Classic Poem

E LI BEN ISRAEL , weary with his toil,
And heavy-hearted from continual grief,
One evening bowed beneath a stately palm,
And, weeping, prayed to Yahveh for relief.

His words were simple, but his prayers sincere,
And offered in the faith that wavers ne'er;
So, like an angel, from the earth it sped,
Nor paused its pinion till it reached God's ear.

The tropic sun went swiftly down the west;
And, as the shadows hastened o'er the plain,
Sweet was the slumber weary Eli found,
While o'er him hung night's queen with starry train.

Then came a vision to the sleeper's gaze,
A dream of comfort to his burdened soul:
He saw the end of all his toil on earth,
And read his name on Life's illumined scroll.

A fairer city than Jerusalem
Before his eyes in Orient splendor stood;
And angels, clad like rays of morning light,
Smiled on him as they sang the praise of God.

A voice whose clarion tones were sweet and glad
Then spake to him, “Oh, wait in patience still!
The soul that would enjoy supernal bliss
Must bravely do, and calmly bear God's will.

Thy toil on earth will fit thee for thy rest,
Thy suffering purge thy heart from all its dross:
Lo! angels walk unseen with every soul
Which seeks eternal gain through earthly-loss.”

He woke!—glad Eli!—with his soul refreshed,
And trod his weary way with hopeful heart;
And, when his pitying neighbor sighed for him,
Thanked God for toil's rough file and sorrow's dart.

And ever in his prayer these words appeared,
Till rest was gained and joy eternal won,
“O mighty leader of thy chosen race,
Here, as on high, let all thy will be done!”