HERE are in Puradise Souls neither great nor wise, Yet souls who wear no less The crown of faith, Mess.
My master bade me watch the flock by night My daty was to stay.
1 do not know hat thing my comrades saw in that great light. I did not heed the words that bade them go.
know not were they maddened or°afraid only know I stayed.
The hillside seemed on fire; 1 felt the sweep OF wings above my head; I ran to see If any danger threatened these my sheep. What though found them folded quietly, What though my brother wept and plucked my sleeve, These were not mine to leave, Thieves in-the wood and wolves upon the hill, My-duty was to stay.
Strange though it be, Thad no thought to hold my mates,.no will To bid them wait and keep the watch with me. Thad not heard the summons they obeyed only know I stayed.
+Perchance they will return upon the dawn With word of Bethlehem and why they yen! Tonly know that, watching here alone, I know a strange content, Thave not failed that trust upon me laid 1 ask sno thore-—I stayed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.