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THE MADONNA AND CHILD.
15
Thine altars where thy statues stood,
Thy hymns and votive flowers,
Were relics of another age,
Another creed, than ours;
When human was all human faith
And to that faith was given
The likeness of its native earth,
Rather than that of heaven;
When only reason's shadowy ray
Upon the world was thrown,
And every idol's attribute
Had been the maker's own.
Then was the time of gift and vow,
And e'en a purer light
Was long ere it could penetrate
The depths of such a night.
Old superstitions still remained,
And priestcraft next stept in,
To rule by human ignorance,
And work by human sin.
Then was a veil flung over faith,
Then was God's word concealed;
Thank God, for us that veil is rent,
That Book has been revealed.
