He's faithfu' that hath promised, he'll surely come again, He'll keep his tryst wi' me, at what hour I dinna ken; But he bids me still to wait, an' ready aye to be, To gang at ony moment to my ain countree. So I'm watching aye, an' singin' o' my hame as I wait, For the soun'ing o' his footfa' this side the shining gate; God gie his grace to ilk ane wha listens noo to me, That we a' may gang in gladness to our ain countree. MARY LEE DEMAREST. * * * * * COMING. "At even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning."--Mark xiii. 35. "It may be in the evening, When the work of the day is done, And you have time to sit in the twilight And watch the sinking sun, While the long bright day dies slowly Over the sea, And the hour grows quiet and holy With thoughts of me; While you hear the village children Passing along the street, Among those thronging footsteps May come the sound of _my_ feet. Therefore I tell you: Watch. By the light of the evening star, When the room is growing dusky As the clouds afar; Let the door be on the latch In your home, For it may be through the gloaming I will come. "It may be when the midnight Is heavy upon the land, And the black waves lying dumbly Along the sand; When the moonless night draws close, And the lights are out in the house; When the fires burn low and red, And the watch is ticking loudly Beside the bed: Though you sleep, tired out, on your couch, Still your heart must wake and watch In the dark room, For it may be that at midnight I will come. "It may be at the cock-crow, When the night is dying slowly In the sky, And the sea looks calm and holy, Waiting for the dawn Of the golden sun Which draweth nigh; When the mists are on the valleys, shading The rivers chill, And my morning-star is fading, fading Over the hill: Behold I say unto you: Watch; Let the door be on the latch In your home; In the chill before the dawning, Between the night and morning, I may come. "It may be in the morning, When the sun is bright and strong, And the dew is glittering sharply Over the little lawn; When the waves are laughing loudly Along the shore, And the little birds are singing sweetly About the door; With the long day's work before you, You rise up with the sun, And the neighbors come in to talk a little Of all that must be done. But remember that _I_ may be the next To come in at the door, To call you from all your busy work Forevermore: As you work your heart must watch, For the door is on the latch In your room, And it may be in the morning I will come."