iX /^.> 4 • H;6-BATT£RSON • ^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Chapr.?*-*Copyr4ht No........ Shelf...-.>3..? Z^- W§-<7 6 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. VESPER BELLS AND OTHER VERSES jr BY TI^^ REV. H. G.'^BATTERSON, D.D. \P NEW YORK /T^.^X^-V^ JAMES POTT & CO. ^ >>*» v^ Fourth Ave. and 22D Street. 1896. Copyright, 1896, bt JAMES POTT & COMPANY Press of J. J. Little & Co. Aster Place, New York S^diatiott U iU gix^i Mxixm. TO MY MOTHER. IP words of mine one soul may lead From ways of sin and death, to find The place where God that soul shall feed, And to His Throne with love shall bind The weary heart, I ask no more. "What better can I leave behind, Than record of that blessed store Of God's great love for human-kind ? •Seconb (Sbitiott. TO MY WIFE. "FAITHFUL AND TRUE." " When the warmest feelings wither, And the dearest hopes decay ; To thee — to thee — thou knowest, Whate'er my lot may be. For comfort and for happiness. My spirit turns to thee." Beloved best of all on earth by me. Like running brook my love flows on to thee Through months and years, to all eternity. My love the brook ; thy love the open sea, Absorbing love in love, yet giving love to me. Thy heart of hearts, my heart doth rest upon ; And heaven to earth, it bringeth down to me, Till all my soul is filled with sweet and radiant joy, And I have naught to wish. ' ' ^ttfatt. The first edition was entitled " Christmas Carols and other Verses," but the carols form so little portion of the present work, the old title seemed a misnomer. All the verses and carols in the first book are con- tained in this, H. G. B. i!l0titent0. PAGE Vesper Bells i Pleasant Words 3 Kindly Words 5 Ambition 6 Fame 6 An Old Portrait 7 Be Still, Sad Heart 9 AchingHearts ii Little Things 13 The Blue-Bell 14 Autumn 14 Forget-Me-Not . 15 Domine Miserere 16 The Tears of Jesus 19 *"Tis Said he Never Smiled." 24 The Disciple is not Above his Master .... 26 St. Luke's Church, Germantown, Pennsylvania . . 31 How Does the Rain Come ? 34 The Answered Prayer 39 Eternity 42 A Threnody 43 One Hundred Years Ago 44 Pennsylvania : The Prayer of her Loyal Sons . . 46 Long, Long Ago 48 Query 50 The Moon 51 VI CONTENTS. That Dainty Finger The Beautiful Sea . . . , Daisy's Cat ...... Forty-Nine To Mr. Richard E. Burton To My Mother To a Lady on her Sixty-Seventh Birthday To a Lady on her Seventy-Ninth Birthday To T. H. F To J. M. R. on his Twenty-First Birthday In Memoriam ..... Sympathy ..... Hymns and Carols : Advent ...... The Bridegroom Cometh The Christmas Bells .... Joyfully, Joyfully, Angels are Singing Carol ...... On the First Bright Christmas Day The Epiphany ..... The Star of Bethlehem The Holy Child . Good-Friday Lent Easter He is Risen ! He is Risen An Easter Carol Bright Easter Day Ascension Whitsuntide Come, Holy Spirit Faith, Hope, Charity Hymn to the Trinity S. Barnabas SI 52 53 55 57 59 61 63 64 66 68 70 73 75 77 79 81 82 84 85 87 90 92 94 96 97 98 99 100 102 103 104 105 CONTENTS. Vii PAGE Saint Augustine io6 Saint John Baptist io8 "Theotokos" no The Good Shepherd 112 The Cross 114 The Cross of Jesus 115 Light of the World 116 Penitence . . . . . . . . .118 Adoration ......... 120 The Name of Jesus 122 Evening Hymn ........ 124 Forgiveness . . . . . . . .125 Hymn for a Mission 127 Lenten Hymn ........ 129 Children . . * 130 Jerusalem 131 Thine Forever 133 Except it Die 134 Adeste Fideles 135 Wanderers : Dear Guiding Presence 143 Self- Surrender ,145 He Careth for Thee .,...,. 147 The Tapestry Weavers 149 besper i3eU0* The rosy clouds fade in the west, And pass away from sight, While o'er the mountain's rugged crest (Sweet harbingers of night ! ) The vesper bells ring out the praise Of Him who crowns with love the days, We in His Name delight. The storm-clouds gather, dark and gray. As evening shades draw near ; The pealing thunder far away Falls trembling on the ear ; Yet still the evening bells awake The vesper call, our prayers to make In love and holy fear. The drifting snow goes flying fast O'er cottage and o'er hall ; The storm-tossed ships ride in the blast, Nor fear what may befall ; While evening bells once more we hear. As bidding men no storm to fear For God is all in ail. I VESPER BELLS. In cloud or sunshine, joy or woe, God's love is still the same ; His arm protects from every foe, If, trusting in His Name, At sound of evening bells we haste And bend the knee that love to taste In consecrated fane. 