Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1839/Jacob Blessing Ephraim and Manasseh
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JACOB BLESSING THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH.
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JACOB BLESSING EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH.
"And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand towards Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads."—Genesis, chap. xiviii. ver. 13, et seq.
The old man’s head is white with age,
Weary has been his pilgrimage;
Yet "few and evil" were the years
Spent amid our vale of tears.
At his side there is his son,
He so long unlooked upon;
And a stately chief is he
Whom the father cannot see.
Two young children with soft hair
Bright as locks of childhood are,
Kneel with sweet uplifted eyes,
Touched with infantine surprise—
Wondering, as they look above,
Who is he that claims their love.
Yet familiar seems the prayer,
Words from childhood heard are there.
Earnest is the mother’s gaze—
Hath she gone to other days,
When the father of her child
Was betrayed—oppressed—exiled?
Weak the old man’s voice and low,
Through her soul it seems to go.
Piercing many a future hour
With the prophet’s mighty power.
Peace upon each spirit came,
As he blessed them in God’s name;
Holy are the words and high,—
And the old man turns to die.