Poems (Edwards)/The Missionary's Bride
THE MISSIONARY'S BRIDE.
Her's was a high devotion,—That fair girl.
In the fresh hour of youth forsaking all
The friends who blessed her childhood—all the scenes
To her so long familiar—leaving all
The looks and smiles and voices she had loved
With all a young heart's fervor, she went forth
Among the thankless heathen, with one heart,
One heart alone—to love her, and one hand
To shield her in affliction.
To shield her in affliction.It was morn:
The sun had risen brightly, and the skies
Looked down serenely on the bright green earth
That lay beneath it smiling. In a cot,
Half hid in vines and clustering eglantines,
And opening roses, and sweet jessamine flowers,
A bride and bridegroom lingered as if bound
By some enchantment to the hallowed spot—
So loved from early childhood. There were all
The friends whom they had cherished, all the hearts
That had been clustering round them with a love
Undying in its nature. And the hour,
The solemn hour of parting was to them
An age of speechless sorrow. One by one
They gathered round them, whispering farewell
From lips that shook with anguish. And the bride,
That fair young creature, going forth abroad
Upon life's trustless ocean, stood amid
That sorrowing group in silence. Not a tear
Stole from her downcast eye-lids. Not a sigh
Came from her swelling bosom. Brothers all,
And friends, and sisters—all had said farewell!
And she had felt their hot tears on her cheek,—
And yet she wept not. Her's was the still grief
That scorneth to be uttered. She had breathed
Farewell to all, save one, and that last one
Was a devoted mother. She had watched
Around her gentle being, like the sun
That warms to life the flowerets, and her life
Was linked with her existence. All their hopes
And joys had been commingled, till their hearts
Seemed melted into one. But she was strong—
Strong in the Rock of ages. With a smile
Of high and pure affection she bent down
And pressed her pale lips to the throbbing brow
Of her fair child. "Go thou, my treasure, go,"
The mother softly whispered, "I have prayed
For strength to bear this parting. Be thou strong
And bear the cross with patience. I shall miss
The mirthful music of thy silvery voice,
And thy clear laugh, my Daughter, and thy smile
So like a cheerful sunbeam in my home.
And thy light step, my Fair one, will no more
Be heard in my still chamber. But that God
Who gave thee to my keeping—He who calls
Thee onward to thy work—Yes, He will be
Companion to thy mother."—It was done,
The parting hour was over, and the Bride,
With her high-placed affections, left her home—
The glad home of her childhood.
In the fresh hour of youth forsaking all
The friends who blessed her childhood—all the scenes
To her so long familiar—leaving all
The looks and smiles and voices she had loved
With all a young heart's fervor, she went forth
Among the thankless heathen, with one heart,
One heart alone—to love her, and one hand
To shield her in affliction.
To shield her in affliction.It was morn:
The sun had risen brightly, and the skies
Looked down serenely on the bright green earth
That lay beneath it smiling. In a cot,
Half hid in vines and clustering eglantines,
And opening roses, and sweet jessamine flowers,
A bride and bridegroom lingered as if bound
By some enchantment to the hallowed spot—
So loved from early childhood. There were all
The friends whom they had cherished, all the hearts
That had been clustering round them with a love
Undying in its nature. And the hour,
The solemn hour of parting was to them
An age of speechless sorrow. One by one
They gathered round them, whispering farewell
From lips that shook with anguish. And the bride,
That fair young creature, going forth abroad
Upon life's trustless ocean, stood amid
That sorrowing group in silence. Not a tear
Stole from her downcast eye-lids. Not a sigh
Came from her swelling bosom. Brothers all,
And friends, and sisters—all had said farewell!
And she had felt their hot tears on her cheek,—
And yet she wept not. Her's was the still grief
That scorneth to be uttered. She had breathed
Farewell to all, save one, and that last one
Was a devoted mother. She had watched
Around her gentle being, like the sun
That warms to life the flowerets, and her life
Was linked with her existence. All their hopes
And joys had been commingled, till their hearts
Seemed melted into one. But she was strong—
Strong in the Rock of ages. With a smile
Of high and pure affection she bent down
And pressed her pale lips to the throbbing brow
Of her fair child. "Go thou, my treasure, go,"
The mother softly whispered, "I have prayed
For strength to bear this parting. Be thou strong
And bear the cross with patience. I shall miss
The mirthful music of thy silvery voice,
And thy clear laugh, my Daughter, and thy smile
So like a cheerful sunbeam in my home.
And thy light step, my Fair one, will no more
Be heard in my still chamber. But that God
Who gave thee to my keeping—He who calls
Thee onward to thy work—Yes, He will be
Companion to thy mother."—It was done,
The parting hour was over, and the Bride,
With her high-placed affections, left her home—
The glad home of her childhood.