'Tis not alone the music sweet Of those dear bells we hear ; But to those hearts attuned to meet Our God, by faith so near, They tell of glory all our own, When we before the Great White Throne, Freed from our bonds, appear. pleasant tDor&s. "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." — Proverbs xvi. 24. Pleasant Words are full of sweetness To the heart oppressed with care ; Peace they bring, and bounteous gladness, Light and love the garb they wear. Treasured more by far than rubies, Yet, alas ! how sadly rare ! Pleasant Words come to the weary Like a sweet and dreamless sleep ; Strength, and life, and health bestowing, As from fountains broad and deep. Welling up in sandy deserts Sparkling waters onward sweep. Pleasant Words are words of comfort, Messengers of trust and love, Laden well with richest blessings From the treasure-house above ; Borne on wings of hope and mercy, Gentle as the Holy Dove. PLEASANT WORDS. Pleasant Words of quiet meekness Scatter doubts and banish fears ; Angry tongues may gather round us, Crushing hopes and causing tears ; Words of kindness heal the anguish, Darkness flies, and light appears. FIeasa?it IVords of large compassion Spring from tender hearts and true ; Strong with gladness, hope and courage- Ever old and ever new, Leading souls with sorrow burdened Earth's dark journey safely through. Pleasant Words are like the noonday, Cheering with a glad delight ; Falsehood's breath may scorch and hurt us, Turning all our day to night : Friendship's words of trustful pleading Cover all our paths with light ! mnUu toorba •' He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil."— S. Luke : vi. 35. Do you know there is some one waiting For that kindly word of yours : A heart that is sore, with its aching Sad burden of sorrow's hours ? Do you know a voice that is crying For love both tender and true : Of Faith, in a heart that is dying For a word of love from you ? Speak ! One word, to that heart now breaking. That Brother of yours and mine : Oh trust me : — new life will be waking. New light in those eyes will shine. Wait not for the morrow that's coming, To-morrow will never be ; To-day is the time for our doing. The time for you and for me. Speak now ; for the day is fast waning, And darkness will come apace : If a soul you would now be gaining, Speak the Love that's in your face. KINDLY WORDS, Help, help for a life that is broken : A word that is clear and true ; The "kindly word," just now, if spoken, A blessing will bring to you. 'Twill banish despair and its blindness, From a faint and weary one ; One word that is full of God's kindness, And a life-work you have done. Ambition. A BUBBLE, quickly blown in air, And shining : Oh ! so wondrous fair ! 'Tis gone ! And nothing left behind, But disappointment, and the wind ! JTame. 'Tis but the writing of a name On air. The zephyr comes, and there Is nothing left of this great flame Of torture, but the question : Where ? ^n mh IJortrait. What face is this, with eyes which stare And follow one, whichever way He turns, as if it longed to say : " How now, my man ; what do you there ? " This painted shadow on the wall. How grim it looks in that strange dress Of velvet, frills, and costly lace : A stern and hardened, sordid face. Here held in still and close duress. This painted shadow on the wall. One wonders now, did ever sound Of gentle words from those lips come And bid a welcome here, to some Whose life with his, was ever bound ? This painted shadow on the wall 1 It matters not what name he bore, Nor what his lordly titles were : But one may ask : What was he there ? What was his life ? The very core ? This painted shadow on the wall. 7 AN OLD PORTRAIT. Turn now away. Those lips are dust, The eyes are gone for evermore : The dress has rotted which he wore, And pride has gone, where all pride must. This painted shadow on the wall. One can but wonder at the strife Of men, to leave behind them here A name — a memory — a fear, Something to tell of their brief life, If but a shadow on the wall. Howe'er men scheme ; howe'er men toil. Most are forgotten