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Show MAY DEVOTIONS. (An Irish Scene.) By BRIAN O'HIGGIXS in Ave Maria. Fair is the light on the Virgin's altar. Pair are the flowers that cover it o'er, And their scent floats down to the people peo-ple kneeling In rows, far back to the open door. Where the lingering sunlight gleams and sparkle? Ere it hies away to its home of rest. Beyond the crest of the shadow y mountains moun-tains That call it away to the kindly West; And it seems to be waiting, expectant, there For the lirst sweet sound of the fervent prayer: "Pray for us Mother, O Star of the Seal Mary, our hope and our trust is in . thee!" Little bird? peep in at the Virgin's altar; They've come to the door, where the sunlight waits:-. They seem like angels, some bright soul guarding t That waits for its crown at the Golden Gates. Xow they enter Phyly, all hushed and silent. Not a sound they make as they glide around; Their hearts havt silenced the joyous warbling That rang all day o'er the llower-i llower-i strewn ground. And they. too. are waiting and listening listen-ing there For the first sweet sound of the fervent prayer: . . "Guide us, O Mother, sweet Star of the Sea! Mary, our hope and our trust is in thee."" All eyes arc fixed on the Virgin's altar. All hearts are raised to the Virgin ljueen : She is always with them: in woe or sorrow Their souls on Mary for succor lean. And when joy is with them, they praise her for it And bless her name with their every breath: They know that some day she will help to steer them To God through the Valley of Gloom and Death. And with souls upraised they are breathing there The first sweet sound of the fervent prayer: "Help of the weak. 0 Star of the Sea, Pray for us, Mary, our hope is in thee!" Now they are gone from the Virgin's altar. The darkness of evening around it falls; The sun is hidden beyond the mountains. moun-tains. Away in the meadow the blackbird calls. But their hearts bear with them the inspiration .That Mary pives them this evening bright. To toil for God until He shall call them Away to His home in the Land of Light. And still they seem to be kneeling' there And breathing to Heaven the fervent ' prayer: - i "Queen of the Angels, O Star of the ' Sea. Pray for tip, Mary, and guide us to i thee!" ' II |
