1844-54. CAMERA OBSCURA. 381 



"DEAR MOTHER, I hope to be with you in a week. To- 

 morrow I shall send you some verses I made to help me through 

 the night. They are nothing particular." 



The verses were the following : 



CAMERA OBSCURA. 



Silent, dimly-lighted chamber, 



Where the sick man lies, 

 Death and Life are keenly fighting 



For the doubtful prize, 

 While strange visions pass before 



His unslumbering eyes. 



Few of free will cross thy threshold ; 



No one longs to linger there ; 

 Gloomy are thy walls and portal ; 



Dreariness is in the air ; 

 Pain is holding there high revel, 



Waited on by Fear and Care. 



Yet, thou dimly-lighted chamber, 



From thy depths, I ween, 

 Things on earth, and things in heaven, 



Better far are seen, 

 Than in brightest broad daylight 



They have often been. 



Thou art like a mine deep sunken 



Far beneath the earth and sky, 

 From the shaft of which, upgazing, 



Weary workers can descry, 

 Even when those on earth see nothing, 



Great stars shining bright on high. 



So within thy dark recesses, 



Clothed in his robes of white, 

 To the sufferer Christ appeareth 



In a new and blessed light, 

 Which the glare of day outshining 



Hid from his unshaded sight. 



Silent, dimly-lighted chamber, 



Like the living eye, 

 If thou wert not dark, no vision 



Could be had of things on high ; 

 By the untempered daylight blinded, 



With closed eyelids we should lie. 



Oh my God ! light up each chamber 



Where a sufferer lies, 

 By thine own eternal glory, 



Tempered for those tearful eyes, 

 As it comes from Him reflected 



Who was once the sacrifice. 



