Memoir of Mary Lundie Duncan; Being Recollctions of a Daughter

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX. L THE KETURN OF ISRAEL. Whore is the beauty of that ancient land, Where patriarchs fed their flocks by living streams? Still tower to heaven its mountain summits grand, Still o'er them flings the sun his glorious beams: Rut bowed on Lebanon the cedar's pride, Nor vine nor olive waves on Carmel's rugged side. Where is the melody of sacred song That floated tuneful down the vales of yore, Where David led triumphant choirs along, Or Miriam's timbrel swelled on Elim's shore? Faint are the quivering notes, and sad, and low, That now, in doubt and gloom, from Judah's children flow The cultured plains, once rich with milk and wine, Are turned to deserts 'neath a stranger's tread; The land, in ashes, mourns her banished line, Nor yields her fruits, a tyrant's board to spread; While, through remotest climes, her thousands sigh To reach their lovely home, and bless it ere they die. For, be their dwellings in earth's fairest plains, They still an exile's pensive spirit bear; To them, nor hope, nor joy, nor wish remains But, turned to Zion, fondly centers there; They mourn it now, as on the willowy shore, Where far Euphrates rolls, of old they wept it sore A time draws nigh to bid yonr sorrows cease, Seed of the Highest! Yet a little while, And all your wanderings shall close in peace: --Again for you shall Canaan's beauty smile;. And where the cloud of Heaven's dire vengeance lowered, O'er the rejoicing land Heaven's sunshine shall be poured. Cant iv. and viii. Then shall the gathering trihes, from Sinai's height And dewy Hermon, strain their eager gaze, To view, through distance blue, or vista bright, Each vale, each sacred stream of former days; While from Amana's top shall burst the voice Of loudest praise, and bid the listening earth rejoice. No more ...