Hymns for Childhood/A Father Reading the Bible

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
For other versions of this work, see A Father Reading the Bible.
2880071Hymns for Childhood — A Father Reading the BibleFelicia Hemans


A FATHER READING THE BIBLE.




'Twas early Day, and sunlight stream'd
    Soft thro' a quiet room,
That hush'd, but not forsaken, seem’d,
    Still, but with nought of gloom.
For there, serene in happy age,
    Whose hope is from above,
A Father communed with the page
    Of Heaven's recorded love.

Pure fell the beam, and meekly bright,
    On his grey holy hair,
And touch'd the page with tenderest light,
    As if its shrine were there!

But oh! that patriarch's aspect shone
    With something lovelier far,
A radiance all the spirit's own,
    Caught not from sun or star.

Some word of life e'en then had met
    His calm, benignant eye,
Some ancient promise, breathing yet
    Of Immortality:
Some Martyr's prayer, wherein the glow
    Of quenchless faith survives:
For every feature said—"I know
    "That my Redeemer lives!"

And silent stood his children by,
    Hushing their very breath,
Before the solemn sanctity
    Of thoughts o'ersweeping death.

Silent—yet did not each young breast
    With love and reverence melt?
Oh! blest be those fair girls, and blest
    That home where God is felt!