Garments of the Murderers of Stephen.

The soldier of Christ to the stake was bound,
And the foes of the Lord had beset him round;
But his forehead beamed with unearthly light,
As he looked with joy to his last high fight.

Beyond that circle of death was one

Whose hand was unarmed with glaive or stone:
But the garments he held, as apart he stood,
Of the men who were bared for the work of blood.

His form was tall and his bearing high,

And courage sat in his dark deep eye;

His cheek was young, and he seemed to stand,
Like one who was destined for high command.

But the hate of his spirit you well might learn,
From his pale high brow so bent and stern,
And the glance that at times shot angry light,
Like a flash from the depth of a stormy night.

'Twas Saul of Tarsus !-a fearful name, And wed in the land with sword and flame

;

And the faithful of Israel trembled ail,

At the deeds that were wrought by the furious Saul.

'Tis done!-the martyr hath slept at last, And his victor soul to the Lord hath past,

And the murderers' hearts waxed sore with guilt, As they gazed on the innocent blood they spilt.

But Saul went on in his fiery zeal ;

The thirst of his fury no blood could quell ;
And he went to Damascus with words of doom
To bury the faithful in dungeon-gloom.

When lo!-as a rock by the lightning riven,
His heart was smote by a voice from Heaven;
And the hater of Jesus lov'd nought beside,
And died for the name of the crucified.

THE MOTHER OF THE MACABEES.

That mother viewed the scene of blood;

Her six unconquered sons were gone;
Tearless she viewed,-beside her stood
Her last, her youngest,-dearest one;
He looked upon her and he smiled,
Oh! will she save that only child?

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By all my love, my son," she said,

The breast that nursed,-the womb that bore,Th' unsleeping care that watched thee,-fed,

'Till manhood's years required no more; By all I've wept and prayed for thee, Now, now, be firm and pity me.

"Look I beseech thee on yon heaven
With its high field of Azure light,
Look on this earth, to mankind given
Array'd in beauty and in might,
And think,—nor scorn thy mother's pray'r,
On him who said it,-and they were!

So shall thou not this tyrant fear,
Nor rec eant shun the glorious strife;
Behold!-thy Battle field is near,

Then go my son, nor heed thy life;
Go!-like thy faithful brothers die,
That I may meet you all on high."

Like arrow from the bending bow,

He sprang upon the bloody pile ;-
Like sun-rise on the morning's snow,

Was that Heroic mother's smile;
He died!-nor feared the tyrant's nod,-
For Judah's law,-and Judah's God.

MOONLIGHT.

'Tis sweet at hush of night
By the calm moon to wander,
And view those isles of light
That float so far beyond her
In that wide sea

Whose waters free

Can find no shore to bound them,
On whose calm breast

Pure spirits rest

With all their glory round them;

Oh! that my soul all free

From bonds of earth, might sever;

Oh! that those isles might be

Her resting place for ever.

When all those glorious spheres

The watch of Heaven are keeping,

And dews, like Angel's tears,

Around are gently weeping;

O who is he

That carelessly

On virtue's bound encroaches:

But then will feel

Upon him steal

Their silent sweet reproaches?

Oh! that my soul all free,

From bonds of earth, might sever; Oh! that those isles might be

Her resting place for ever.

And when in secret sighs

The lonely heart is pining,

If we but view those skies

With all their bright host shining,

While sad we gaze

On their mild rays,

They seem like seraphs smiling,

To joys above,

With looks of love,

The weary spirit wiling;

Oh! that my soul all free

From bonds of earth, could sever;

Oh! that those isles might be

Her resting place for ever.