70
POEMS.
And as to one whose thought had fled,
They whispered him his child was dead.
There was no murmur when the word
So dreaded had at length been heard.
And as they watched there came the thought
That the dread knowledge death had brought:
And fearfully they raised the form
There levelled in despair's fierce storm,
And gazed in wonder on the eye,
Fixed on the sleeper dreamily;
Filled with the tears that had the pow'r
To quench the madness of that hour;
And lighted by the holy rays
That had not shone since childhood's days.
With clasping hands and weakened voice,
Faltering with the word "Rejoice:"
Beside his gentle Saviour there,
Egypt's proud ruler knelt in prayer.
R. A.
They whispered him his child was dead.
There was no murmur when the word
So dreaded had at length been heard.
And as they watched there came the thought
That the dread knowledge death had brought:
And fearfully they raised the form
There levelled in despair's fierce storm,
And gazed in wonder on the eye,
Fixed on the sleeper dreamily;
Filled with the tears that had the pow'r
To quench the madness of that hour;
And lighted by the holy rays
That had not shone since childhood's days.
With clasping hands and weakened voice,
Faltering with the word "Rejoice:"
Beside his gentle Saviour there,
Egypt's proud ruler knelt in prayer.
R. A.
