By thee Truth's light was given Unto the blind, to me the blind; By thee the clouds were riven, That dimmed the mind, that dimmed the mind; And if the strain I waken Have words of flame, have words of flame, Whence bright hope may be taken, From _thee_ they came, from _thee_ they came.[2]
[Footnote 1: The "Nation" newspaper, a short time after its establishment, was styled by that first of critics and most literal of translators--John Gibson Lockhart--"a startling phenomenon"!]
[Footnote 2: Complete sets of the "Nation" sell to this day for no less a sum than $30, or £6 sterling.]
Where is thy dwelling place, all-pleasing Light? Around Jehovah's everlasting throne, Where, inaccessible, He sits alone, 'Mid joy supreme, ineffable delight. Thy radiant face makes all wide Nature glad; Hill, valley, rock, and river thou dost cheer, And little birds make melody, if thou appear-- Deprived of thy fond presence, they are sad. Thou art another synonym for life; Thy smile is but the smile of Deity, Whose glance fills ever overflowingly The lamps of heaven, with golden beauty rife Thy magic pencil paints the landscapes all; Thy absence covers earth with pall funereal.
Not the clamor of the ignoble crowd, Not the threat'ning look of the tyrant proud, Nor the fury with which Auster raves, Wild king of the Adriatic waves; Nor e'en the mighty arm of Jove, Hurling his bolts through the vault above, Can swerve the man of just intent From that on which his mind is bent. Nay, should the shattered heavens fall, In crashing ruin blending all, Still 'mid the gath'ring gloom of chaos drear, He'd stand a stranger unto fear.
"Well, my little daughter, I suppose you have been half afraid that I should not return in time for your holiday. However, you see I am here, ready for our lesson, and I have seen so many new and pretty things, that I hardly know which to choose for you to do."
"Pray let it be something very easy, as well as pretty, dear mamma. I should like to make a work-basket, or something of that sort, which would be useful."
"Then, indeed, my child, you will almost think me a conjurer; for I have brought you all the necessary materials for making the prettiest thing of the sort that, I think, was ever seen. Here they are! First, there is a frame of wire, then a little wadding, black filet--which is, you know, the imitation netting of which you made your watch-pockets--netting-silks, gimps, and satin ribbon. Besides these, there is a piece of black satin, and some black sarsnet ribbon. You will require a little _toile ciré_, which I dare say your work-box will furnish."