in the end : This, this is what it comes to, friend : The passing time does but assoil This painted shadow on the wall. Be StiU 0ab i^eart. "Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Be still sad heart ; heed not the storm Of angry voices gath'ring loud ; The day will break — both bright and warm — Undimmed by any earthly cloud. No more shall foes around thee press, With malice, hate and envious tongue ; No more, sad heart, thy hope repress, While ruthless hands thy woes prolong. No more shalt thou the bitter cup Of fond hopes crushed — of cruel jeers — With trembling and with fear take up. To drink with sorrow's scalding tears. The Father's love a balm will find To heal thy wounds and cheer thy way; Thy bleeding heart His Hand will bind, And all thy burden bear away. Thy righteousness, as sunlight clear. All men shall know ; and they shall see Thy justice as the noon appear ; While Christ thy light and rest shall be. 9 lO BE STILL, SAD HEART. Be Still, sad heart ; the time draws near When tears shall dim thine eyes no more When angel voices thou shalt hear, And glory gild the distant shore. Be patient then ; thy heavy cross Will but endure a single night ; Stand firm for truth, count all else loss, And joy shall come with morning light ! 3.cl)mg ^tort0. The heart knoweth his own bitterness." The world is full of aching hearts, Each with its own unrest ; And sin has formed a poisoned dart For every human breast. Some cry aloud beneath the load Of overmastering sin : With hearts a-bleeding from the goad Which conscience presses in. Some weep alone in bitter grief, Sore longing for the hour When death itself shall bring relief From Satan's awful power. And oh ! for hearts in anguish rent. With slander's bitter tongue ; Bearing the woe in secret sent By which the soul is wrung : Crushed, bruised, and bleeding by the hand That should defend and shield ; Struck by the brother, who should stand In life's sad battle-field, — II 12 ACHING HEARTS. To turn aside th' envenomed dart Of envy, malice, hate ; And nobly bear a brother's part, And share a brother's fate. Oh, pity show the aching heart ! Turn not away in scorn ; Lest mercy from thy life depart, Which should that life adorn. 'Tis better far, with love to hide The shame, (if shame there be,) Than with an open mouth deride, And lose sweet Charity ! Cittlc ^1)11190. " Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water from thy pitcher." — Gen. xxiv. 17. Only a little cold water, But every drop will tell ; The pitcher would soon be empty. Were drops not in the well. Only a poor little penny ; I had no more to give ; But as pennies make the dollars, 'Twill help some cause to live. Only a few bits of ribbon, And toys that were not new ; But they made the sick child happy, And made me happy, too. Only some faded old garments — I had no more to spare ; But they helped to clothe the needy, And they are everywhere. Only a few words of comfort, That nothing cost to say ; But the poor old man died happy. They cheered him on the way. 13 14 LITTLE THINGS. God loveth a cheerful giver, Though gift be poor and small ; What doth he think of his children, Who never give at all ? ®l)c Sluc-SclL The Blue-Bell on the Alpine heights. But echo is, of Alpine light. As I passed by, it seemed to say : To Heaven 1 To God ? This is the way ! ^utumit A flush of fever on the face Of nature : and it holds full sweep. A sign of death which comes a pace ? Methinks 'tis but the sign of sleep. fox%tUMlt-^ol The Father gave all flowers a name, And each one had its own ; But soon a wee one backward came, And, standing by His Throne, With timid grace and trembling frame, The modest blue eyes fell ; And then it said, almost with shame, " How it can be I cannot tell. But Father dear, my name ! my name ! Alas ! I have forgot ! " The Father kindly said, — " No blame, My child, — Forget-me-not I " IS JDomine iHtsercrc. (A Paraphrase.) I WILL arise and to my Father go ! Alas ! And when I throw me at His Feet, What can I say ? I left my Father's House, And gathered of the fruit my folly sowed ; The taste was bitter, and I then returned. I once returned, and once I was forgiven. My heart again rebelled. Again returned, And yet again I was forgiven all ! The penitential vow upon my lips, The kiss Paternal warm upon my cheek, And still about my neck the Golden Chain With which he pledged and bound me to His love Again, and yet again, I spurned the gift. God ! I dare not come to plead with Thee ! 