A PRODIGAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 41

A PRODIGAL.

With trembling, weary limbs and folded hands Before God's throne he kneels ; With bloodshot eyes he tries to pierce the dim uncertain lights. And tears are trickling slowly down his wasted, wrinkled cheek. In vain he tries to gabble words of prayer ; in vain he fights Against the pain and weakness that assail ; he cannot speak The agony he feeh 1 How long, oh God ! since he knelt there before To tay his prayer to Thee ! His hair is thin aud grey, his face is lined with care ; He presses hard his trembling hands before his face ; He beads his shaking head and sends a silent prayer i Tor pardon for his sins— a mute appeal while in j this place I From pain to be sst free. His life was tpent in wickednes3 ; his heart was hard ; he had no thought Beyond himself and gaiety ; From year to year he revelled m his evil ways, I thinking only of his hinful joy. [ With all hia life before him. all his strength and manhood bright, He could not spare a moment for his God who gave it him— until the night They left him ; then he awoke with piteous tears aud saw his soul laid burj before him In all its frailty. Then he was tortured by remorse, and with tottering, eager steps lie f-edks the altar of his God. Seeking ugdiu the gifts h« had abused, or, failing that, foigiveness, and sweet death ; For every movement, every sigh's a pain, and every breath Reminds him of those wasted years when life was sin. Now he is dying : ! Be merciful, oh God ! '<■ His quivering eyelids close, his chatteriug teeth ! are still, his limbs are fi-es from pain, I For God in love and j.um-cv erantid him his I prayer and took his soal again I Invercargill, April 6. —Aurora Lynne