The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 1.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

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[140] The footprints of the life divine,
Which marked their path, remain in thine;
And that great Life, transfused in theirs,
Awaits thy faith, thy love, thy prayers “

A lesson which I well may heed,
A word of fitness to my need;
So from that twilight cool and gray
Still saith a voice, or seems to say.

We rose, and slowly homeward turned,
While down the west the sunset burned;
And, in its light, hill, wood, and tide,
And human forms seemed glorified.

The village homes transfigured stood,
And purple bluffs,whose belting wood
Across the waters leaned to hold
The yellow leaves like lamps of gold.

Then spake my friend: “Thy words are true;
Forever old, forever new,
These home-seen splendors are the same
Which over Eden's sunsets came.

To these bowed heavens let wood and hill
Lift voiceless praise and anthem still;
Fall, warm with blessing, over them,
Light of the New Jerusalem!

Flow on, sweet river, like the stream
Of John's Apocalyptic dream!