The Sermon

ONE Summer morn in the village church,
Where all is cool and dim,
Gathered the poor and aged folk,
And sang a solemn hymn.

And dim and feeble are the eyes
That on the preacher look;
Wrinkled and trembling is the hand
That holds the singing-book.

Now, when the solemn song is done,
The preacher takes his stand
And tells of what the prophet saith,—
“ The day of the Lord at hand.”

A youth goes with them from the church,
Firm ’mid their tread is his;
They thinking of that day to come,
He of the day that is.

Frank Sewail.