| |
| WE saw in the distance the dusky lake fade, | |
| Empurpled with twilight’s last tinges; | |
| And slow came the Night, with her curtains of shade, | |
| And the round rosy moon in their fringes. | |
| We marked in the sky, in the cloud-lakes on high, | 5 |
| The flocks of birds dreamily sailing | |
| From the peaks in the West, and settle to rest | |
| Where the forest light slowly was failing, | |
| Round bright Alton Bay. | |
| |
| Mist curtained the mountains,—we climbed the dark heights, | 10 |
| But a feeling of sadness came o’er us, | |
| As we saw on the hillsides the camp-meeting lights, | |
| And heard the lone worshippers’ chorus— | |
| “It is well with my soul!”—how it echoed afar | |
| O’er the lake in the deep mountain shadows, | 15 |
| While bright in the sky shone the evening star | |
| O’er the lonely lake islands and meadows | |
| At still Alton Bay. | |
| |
| I knew not the singers, their creeds or their names; | |
| I heard but the chorus ascending, | 20 |
| While bright through the pines shone the night-torches’ flames | |
| With the rays of the shaded moon blending; | |
| And I said on that night, as I stood on the height, | |
| When time measures my joy and my sorrow, | |
| My life I would close as the birds seek repose, | 25 |
| To dream of a beautiful morrow | |
| At dim Alton Bay. | |
| |
| Then we talked of the main, and its night-darkened plain, | |
| Of the sweet prayer of trust on the billows; | |
| The worshippers’ strain rising sweet in the fane | 30 |
| In the vale by the cool village willows; | |
| The cathedral’s aisle dim, the antiphonal hymn, | |
| The baptismal vow at the fountain: | |
| Yet more grand seemed the word that our charmed ears had heard— | |
| “It is well with my soul!”—on the mountain, | 35 |
| At calm Alton Bay. | |
| |
| Morn lighted the bay, our boat glided away, | |
| But the fair lake I see as a vision; | |
| And in dreams hear again the lone camp-meeting’s strain | |
| Like a call from the portals elysian. | 40 |
| When the shade of the past shall be lengthened at last, | |
| And the earth light around me is paling, | |
| May some holy song’s breath on the mountain of faith | |
| Turn my heart to the Refuge unfailing, | |
| As at far Alton Bay. | 45 |
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