In Search of A Wife...

 In Search of A Wife

In the lone field he walks at eventide,
To meditate beneath the open sky,
Where born on lighter wings prayers upward fly,
And  down  from  Heaven  sweet  answers  swiftly  glide.
But  as  he  glanced  around  that  landscape  wide,
Far  off  a  train  of  camels  meets  his  eye,
And  as  they  nearer  come  he  can  descry
A  maiden  vailed, -  his  unseen,  God-sent  bride.
Thus  while  to  Heaven  thought  after  thought  was  rising,
The  fair  Rebekah  step  by  step  drew  nigh,
With  life's  chief  joy  the  prayerful  saint  surprising:
For  those  who  think  of  Him  God  still  is  thinking,
With  tender  condescension  from  on  high,
Some  comfort  ever  to  some  duty  linking.

Rev.  R. Wilton.

The Marriage Feast In Cana

 THE MARRIAGE FEAST IN CANA

There was a marriage feast in G-alilee;
The festal board was spread with viands
rare;
The joyous guests had met in commune sweet,
And he, the Man of Nazareth, was there.

Yes, he was there, that marriage, Eden-born,
Might share the sanction of his presence
sweet,
That round this holy ritual he might throw
A sacred halo, glorious and complete.

"The wine has failed;" the murmuring word
is passed.
And soon from lip to lip is borne to him;
Then sweeter far than music sounds his voice,
' 'Fill ye these water vessels to the brim."  

'Tis done: and wine, rare, purple. rich, and
sweet,
Th' astonished servants, smiling, bear away;
The while, methinks, the wondering guests
repeat,
"Ah, we have seen strange things —
strange things to-day."

New, unferinented wine, the Master made.
Not the mad wine that fills the drunkard's
cup,
But such as he, the bridegroom, gives his
guests
Who at the marriage of the Lamb shall sup,
And drink it new within that kingdom fair —
His Father's glorious kingdom over there.

E'en thus it is along life's rugged path;
Ofttimes it seems the wine of life is spent.
And we have nought to offer those we love
But empty vessels, tears, and discontent.

O let us fill these empty vessels full
With flowing sap, fresh from the living
Vine;
And we shall find, before the feast is done,
That He has turned life's water into wine