THE AMEN OF THE ROCKS.
TRANSLATED FROM A GERMAN LEGEND.
THOUGH blind with age, forth Beda went with zeal
The tidings of salvation to proclaim.
Through town and hamlet, guided by a boy,
The pious father wandered, full of love,
And preached to dying men the word of life.
The boy once guided him into a vale
O'erstrewn with rocks and mighty heaps of stone,
And there in wantonness, not malice, said,
"Most rev'rend father, many men are here,
And wait to hear the word of gospel truth."
The blind old man arose with joyful haste,
Chose him a text, explained it and applied,
Exhorted, warned, rebuked and comforted
So loving, that the tears rolled down his cheeks
And gently hid themselves in his gray beard.
When in conclusion, then, as it isn't,
He prayed the prayer the Saviour taught, and said,
"Thine is the kingdom, thine the pow'r, and thine
The glory unto all eternity,"
There burst from out the vale a mighty shout:
"Amen, most rev'rend father," and "Amen!"
The boy was frightened; kneeling down with shame
He to the holy saint confessed the sin.
"Son," said the father, "hast thou never read,
When men are silent, rocks and stones will cry!
Mock nevermore, 0 son, the word of God;
A two-edged sword it is, and quick, and sharp,
And powerful. And if the heart of man
Should turn to stone, defying truth and love,
The rock with human heart would throb aloud."