| |
| WITH echoing steps the worshippers | |
| Departed one by one; | |
| The organ’s pealing voice was stilled, | |
| The vesper hymn was done; | |
| The shadow fell from roof and arch, | 5 |
| Dim was the incensed air, | |
| One lamp alone, with trembling ray, | |
| Told of the Presence there! | |
| |
| In the dark church she knelt alone; | |
| Her tears were falling fast; | 10 |
| “Help, Lord,” she cried, “the shades of death | |
| Upon my soul are cast! | |
| Have I not shunned the path of sin, | |
| And chose the better part?”— | |
| What voice came through the sacred air?— | 15 |
| “My child, give me thy heart!” | |
| |
| “Have not I laid before thy shrine | |
| My wealth, O Lord?” she cried; | |
| “Have I kept aught of gems or gold, | |
| To minister to pride? | 20 |
| Have I not bade youth’s joys retire, | |
| And vain delights depart?”— | |
| But sad and tender was the voice,— | |
| “My child, give me thy heart!” | |
| |
| “Have I not, Lord, gone day by day | 25 |
| Where thy poor children dwell; | |
| And carried help, and gold, and food? | |
| O Lord, thou know’st it well! | |
| From many a house, from many a soul, | |
| My hand bids care depart”:— | 30 |
| More sad, more tender was the voice,— | |
| “My child, give me thy heart!” | |
| |
| “Have I not worn my strength away | |
| With fast and penance sore? | |
| Have I not watched and wept?” she cried; | 35 |
| “Did thy dear saints do more? | |
| Have I not gained thy grace, O Lord, | |
| And won in heaven my part?”— | |
| It echoed louder in her soul,— | |
| “My child, give me thy heart! | 40 |
| |
| “For I have loved thee with a love | |
| No mortal heart can show; | |
| A love so deep my saints in heaven | |
| Its depths can never know: | |
| When pierced and wounded on the cross, | 45 |
| Man’s sin and doom were mine, | |
| I loved thee with undying love, | |
| Immortal and divine! | |
| |
| “I loved thee ere the skies were spread; | |
| My soul bears all thy pains; | 50 |
| To gain thy love my sacred heart | |
| In earthly shrines remains: | |
| Vain are thy offerings, vain thy sighs, | |
| Without one gift divine; | |
| Give it, my child, thy heart to me, | 55 |
| And it shall rest in mine!” | |
| |
| In awe she listened, as the shade | |
| Passed from her soul away; | |
| In low and trembling voice she cried,— | |
| “Lord, help me to obey! | 60 |
| Break thou the chains of earth, O Lord, | |
| That bind and hold my heart; | |
| Let it be thine and thine alone, | |
| Let none with thee have part. | |
| |
| “Send down, O Lord, thy sacred fire! | 65 |
| Consume and cleanse the sin | |
| That lingers still within its depths: | |
| Let heavenly love begin. | |
| That sacred flame thy saints have known, | |
| Kindle, O Lord, in me, | 70 |
| Thou above all the rest forever, | |
| And all the rest in thee.” | |
| |
| The blessing fell upon her soul; | |
| Her angel by her side | |
| Knew that the hour of peace was come; | 75 |
| Her soul was purified; | |
| The shadows fell from roof and arch, | |
| Dim was the incensed air,— | |
| But peace went with her as she left | |
| The sacred Presence there! | 80 |
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