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ts shade in benedictions fall. Here should the dove of peace be found, And blessings and not curses given; Nor strife profane, nor hatred wound, The mingled loves of earth and heaven. Thou, who didst soothe with dying breath The dear one watching by Thy cross, Forgetful of the pains of death In sorrow for her mighty loss, In memory of that tender claim, O Mother-born, the offering take, And make it worthy of Thy name, And bless it for a mother's sake! 1868. A SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATION. Read at the President's Levee, Brown University, 29th 6th month, 1870. To-day the plant by Williams set Its summer bloom discloses; The wilding sweethrier of his prayers Is crowned with cultured roses. Once more the Island State repeats The lesson that he taught her, And binds his pearl of charity Upon her brown-locked daughter. Is 't fancy that he watches still His Providence plantations? That still the careful Founder takes A part on these occasions. Methinks I see that reverend form, Which all of us so well know He rises up to speak; he jogs The presidential elbow. "Good friends," he says, "you reap a field I sowed in self-denial, For toleration had its griefs And charity its trial. "Great grace, as saith Sir Thomas More, To him must needs be given Who heareth heresy and leaves The heretic to Heaven! "I hear again the snuffled tones, I see in dreary vision Dyspeptic dreamers, spiritual bores, And prophets with a mission. "Each zealot thrust before my eyes His Scripture-garbled label; All creeds were shouted in my ears As with the tongues of Babel. "Scourged at one cart-tail, each denied The hope of every other; Each martyr shook his branded fist At the conscience of his brother! "How cleft the dreary drone of man. The shriller pipe of woman, As Gorton led his saints elect, Who held all things in common! "Their gay robes trailed in ditch and swamp, And torn by thorn and thicket, The dancing-girls of Merry Mount Came dragging to my wicket. "Shrill Anabaptists, shorn of ears; Gray witch-wives, hobbling slowly; And Antinomians, free of law, Whose very sins were holy.
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