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WINTER.

(IM WINTER.)

WINTER is here. In Nature's wide domains
Deep solitude in silent mourning reigns.
Nature herself, arrayed in garb of death,
A beauteous corpse, in stillness slumbereth.
Covered beneath her shroud, all hidden rest
Her Flower-Children, in the Mother's breast:
Dreaming of Resurrection-Morn they sleep,

When Spring shall rouse them from their slumber deep.

Earth, thou hast lost thy glory-joy is gone;
And thou thyself, left in thy sorrow lone,
A Funeral-Sermon full of meaning art,

Bearing a deep instruction to each heart.

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Let Earth towards Heaven direct thy yearning quest ;

On Earth thy spirit shall not find its rest :

Thy time of sojourn here will soon be gone;
Farther, still farther must thou travel on.
Enduring good on Earth shall not be given ;

The heart's true treasure must be sought in Heaven.

Ask Earth alone that she a place will lend

For the dust-garment, when this life shall end.

But when the glorious Easter Songs resound,
And the great Easter Morning dawns around,
Thy clothing, which was trusted to its store,
Earth's treasury must yield to thee once more :
So learns the heart that nothing may remain
In Earth's own keeping; therefore is it vain
To ask from her what she can never give :-
Look up to Heaven alone for joy, and live!

THE MESSENGERS TO THE HEATHEN.

(DIE HEIDENBOTEN.)

O BLESSED are ye messengers, sent forth

By your own Lord's commands,

God's Love proclaiming to the blind and dead,

In strange, far-distant lands!

Through the thick, fearful darkness still press on ;—

Strong and courageous be:

The Lord Himself shall crown your faith and love

With certain victory!

The Banner of the Cross of Jesus wave,

Undauntedly, on high ;

That heathen hosts may see to Whom all worlds

In true subjection lie.

Be ye to all the earth a token sure

Of God's Majestic Power ;—

That He must conquer, and all foes must yield

In His victorious Hour!

O Soldiers, bearing neither arms nor sword,

Mighty in faith alone ;

The Earth and all its fulness is your Lord's:
Press, conquering, farther on!

He Who hath sent you ever gives His Aid;

Your King stands by your side :

And, though like sheep midst wolves, your hearts shall still In joyous rest abide.

Love drives you forth; and in your ardent souls

Its burning ray hath shone,

Kindling your zeal to brother-souls to tell

What God for you hath done:

Therefore your own ye seek not-neither fame,

Honours, nor earthly good :

Ye glory only in the Love shown forth

In Jesus' Precious Blood.

With glad content, endure then, that the world

Contempt and shame accord:

Rejoice, when ye shall see all lands reflect

The glory of The Lord!

Rejoice, that ye are chosen to behold

Your Lord His Victory win ;

That ye are suffered at the Doors to stand,
When The King cometh in!

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Hosanna! When the Night and woe are past Thousands exult and sing;

And the remotest nations then shall gain

The City of The King:

And many thousand knees to Christ shall bow,
The Father's Blessed Son :

This your reward shall be, O faithful hearts,
When all the toil is done!

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