The shadow of a great impending harm seemed to his sight to hang
With fiery brands above the land, and the people that he loved.
The ardor and the strength of youth were his, but the wild, reckless avenues of youth lured not his steps,
He stood alone, apart, and saw afar the sure destructions lowering overhead,
Saw the cursed country where a wrong prevails and right must perish with no hand to save,
And standing thus, perplexed and horrified, the angel came and stood beside him there.
Her presence seemed to chase the clouds away,—a moment and he stood again alone,
But not as then in deep dejection plunged;
His face though earnest still was peaceful now,
The sunrise of a noble purpose shone above the mountain-tops that seemed so high;
For when the angel messenger was gone, her message lived engraven on his heart,
He heard no step, no voice, no seraph saw,
But when her hallowed presence passed without
He raised his eyes toward the stars above
And whispered to his calm, exultant heart:
"Surely an angel was sent down from Heaven!"
With fiery brands above the land, and the people that he loved.
The ardor and the strength of youth were his, but the wild, reckless avenues of youth lured not his steps,
He stood alone, apart, and saw afar the sure destructions lowering overhead,
Saw the cursed country where a wrong prevails and right must perish with no hand to save,
And standing thus, perplexed and horrified, the angel came and stood beside him there.
Her presence seemed to chase the clouds away,—a moment and he stood again alone,
But not as then in deep dejection plunged;
His face though earnest still was peaceful now,
The sunrise of a noble purpose shone above the mountain-tops that seemed so high;
For when the angel messenger was gone, her message lived engraven on his heart,
He heard no step, no voice, no seraph saw,
But when her hallowed presence passed without
He raised his eyes toward the stars above
And whispered to his calm, exultant heart:
"Surely an angel was sent down from Heaven!"
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