1 dare not even lift my eyes to Heaven, Lest in the look there be offence and sin. I dare not offer Thee a wish or vow, Lest in Thine awful Wisdom Thou should'st see Sin in the wish, or falsehood in the vow. If I should say, " I fear Thee," that is false ; For if I feared Thee, could I madly brave The awful threatenings of Thy broken Law i6 DOMINE MISERERE. 1 For every empty bauble of the world ? If I should say, '^ I love Thee," that, alas ! Is falsehood too. True love is dutiful, Patient, submissive, fearing to offend. Obedient, grateful. I am none of these. And if I plead the penitential tear ; The firm resolve to " go and sin no more " ; Dost thou not know that ere the false tear dries, I do again the very sin I wept ; And even while the vow is on the lip, The heart is with the idol it renounced ? / come to Thee ? There's something in the thought So strange, so fearful ; something in the way So dark, I cannot even lift mine eyes. My sins have taken such a hold on me, I cannot look into my Father's Face ! — But I can come to Thee, my Saviour ! God, And yet my Brother ! Who Thyself hast trod The very earth we walk on — Who hast shared Our needs and felt our sorrows ; been tempted E'en as we are ; whose in-earthed Spirit here Made proof of all things in us, save our sin ; — Aye, and that, too ; for it was that which broke By its dread weight the Heart that knew no sin. Still, I can come to Thee, my Saviour, Friend, For I have something I can say to Thee. I tell thee not of duty, love or fear. Of penitence, or tears, or aught of mine ; But something would I whisper of Thine own. 2 1 8 DO MINE MISERERE. The tender pity, moving Thee in Heaven ; The love that Thou hast promised and hast proved As never love was pledged or proved till then. Not for Thy friends, for friends Thou had'st not one ; But for Thy foes, for false ones such as I. Oh, go then for me to my Father's House, And tell Him — one who cannot come for shame, For very shame ; who has no more to say : — Has been with Thee to plead Thy Precious Blood For Pardon that I dare not ask again. Say — for Thou know'st how bitter are the husks On which this false world feeds my heart — how I. In secret, sorrow for my Father's House, But still am torn and tempted from His Door. Nay, my Redeemer ! say not aught of me. But only that Thou knowest me, and that Thou lovest, and did'st shed Thy Blood for me ; Lost as I am, that Thou would'st have me saved ; False as I am, that Thou would'st make me true ; Foul as I am, that Thou would'st have me clean ; Weak as I am, that Thou would'st make me strong, And find me prayers when I can pray no more. Perchance, for Thy dear sake, He will forbear, And give me back the love I threw away. Perchance, for Thee, His Arms will once again Embrace His erring, wayward, sinful child ! So shall my soul at last return in peace, And find Redemption in Thy Precious Blood. ®l)e ^tat5 of Sc9U0. " And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it." — S. Luke xix. 41. The tears of Jesus ! What the secret woe Which caused the Son of God to weep, as erst His eyes looked on the radiant beauty of The City of His love, all glorious with Its glittering pinnacles of light? Jerusalem ! The vision bright of Peace ; The hill of Zion, from whence comes all good To man ! " Salvation cometh of the Jews." Like a fair bride in festal splendor robed, Her streets are decked with garlands for the feast ; The waving Palms — the sign of victory ; The loud acclaim, " Hosanna ! " yet again " Hosanna ! " and the surging crowd pours forth With shout triumphal, while " Hosanna ! " still Rings through the air in welcome to a King ! No sound of brazen trumpet racks the ear ; No pomp, no grandeur of an earthly pride ; But meek and lowly — eyes bedewed with tears. The rightful Monarch comes to claim His own ! The dark deep green of Kedron's sunny vale ; The plains of Jericho, in broad expanse 19 20 THE TEARS OF JESUS. Beyond the Mount of Olives lay : and far, Far in the distance, stood the purple hills Of Moab, whence the blessing came from one Who would have