200 THE OLIVE LEAF. CHAP. 



And deemed its joy the typal joy of life ! 

 The first ripe crop that grew above the grave 

 Of the old world, arched by the covenant bow, 

 The pledge and surety of all harvests since ; 

 The plenteous years that fed the famished ones 

 Upon the Nile's green banks ; the touching tale 

 Of the fair Gleaner in her kinsman's fields, 

 Who found love's solace for the stranger's heart ; 

 The Sabbath walk among the rustling corn, 

 With Him who claimed to be the Sabbath's Lord, 

 When His disciples plucked the husky ears, 

 And broke their fast with meat from God's own hand, 

 And felt it was a sacrament indeed ; 

 And more than all, the wondrous miracle, 

 Wrought far from cultivated haunts of men, 

 When the slow seasons' work was done at once, 

 And bread that never knew the curse of toil 

 Grew swiftly as it passed from hand to hand 

 Along the hungry ranks. These memories 

 The ages and the generations link, 

 And make one family of all mankind, 

 Living in one great home, and fed each day 

 From one kind Father's store. This corn-field seems 

 A silent gospel. Here I see once more 

 The Master's steps beside the conscious corn, 

 Making a Sabbath of the common day ; 

 I see the hand that works behind the veil, 

 Stretched forth anew to multiply the loaves, 

 And crown with heavenly glory common things. 

 Above, Ben Arthur in the opal air 



