I went back to the little town where I was born. I saw the friends of my childhood, and later I went out to God’s acre. There stood the little schoolhouse, and the old academy. The great oak-trees swayed above the house where I was born. The little brook still rippled over the stones; once more the fruit was ripe in the orchard and the nuts brown in the forest trees; again the shouts of the old companions were heard on the hillside and the laughter of the skaters filled the air; and yet all was changed. Gone the old minister, who baptized me! Gone the old professors and teachers who taught us. In the little graveyard slept the fathers. The stars shone over the mounds, the graves were silent, but God was over all. And all is well. For our times have been in God’s hands. –N. D. Hillis.

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And look upon His face,

What shall I care that oft, alone,

Like Him, I ran my race.

***

Safe on thy ever blissful plains,

My heart’s own treasure gathered there;

Farewell, forever, sins and pains,

Farewell, bereavement, sorrow, care!

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“Creature all grandeur, son of truth and light,

      Said the old man, when at the age of seventy-seven, “I do not remember to have felt lowness of spirits for one quarter of an hour since I was born.” Of course, it is presumed he means that causeless depression which is usually the result of indolence. At the age of eighty-six he writes: “Saturday, March 21st, I had a day of rest, only preaching morning and evening.”

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Invited Christ to eat,

When a poor, sinful woman came

And worshiped at His feet;

* * * *

And washed them with her copious tears,

And wiped them with her hair,

And kissed them, and anointed them

With ointment rich and rare.

 * * * *

The Pharisee, within himself,

Said : “If this man were wise,

And were a prophet, he would know

This sinner to despise.”

 * * * *

And Jesus, answering his thought,

Explained the woman’s love :

She was a sinner who, now saved,

Her gratitude would prove.

 * * * *

And while the guests in wonder gazed,

He to the woman spoke :

“Thy sins are all forgiven–thy faith

Hath broken Satan’s yoke.”

Of Satan sore possessed,

Both blind and dumb, in wretched plight,

But Jesus gave him rest.

* * * *

The sufferer both spake and saw,

When people, every one,

Who saw this miracle, exclaimed :

“Is not this David’s Son?”

* * * *

But the proud Pharisees, in heart

Ignored this title true;

And said the wondrous healing gift

To Satan’s power was due.

* * * *

Then Jesus knew their thoughts and said :

“What logic ye command!

If Satan cast out Satan, then

His kingdom cannot stand.”

And thronged about the Lord,

He said : “I other towns must seek,

And in them preach the word.”

 * * * *

So He commandment forwith gave

That His disciples go,

And get a ship in readiness,

Across the lake to row.

  * * * *

Then a certain scribe said : “Master,

I’ll follow Thee to-day,

By land or water, wheresoe’er

Thou goest or shalt stay.”

  * * * *

And Jesus answered : “Foxes can

Run into holes for rest,

And every bird of air can fly

Into a pleasant nest;

 * * * *

“But no place hath the Son of Man

Whereof it can be said :

‘That is His home, where He may lay

In peace His weary head.’”

 * * * *

The scribe had nothing more to say;

He, doubtless, did not care

The fortunes of so poor a man

To follow and to share.

 * * * *

Another said : “Lord, let me go

My father’s grave to make.”

Said Jesus : “Let the world do that,

Come thou, my portion take.”

 * * * *

And now the followers of Christ

Were all aboard the ship,

And He, o’ercome with weariness,

Lay down and fell asleep.

 * * * *

And the disciples, in alarm,

Their Master woke from sleep;

“Lord, we must have thine instant help

Or parish in the deep;”

  * * * *

When He, in calm and gentle voice,

Said :”Wherefore do ye fear,

O ye of little faith and trust.

While I, your Lord, am here?”

 * * * *

Then He arose in dignity,

And spoke His sovereign will,

Commanding both the winds and sea

To hearken and be still.

  * * * *

And instantly all nature’s face

A tranquil aspect wears,

Hushed is the tempest, and the sky

Again serene appears.

 * * * *

The men each to the others, said,

In awe and great amaze :

“What kind of man is this, whose word

The fearful storm obeys?”

All fright and danger o’er,

The country of the Gadarenes

Received them to its shore.

 * * * *

But many steps they have not gone

To reach the city near,

When suddenly two unclad men

From ‘mongst the tombs appear.

 * * * *

By unclean spirits sorely vexed,

No firm restraints could hold

Their demon-strengthened limbs, or keep

Their frantic souls controlled.

* * * *

And in the mountains and the tombs,

With cries, both night and day,

They cut themselves, and caused such

fear,

None dared to pass that way.

* * * *

But when the Lord approached, a change

Came o’er these men possessed;

One fled–the other, falling down

In worship, sore distressed,

 * * * *

Cried : “What have I to do with Thee,

Jesus, Thou Son of God?

Torment me not, nor banish me

To my most drear abode.”

 * * * *

Then Jesus said : “Come out of him,

Thou unclean spirit, vile,

And let thy presence ne’er again

His tortured soul defile.”

* * * *

And then He asked : “What is thy name?”

“Legion,” the man did say,

For many, many devils bold

Within him had held sway.

 * * * *

The devils, knowing they no more

In this poor man could dwell,

Imploringly besought the Lord

To drive them not to hell;

 * * * *

And seeing a great herd of swine

Upon the mountain side,

Begged His consendt to enter them,

With which the Lord complied.

 * * * *

But though there were two thousand swine

They could not fight no flee,

The legion entered them, and all

Rushed headlong in the sea.

 * * * *

And they that fed the swine, alarmed,

Ran hastily away,

And told in town and country round

The wonders of that day.

 * * * *

Then every one went out to see

What wondrous things were done

And still and calm the country lay,

And all the swine were gone.

 * * * *

And he who long had raged around,

A terror to mankind,

Sat peacefully at Jesus’ feet,

Clothed. and of rightful mind.

* * * *

And they who saw the miracle,

With eager tongue revealed

How he of legion once possessed

So suddenly was healed.

 * * * *

Then the whole multitude from all

The country round appear,

And beg the Lord to leave their coasts

For they were filled with fear.

 * * * *

Now, as the Lord took ship again,

The man thus saved from woe,

Prayed that he might be with the Christ,

Wherever He should go.

* * * *

But Jesus answered : “Nay, return

To thine own house, and tell

What God hath done for the, and hence

With thine own kindred dwell.”

* * * *

And the man did as Jesus said,

And told to great and small

Of his most glad deliverance

From Satan’s dreadful thrall.