EASTER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 80, 4 April 1874, Page 2

EASTER.

Aa Spring's sweet breath after long -wintry' snow, As land to voyager o'er pathless sea, As daybreak after weary night; of woe, :. . Is Easter joy to me ! All Lenten shadows over ! and the light Around us and within bo sweet and strong, Teach us, 0 risen Master, how aright To sing our Easter song. We stand to-day beside Thy open tomb, We gaze on "linen clothes" with reverent ;' heed, . • And hear the angels whispering through the gloom, : • •" Not here —but risen indeed! And all the story of Thy love divine . Throbs through our hearts, longing, 0 Christ, for Thee. The bitter chalice, with the deadly wine, Was drained to set us free. The grave is dark no more! a stream of light He, rising, left behind for all His own. Death's chain is broken by His arm of.might, And rolled away the stone. Now Easter-light flushes the morning sky, Thy Form we see, all changed, and yet the same. ■Master! we kneel before Thee; hear our cry, And call us each by name,.f When evening shadows lengthen all around, And: we to Emmaus take our weary way, With us, O risen Saviour, Btill be found, : And turn our night to day. And from Thy radiant throne of light above, Oh, send us, till our desert wanderings cease, "Thine own best legacy of tender love, Thy sweetest gift of peace! Then, at the last, when all shall wake who sleep, Made like to Thee, in raiment white and fair, Oh, bid us welcome to Thy home, to keep Our endless Easter there! Rev. R. H. Baykes, M.A. t "Jesus saitii untolier Mary."-^-Jolm xx 16