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Mountain Spring and Other Poems

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<h2><SPAN name="THE_TRAVELERS" id="THE_TRAVELERS" />THE TRAVELERS</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span>Away from the city, away from the crowd,<br/></span> <span>Two comrades in sorrow traversed hill and dale;<br/></span> <span>The gloom of their hearts did their faces enshroud,<br/></span> <span>And clouds of distress only seemed to prevail.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>Alone, as they thought; but a stranger unknown<br/></span> <span>Inquired thus kindly the cause of their woe:<br/></span> <span>"Of what are ye talking? Why are ye cast down,<br/></span> <span>So burdened with care, as thus onward ye go?"<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>Cleopas thus answered, "A stranger art thou<br/></span> <span>In Jerusalem, not knowing the things happening there?"<br/></span> <span>"What things?" asked the stranger, desiring now<br/></span> <span>Their lips should disclose what had caused their despair.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>"Of Jesus of Nazareth, one mighty in deed,<br/></span> <span>A wonderful prophet; him have they slain.<br/></span> <span>To Israel's redemption we hoped he would lead,<br/></span> <span>But why should we hope if hope is in vain?<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>"Some women who went to the sepulcher say<br/></span> <span>That angels assured them he's living this hour,<br/></span> <span>But they did not see him, and try as we may,<br/></span> <span>It seems a false rumor of glory and power."<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>The stranger rebuked them ere he would teach<br/></span> <span>What the prophets portray of Christ's sufferings here.<br/></span> <span>Their souls were enlivened, but soon they would reach<br/></span> <span>The village they sought, which too quickly drew near.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>The stranger seemed passing, but now they entreat,<br/></span> <span>"Abide with us here; the day is far spent";<br/></span> <span>They could not forego yet such fellowship sweet,<br/></span> <span>And he entered in with them whither they went.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>When supper was ready, they sat up to partake—<br/></span> <span>They and the stranger, in whom they delight.<br/></span> <span>He blessed, as his custom, the bread ere he brake;<br/></span> <span>They knew it was Jesus! And he vanished from sight.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>"Did not our hearts burn within us," now they exclaimed,<br/></span> <span>"As he taught of himself what the prophets record?<br/></span> <span>We've seen him, we've heard him, and he is the same:<br/></span> <span>He is Israel's Messiah, our Savior and Lord!"<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>We are travelers here on the highway of time,<br/></span> <span>But he will go with us if we seek him aright.<br/></span> <span>His strength will support us as upward we climb;<br/></span> <span>Through his blood we inherit immortality's light.<br/></span></div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />

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