SONGS OF RETROSPECTION. "Have I been a wilderness unto Israel?" HO, standing thoughtful on the height, W O'er his unfolded path looks back, Retracing in celestial light The mazy windings of his track, May hear, 'neath requiem o'er the past Chanted in courts of memory, A voice low hush'd as dying blast"Am I a wilderness to thee? "When the fresh trust and hope of youth Withered beneath the noon-day sky; When rang the anguish'd What is truth?' The heart's exceeding bitter cry; When first, with doubt and care oppress'd, "When, fearful of an unknown God, Thy soul, o'erwhelm'd with guilt and sin, Lay crushed beneath the hidden loadDarkness without-despair within; Who came with healing to thy side And told of darker agony, And bade thee know the Crucified? Was I a wilderness to thee? "When, as in shining after rain, And 'Shall I ever doubt again?' Burst from the heart where woe had been; When earth's fond arts and glittering snare In vain allured a soul set free, And love brought sweetness out of care, Was I a wilderness to thee? "When blind affection wildly strove T'assuage the hunger of thy heart, Which, sighing for an earthly love, Refused from that fond hope to part; And when by disappointment's breath The light was quenched of joys to be, One love upheld thee strong as deathWas I a wilderness to thee? "In dark bereavement's lonely hour In joys and griefs a Father's hand My Spirit taught thy heart to see, And waymarks to a Promised Land Was I a wilderness to thee? "Yet would'st thou linger far from home, Lamenting sore the years gone by, 6 Who cryest, Lord, Thy kingdom come!' And hast thy treasure stored on high. Say, fear'st thou still the untried path? O bring thy doubts, thy cares to Me! Why fearful? thou of little faith : Am I a wilderness to thee?" Thus oft in retrospection's hour The secret voice is inly heard, Whereby, with fresh almighty power, To firmer trust the soul is stirr'd. Nor die the echoes of that tone How dark soe'er life's future be, Still softly pleading "Not alone! Am I a wilderness to thee ?" And when within his Father's halls Knowing what he believed before, |