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I HE stood on Nebo’s lofty crest, | |
| Above him arched the azure sky, | |
| Beneath the valley was at rest, | |
| A gem in Nature’s pageantry; | |
| Behind him lay the toil of years, | 5 |
| And chains of bondage meekly borne, | |
| And pathways moistened with his tears— | |
| A life of many a pleasure shorn. | |
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II No more for him the drowsy Nile, | |
| Where long had slaved God’s chosen race, | 10 |
| No more the swarth Egyptian’s guile, | |
| The trembling hand, the haggard face; | |
| For he had led his brethren far | |
| Beyond the whip, beyond the chain, | |
| And now beneath the brightest star | 15 |
| Lay Canaan sweet with hill and plain. | |
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III He saw that land whose portals fair | |
| Would never open to his tread, | |
| And Jordan old was flowing where | |
| He ne’er would rest his weary head; | 20 |
| And Amram’s son from Nebo’s crest | |
| Gazed long upon the matchless scene; | |
| An untold longing filled his breast | |
| To reach the promised pastures green. | |
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IV He knew that on the mountain high, | 25 |
| Far from the vale that slept below, | |
| ’Neath heaven’s softest canopy | |
| The ceaseless years would o’er him go; | |
| That Israel, anchored safe at last, | |
| Where Jordan singing, sought the sea. | 30 |
| With toil and danger ever past, | |
| Would, thro’ God’s watchful care, be free. | |
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V In sweet communion with his God | |
| Stood Israel’s leader true and bold; | |
| His grave was not to be the sod | 35 |
| Where Canaan’s rose its petals fold; | |
| He bowed his head and looked no more, | |
| Perchance he for a moment wept; | |
| He knew the pilgrimage was o’er. | |
| God touched him gently and he slept. | 40 |
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VI No mortal eye hath found the place | |
| Where Moses laid his mantle down. | |
| For high on Nebo’s rugged face, | |
| His service done, he won the crown; | |
| Jehovah made that lonely grave | 45 |
| And left His servant old alone; | |
| Afar from Jordan’s sunlit wave | |
| He sleeps, his sepulchre unknown. | |
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