The Overton Entertainer (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904. Excerpt: ... SEEN AT LAST: OR, THE IDIOT LAD. The vesper hymn had died away, And the benison had been said, But one remained in church to pray, With a bow'd and reverent head. He could not frame in words the prayer Which reached the Throne of Grace, But the Love and Pity present there Saw the pleading of his face. In many curls hung his hair of gold Round a brow of pearly white; His face was cast in a graceful mould And his eyes were strangely bright. Gentle his white hand's touch--his smile Was tender and sweet and sad: Nought knew the heart of fraud and guile Of poor Dick, the idiot lad. "My boy," I said, "the tired sun Sinks low on the west sea's breast; The shades which fall when the day is done Woo the weary earth to rest. In the vesper zephyr's gentle stir The sleepy tree-tops nod--Why wait you here?" And he said, "Oh, sir, I would see the Face of God "If the sun is so fair in his noon-day pride, And the moon in the silver night; If the stars which by angels at eventide Are lighted can shine so bright; If wood and dell, each flow'r and tree, And each grass of the graveyard sod, So beautiful are, Oh, what must it be To look on the Face of God "I have sought for the vision wide and near, And once, sir, I travell'd far, To a mighty city long leagues from here, Where men of the great world are. But the faces I saw were false and mean, And cruel, and hard, and bad; And none like the Face the saints have seen Saw poor Dick, the idiot lad. "In the night, sir, I wander away from home; Down the lanes and the fields I go--Thro' the silent and lonely woods I roam, Patient, and praying, and slow. In the early morn on the hills I stand, Ere yet the mists have past; And I eagerly look o'er sea and land For the wonderful Vision at last. SEEN AT LAST: OR, THE IDIOT LAD 171 "W...