74
POEMS.
Of the Gardener now in sweet humility
It waited, trusting, trembling;
Then Christ, the Gardener, smiled and said:
"O tree,
This day, in the assembling
Of mine, in Paradise, shalt thou be found.
Henceforth in me abiding,
More golden fruit shalt thou bring forth; and round
Thy root the living waters gliding
Shall give the greenness which can never fade.
While angels, with thy new name sealing
Thee, shall come, and gather in thy shade
Leaves for the nations' healing!"
It waited, trusting, trembling;
Then Christ, the Gardener, smiled and said:
"O tree,
This day, in the assembling
Of mine, in Paradise, shalt thou be found.
Henceforth in me abiding,
More golden fruit shalt thou bring forth; and round
Thy root the living waters gliding
Shall give the greenness which can never fade.
While angels, with thy new name sealing
Thee, shall come, and gather in thy shade
Leaves for the nations' healing!"
BEST.
OTHER, I see you, with your nursery light,Leading your babies, all in white,
To their sweet rest;
Christ, the Good Shepherd, carries mine to-night,
And that is best.
I cannot help tears, when I see them twine
Their fingers in yours, and their bright curls shine
On your warm breast;
But the Saviour's is purer than yours or mine,
He can love best!
Their fingers in yours, and their bright curls shine
On your warm breast;
But the Saviour's is purer than yours or mine,
He can love best!
You tremble each hour because your arms
Are weak; your heart is wrung with alarms
And sore opprest;
My darlings are safe, out of reach of harms,
And that is best.
Are weak; your heart is wrung with alarms
And sore opprest;
My darlings are safe, out of reach of harms,
And that is best.
