| Show t i i iA A 1 Li Lie cL i r t e i f z Ii r I r S k fJ fJ t r f J fJ 1 In the dome of the abbeys lone height lJ Thrilled the tones of a quiet and simple refrain 1 And the echoes crept out on the dim sobbing night q I And were home borne the lowering mist of the rain I With a smile that had lost all its haughty disdain Breaking over the gray of his wizened old mien mient t Stood p form at the portal who paused to survey As the lowly flock should make way in their hearts r For the peace of the Princes own day dayo o Calm and rapt were the faces uplifted in prayer I To the cross with its Burden enshrined in each soul soulAs soulAs As they worshiped the Sanctified welcoming there And in humble devotion drew into his fold Crude and lowly and childlike in trust to behold I in silence Prince Carlos gazed over the scene r rJ C J Oer the forms that were kneeling in simple array r I Oer the dim narrow aisle with its carpet of sand And the cross at the altar rude graven and gray Prone to linger he passed the dim curtained door i j And was whirled the darkness and calm of the storm To the brilliant cathedral ere vespers were oer Q On his mantle mantIe tile the light shimmered fulgent and warm wann 0 And as courtiers paused and bowed low to his form I Oer his lips thrilled the murmur How precious is power J 1 JAnd And how grateful tonight is the tl e heart that I bring e s For the rank that exalts me in honor and ease To repose in the trust and the smile of the king 1 A i 1 tl 9 a murmur by flattering pageants unheard i q 11 And the empty thanksgiving was lost in the throng j t But engulfed in this his own feeble heart every word Cried for meaning and stirred as in passionate song 3 Woke the echo Humility only is strong h tI And Prince Carlos sank back on his crimson hung chair t But the smile on the kingly face close to his side I o With the warmth of the royal hands clasping was dimmed And the furrowed old visage grew stern in its pride o le With the vesper hymn stirring steeple and dome And the vesper bells pealing their song in the rain i Like a thunderous dinning each tone o Clanged the storm in his heart that was throbbing with pain But he fancied a solemn voice whispered his name Speaking out from the cross with its garlands of bloom Oer the odorous incense and flowers winged breath II Let the sinner prepare and the haughty submit p For the Sinless has suffered an and d yielded to death ut o 66 Ja A AAA I A t J V r r rf l I r I f 1 I J t r e r r Jt i t 1 rIm rm cE t i r iI In his chamber all mellow with light light Where the shadows like spectres played over the well j jLong Long he tossed the stillness that reigned with the night And in dreams of the natal day soot soon to befall Fought the fight of rebellion with dark thrall From the vistas of fame burnished years Issued of phantoms to claim him their own As they pointed with fingers relentless and grim To his lifes vain advar e a with its harvests unsown Once he dreamed that with knights of mediaeval renown And with vassals attending in glittering mail Over deserts he toiled and forests dark frown As he searched the world for the mystical Grail j jAnd And in fear of the end should he falter or fail He awoke as a voice that had guided his dream Seemed to whisper of promise and triumph to be Swelling softly the shadows that compassed him round Till they rang with the solemn words Follow thou me I IA IR R A AM AAA Rt AA P Clear and calm IS as a chime breathed the quiet word y ry 1 I Come Like the tone of an anthem sublime g gAnd t t Ij And with fingers unsteady and eager and numb Wide he opened the lattice that clanged to the wind p 1 In his breast stirred a joy all unknown nor defined 0 As he stepped from the casement out into the storm 0 Where the rain dripping over the dim hanging eaves Drenched the vestments that clung to his shivering form j Ere it fell feU with his tread on the dank trampled leaves ef the castles broad portals and out on the hill g Past the gaunt sighing oaks and ancl the wide swelling stream Over fields with their seeds lying shrouded and still f l lOn On and on like a spectre that glides a dream 4 e Toiled the wavering steps in the darkness unseen g Prince of Peace great Redeeming One teach me thy will willi rj 1 t tRang Rang the cry from his heart long a stranger to prayer rk 1 Till beyond where a lonely hut lifted its height tt t Y f fRose Rose a voice like an answer awaiting him there y i fi t o Low and wretched with poverty stamped at its door w jar Rude and mean as the squalor it mirrored within Crouched the lowly abode of the crushed and the poor Far removed stood its frown from the worlds eager din 1 s r Like a fugitive hiding the blot of his sin And in shrinking Prince Carlos passed in from the rain ct Where a c lighted the threshold of stone M MIn In to tremble with awe in the presence that reigned g Where the scythe of the Reaper crept claiming his own Ot a childs fading eyes that beamed into his face t I r With the dawn of eternity stamped in their blue As the shadows that thronged the desolate place 0 i Mantled oer with a hush that was hallowed and new I IDrew 1 Drew aside for the Angel of Peace to pass s i a child clinging fast to a hardened brown hand g j r rAs As a father bent over the withering form 1 And in silent rebellion crushed backward the pain tOt In a heart that was hardened from conflict with storm sOt i iu u t r I d dg the child of a serf sinking into his rest 1 g I j But the child of a king with a message sublime 9 a Laid a gern studded crucifix down on his breast h hAnd And with trembling lips breathed of the mercy divine I That should welcome a lowly one close to His shrine MI a And a prince and a serf in contrition bent low tai When the feeble life failed in the midnights still hour As the rustle of mystic wings stirred the gloom P PIn In humility only is refuge and power t 11 I Ic c l 1 Oer the abbey all dim from the storm p Broke the days lustrous monarch enthroned in hit the cast Q l lAnd And high over the cross glimmered down on a form I y Lying under its shallow shadow forever at peace t t I When the chimes swelling out on the dawning had ceased Il Strangers lifted the jeweled hands stiffened stiffen cd and chill it And they wondered at finding Prince Carlos alone rt With his silent and haughty lips blanched of their pride s o I a aIn In the smile of a wanderer anchored at home t t BERTHA ANDERSON 4 i o A A 66 |
