THE STARS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume v, Issue 232, 12 October 1877, Page 7

THE STARS.

Father, who has set those stars, living benisons above, Shining, shining, ever, ever, With far less of light than love ; 0 1 they seem to me as telling Through the dark there still is light In our home of future dwelling— Father, tell me, am I right? In the silence of the night— -"> Night so beautiful and lone — Every star in heaven's blue heightSeems a beacon to Thy throne ; And in spirit thus believing, Is a most consoling might ; Faith so pure is undeceiving — Father, tell me, am I right ? They are ever to my eyes As a life-awaking book, Full of beautiful surmise, Mystic more, the more I look, Then I deem them soul-subdued, Apocalypse of light, Where no human dare intrude— Father, tell me, am I right ? Toil at midnight ! O, 'tis weary ; But how wearier weie my lot, Even at midnight, lone and dreary, If these wondrous works were not. Tis my thoughtful transport, walking Homeward in the noon of night, To be with them, of Thee talkingFather, tell me, am I right ? Thinking of Thy mercies, shining, Countless as those stars above, Do I stand and pause, divining All those mysteries of love ? No I but filled with faith upholding— Faith so singly, boldly, bright— I behold Thee— Thee beholding ; Father, tell me, am I right? In this darkness of surmise, Pausing, thinking, loving, lost, Star concentrated 'mid the skies, Like a seaman tempest-tossed. I can know not what they are, But, so mercifully bright, Bee Thee in each guiding starFather, tell me, am I right ? Linked in with that upwaid thought — Soul's affinity with them — Is the brilliant star that brought Worshippers to Bethlehem ! I cannot, amid the whole, Point the one commissioned light, But through it I wing my soul — Father, tell me, am I right ? If I err, good Father, hear me ! If I err, oh, deign to hear me I I have thought Thee ever near me, Else could I my sorrow bear, Everything the gay and solemn — Dreams of day or thoughts of night Star or streamlet, mound or columnTell me, Father, am I right?

Catholic Magazine.

J. S. Shea.