Quickly earth’s jewels disappear; The turf, whereon I tread, Ere autumn blanch another year, May rest above my head. Touched by the finger of decay [20] Is every earthly love; For joy, to shun my weary way, Is registered above. The languid brooklets yield their sighs, A requiem o’er the tomb [25] Of sunny days and cloudless skies, Enhancing autumn’s gloom. [Page 396.] The wild winds mutter, howl, and moan, [1] To scare my woodland walk, And frightened fancy flees, to roam Where ghosts and goblins stalk. The cricket’s sharp, discordant scream [5] Fills mortal sense with dread; More sorrowful it scarce could seem; It voices beauty fled. Yet here, upon this faded sod,— O happy hours and fleet,— [10] When songsters’ matin hymns to God Are poured in strains so sweet, My heart unbidden joins rehearse; I hope it’s better made, When mingling with the universe, [15] Beneath the maple’s shade. Christ My Refuge O’er waiting harpstrings of the mind There sweeps a strain, Low, sad, and sweet, whose measures bind [20] The power of pain, And wake a white-winged angel throng Of thoughts, illumed By faith, and breathed in raptured song, With love perfumed. [25] [Page 397.] Then His unveiled, sweet mercies show [1] Life’s burdens light. I kiss the cross, and wake to know A world more bright. And o’er earth’s troubled, angry sea [5] I see Christ walk, And come to me, and tenderly, Divinely talk. Thus Truth engrounds me on the rock, Upon Life’s shore, [10] ’Gainst which the winds and waves can shock, Oh, nevermore! From tired joy and grief afar, And nearer Thee,— Father, where Thine own children are, [15] I love to be. My prayer, some daily good to do To Thine, for Thee; An offering pure of Love, whereto God leadeth me. [20] “Feed My Sheep” Shepherd, show me how to go O’er the hillside steep, How to gather, how to sow,— How to feed Thy sheep; [Page 398.] I will listen for Thy voice, [1] Lest my footsteps stray; I will follow and rejoice All the rugged way. Thou wilt bind the stubborn will, [5] Wound the callous breast, Make self-righteousness be still, Break earth’s stupid rest. Strangers on a barren shore, Lab’ring long and lone, [10] We would enter by the door, And Thou know’st Thine own; So, when day grows dark and cold, Tear or triumph harms, Lead Thy lambkins to the fold, [15] Take them in Thine arms; Feed the hungry, heal the heart, Till the morning’s beam; White as wool, ere they depart, Shepherd, wash them clean. Communion Hymn