Veil not thine eyes, nor close thy lips, Nor speak with bated breath;This evil shall not always last, The end of it is death.
Avert the doom that crime must bring Upon a guilty land;Strong in the strength that God supplies, For truth and justice stand.
For Christless men, with reckless hands, Are sowing round thy path The tempests wild that yet shall break In whirlwinds of God's wrath.
Twas a night of dreadful horror,- Death was sweeping through the land;And the wings of dark destruction Were outstretched from strand to strand Strong men's hearts grew faint with terror, As the tempest and the waves 54 THE NIGHT OF DEATH.
Wrecked their homes and swept them down- ward, Suddenly to yawning graves.
'Mid the wastes of ruined households, And the tempest's wild alarms, Stood a terror-stricken mother With a child within her arms.
Other children huddled 'round her, Each one nestling in her heart;Swift in thought and swift in action, She at least from one must part.
Then she said unto her daughter, "Strive to save one child from death."
"Which one?" said the anxious daughter, As she stood with bated breath.
Oh! the anguish of that mother;What despair was in her eye!
All her little ones were precious;Which one should she leave to die?
Then outspake the brother Bennie:
"I will take the little one."
"No," exclaimed the anxious mother;"No, my child, it can't be done."
"See! my boy, the waves are rising, Save yourself and leave the child!"
"I will trust in Christ," he answered;Grasped the little one and smiled.
Through the roar of wind and waters Ever and anon she cried;But throughout the night of terror Never Bennie's voice replied.
But above the waves' wild surging He had found a safe retreat, As if God had sent an angel, Just to guide his wandering feet.
When the storm had spent its fury, And the sea gave up its dead She was mourning for her loved ones, Lost amid that night of dread.
While her head was bowed in anguish, On her ear there fell a voice, Bringing surcease to her sorrow, Bidding all her heart rejoice.
"Didn't I tell you true?" said Bennie, And his eyes were full of light.