THE VAUDOIS TEACHER. ["THE manner in which the WALDENSES and heretics disseminated their principles among the CATHOLIC gentry, was by carrying with them a box of trinkets, or articles of dress. Having entered the houses of the gentry, and disposed of some of their goods, they cautiously intimated that they had commodities far more valuable than these-inestimable jewels, which they would show if they could be protected from the clergy. They would then give their purchasers a bible or testament; and thereby many were deluded into heresy."— R. Saccho.] "Он, lady fair, these silks of mine are beautiful and rare — The richest web of the Indian loom, which beauty's queen might wear; And my pearls are pure as thy own fair neck, with whose radiant light they vie; I have brought them with me a weary way,- will my gentle lady buy ?" And the lady smiled on the worn old man through the dark and clustering curls, Which veiled her brow as she bent to view his silks and glittering pearls ; And she placed their price in the old man's hand, and lightly turned away, But she paused at the wanderer's earnest call "My gentle lady, stay!" "Oh, lady fair, I have yet a gem which a purer lustre flings, Than the diamond flash of the jewelled crown on the lofty brow of kings A wonderful pearl of exceeding price, whose virtue shall not decay, Whose light shall be as a spell to thee and a blessing on thy way!" The lady glanced at the mirroring steel where her form of grace was seen, Where her eye shone clear, and her dark locks waved their clasping pearls between ; Bring forth thy pearl of exceeding worth, thou traveller grey and old And name the price of thy precious gem, and my page shall count thy gold. The cloud went off from the pilgrim's brow, as a small and meagre book, Unchased with gold or gem of cost, from his folding robe he took! "Here, lady fair, is the pearl of price, may it prove as such to thee! Nay-deep thy gold-I ask it not, for the word of God is free !" The hoary traveller went his way, but the gift he left behind Hath had its pure and perfect work on that high-born maiden's mind, And she hath turned from the pride of sin to the lowliness of truth, And given her human heart to God in its beautiful hour of youth! And she hath left the grey old halls, where an evil faith had power, The courtly knights of her father's train, and the maidens of her bower; And she hath gone to the Vaudois vales by lordly feet untrod, Where the poor and needy of earth are rich in the perfect love of God! THE CALL OF THE CHRISTIAN. Nor always as the whirlwind's rush On Horeb's mount of fear, Not always as the burning bush To Midian's shepherd seer, Nor as the awful voice which came To Israel's prophet bards, Not always thus, with outward sign Love for the true and right Zeal for the Christian's "better part," Nor unto manhood's heart alone As she who by Samaria's wall The Saviour's errand sought- Or those meek ones whose martyrdom When the green Vaudois, trembling, heard, And gently, by a thousand things Like breezes o'er the harp's fine strings, Leaving their token strange and new Of music or of shade, The summons to the right and true Oh, then, if gleams of truth and light Though heralded with nought of fear, It whispers soft and low; Though dropping, as the manna fell, Unseen, yet from above, Noiseless as dew-fall, heed it well Thy Father's call of love! x MY SOUL AND I. STAND still, my soul, in the silent dark Alone in the shadow drear and stark What, my soul, was thy errand here? Or heaping up dust from year to year? Speak, soul, aright in His holy sight And steadily on thee through the night: What hast thou done, oh soul of mine That thou tremblest so? Hast thou wrought His task, and kept the line What, silent all! art sad of cheer? Art fearful now? When God seemed far and men were near How brave wert thou? Aha! thou tremblest!- well I see Thou 'rt craven grown. Is it so hard with God and me To stand alone? |