Meantime a different scene has quietly Been passing unperceived. That company Of ministering women Rachel found, Salomé, and the Marys, blessed name! With others who had followed and bewailed When Jesus suffered--these, joined now by those From Bethany, with Lazarus, prevailed To edge their way ungrudged through the close ranks Of idle gazers round not undisposed Themselves to sympathize, until they stood Nigh Stephen, and in undertones could speak With him, and hear his words. "Weep not for me," He said, "ye blesséd! I am well content. I think how short the way is, not how sharp, To Jesus where just now I saw Him. There He stood in heaven on the right hand of God. He seemed to lean toward me with arms outstretched As if at once to take me to Himself! I spring toward Him with joy unutterable. I shall not feel the pain, which will but speed Me thither. He hath overcome the world. Be of good cheer, belovéd, ye who wait A little longer to behold His face. For you too He hath overcome the world. Be strong, be faithful, be obedient, A little while--and we shall meet again Safe, happy, in the New Jerusalem, Forever and forever with the Lord. "But Ruth, my wife, yet unbelieving--care For her and for my children! God will give All to our prayers. And Husband He will be To her, and Father to the fatherless." Rachel to Lazarus whispered: "Tell him I, Rachel, Saul's sister, would do something. Ask What I may do for Ruth, to testify A sister's sorrow for a brother's fault. And let him not think hardly, not too hardly, Of Saul who wrongs him so!" And Lazarus Told Stephen, who, with look benign addressed To Rachel, said: "Thou, Rachel, thou thyself, No other, shalt to Ruth my wife convey Her husband's very last farewell; good-night Call it, and bid her meet me there to say Good-morning. Comfort her with words. To Saul Say--when the time comes he will hear, not now-- That all is well, is wholly well. I go-- And that is well--perhaps in part through him, Which seems not well, but is, by grace of Christ, Who thus, in part through me--and surely that Likewise is well--erelong will make of Saul, In Stephen's room, a more than Stephen both To preach and suffer for His name. This hope Be thine, Rachel, and God be with thee, child!"