cursed, but God withheld the voice, And thrice into a blessing turned his words. The city, basking in the glory of That Eastern sky, uplifted proud and high Its stately palaces and gleaming walls. As if in welcome to the gathering tribes Fast coming up to keep within its gates The Passover of God. The Temple, with Its more than regal beauty, stood alone. And flashed its golden glory in the light Which bathed its courts and groves with sweet and soft Effulgence. Oh, how bright the scene that lay Before those tear-dimmed eyes ! The busy hum Of preparation for the feast went on, And cloudy pillars of dark smoke rose up To tell of burning sacrifice for sin. The hosts of fair Judea's land had come (As was their custom year by year) to pay Their vows to Israel's God. And Jesus wept ! Where lay the secret of the tears which stained The Face of Him, Whose overflowing Heart Yearned with a mighty love, and such deep, full, And sweet compassion for the chosen ones Of God ? THE TEARS OF JESUS. Their " Day of Visitation " came, And yet they knew it not. Their tithes of mint And anise, and sweet herbs of lesser kind, They paid with strictness, but neglected all The weightier matters of the law, and left The Sacred Temple of their God to be Defiled by those who made of righteousness A gain, until their coffers groaned with gold. A den of thieves the House of Prayer was made ; And sin ran riot, while the Priests of God Hushed the Prophetic Voice, and hand joined hand In all forbidden things. The loud-voiced prayers Of Scribe and Pharisee rose up to heaven. While yet they mocked in pride th' Anointed One Who came in such humility, to draw Them back to love and duty,ere the curse All self-imposed, came forth to scatter them Throughout the distant nations of the earth, And leave in ghastly ruin, the one spot To them and to their children all, most dear. And Jesus wept ! 'Tis said He never smiled. In all the years He wandered here, to bind The hearts so broken, cleanse the souls so foul. And heal the sick, sad-hearted, weary ones Who gladly sought His healing touch of love. Rebellious children of the Most High God Flaunted their foul corruption in the face Of heaven, and made God's dwelling place a den Of robbers ! 22 THE TEARS OF JESUS. It was this that made Him weep Those tears of love and pity, as He went To plead yet once again, with those He came To save, ere times should come (now drawing near,) Which brought its scourge of desolation. Once Again He cried, " Jerusalem ! O thou " Who stoned and killed the Prophets in thy rage, " I would have gathered thee as doth the hen " Her tender brood, and made thee all My Own. " Ye would not hear My Voice, and now behold *' The curse of desolation on thee rests ! " All, all this goodly pile shall be thrown down, " Nor stone shall be upon another left ! *' The flower of thine offspring shall go forth " With by-word, and with hissing, and with curse ! " He wept because He saw that ruin lay In wait, until the time should come wherein All prophecy should be fulfilled, and tears Would take the place of laughing pride and joy With which the city rang in careless glee. And not for these alone. He saw beyond, Far down the track of time, how gathering sin Of generations then unborn, would swell The mighty torrent of the world's full crime. And wash the earth with blood ! He wept ! He wept for sins which then were all unknown ; The woeful sins whose rushing flood poured in THE TEARS OF JESUS. 23 Upon His Heart, until it burst for grief On that dread Cross, whereon His outstretched Arms Would fain have blessed the world, as from a throne ! He wept for us ! And shall our eyes be dry While yet the faithful voice within us, calls To our remembrance all the slighted love Of that great Heart, Who poured in streams of blood A ransom for our souls ? O Earth ! Earth ! Earth ! Why go ye whirling on in mad carouse ! The Mighty Hand, the bleeding Form upon The dripping Cross — High Watch-Tower of the World !— But waits that from this murky vale of death One sign of penitential grief may come To ask the life which He alone can give. O Earth ! turn from thy revel dark and wild. While yet the day of grace is found ! Thy tears Shall win from Him who shed His tears for thee, A Benediction of Eternal Peace ! u '