THE MINSTREL. NO SECT IN HEAVED.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 632, 8 June 1876, Page 3

THE MINSTREL. NO SECT IN HEAVED.

Talking of sects till Ute one ot#, Of the yarious doctrines the saints beliefs, That night I stood in a troubled dream, By the aide -of a darkly flowing stream. And a " Churchman 1 ' down to the rhrer earn* t When I beard a strange voice call his name, " Good father, itop ; when yon cro» this tide, You mtut leave jour robes oa the other tide." Bat the aged father did not mind, And his long gown floated out behind, As down to tlie stream his way he took, His pale bands olaspinj a gilt-edged book. " I'm bound for heaven, and when I'm there, I shall want my Book of Common Prayer -, And thongh I put on a starry «rowu, I should feel quite lost without my gown." Than he fiic'd his eye on the shining track, But hit gown was heary, and held him back, And the poor old fathtr tried in rain, A tingle «tcp in the flood to gain. I saw him again on tht other side, But his silk gown floated upon the tide ; And no one ask'd, in that blissful spot, If he bslong'd to " the Churoh " or not. Then -down to the rirer a Quaker ttray'd, HU dress of a sober hue was made : " My coat and hat must bo all of gray, I cannot go any other way/ Then he buttoa'd hit coat straight xfp io his chin, And staidly, solemnly, waded in, Add hit broad brlmra'd bat he pull'd down tight Orer his forehead, so cold and white. But a strong wind carried away hit hat ; A moment he silently sighed over that, And then, as he gated to the farther shore, The coat slippM off, and was seen no more. At be «nter*d hoaren, hit tuit of gray Went quietly sailing — away — away. And none of the angels questioned him About the width of hii bearer's brim. Next came Dr Watts with a bundle of Psalms Tied nicely up in his aged arms, And hymns as many, a rery wise thing, That the people in hearen, " all round," might ting. But I thought that he hsared an anxiout tigh, At he taw that the rivor ran broad and high, And look'd rather surprised as, one by one, The Psalms and Hymns in the ware went down. (To be concluded in our next.)