This little incident of the dove, as to its general features, really happened, suggesting at the moment the following lines, descriptive as they are of the feelings of many on their first awakening to life. His own experience, which was different altogether from this, the author has truly delineated in the poem entitled, "THE HEART HEALED,"
ONE evening, lost in happy thought,
Alone in you sequester'd bower,
I mused, till my whole soul had caught
The spirit of that quiet hour.
'Twas silence all—when lo! a sound,
A sudden fluttering, made me start,
And quickly turning, there I found
What soothed at once, and cheered my heart.
A snowy dove reposing there,
So gentle look'd, so tame, and dear,
I smiled to think that ought so fair
Should waken e'en a thought of fear.
Thus, Lord, when first thy blessed Dove
Reveal'd to me thy saving name,
A sense of terror, more than love,
My guilty fearful heart o'ercame.
A helpless soul convinced of sin,
I shrunk from thine avenging rod;
Unconscious of the change within,
I knew not I was born of God.
Sweet bird of life! Celestial Dove!
I knew not what a gentle guest,
Fresh from the heart and hand of love,
Had lodg'd within my aching breast.
Rethought awhile, some bird of prey
Was feeding on my wasting heart,
'Till fear at length to love gave way,
And, Lord, I knew thee as thou art.
Beneath thy Dove's encircling wings
My struggling spirit broke her shell,
Escaped from earth and earthly things,
In fairer, brighter worlds to dwell.
By faith I pass'd within the veil,
I heard thee, Savior! pleading there,
And felt at once I could not fail,
Nor need, with such a friend, despair.
Sweet Dove! 'twas thine my heart to win,
To know and love this gracious friend,
Then fan the holy flame within,
Still brightly burning to the end.
And when o'ercome by fear and grief,
A stranger in a world of strife,
Fly thou, and pluck one single leaf,
To heal me, from the tree of life.