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By
Miss Marion Moss,
One of the Authoresses
of “Early Efforts,” “Romance of Jewish History,”
“Tales From Jewish History,” Etc., Etc.
The
Sabbath lamp was burning, the Sabbath board was spread
With the emblematic salt of peace the holy Sabbath bread,
And the consecrated wine, o’er which the blessing had been said.
A fond and happy family that night assembled there,
And every lip was moving, every heart was bowed in prayer,
There was one young child with blooming face, and eyes and hair of
jet,
Whose infant years had scarcely told twice three summers yet,
But he stood beside his father’s knee, his infant voice to raise,
With the voices of his family, in their Sabbath hymn of praise.
They had worked hard the livelong week to earn their daily bread,
And toil had browned the father’s cheek and silvered o’er his
head;
And he had many trials to make his spirit grieve,
But he threw them all aside upon the blessed Sabbath eve.
His home was but a humble home, but content abided there,
And his comforts were attended to with fond and scrupulous care;
And his wife and children bore that blooming look of health
And happiness which may not be bought by the rich man’s wealth.
It was a pleasant sight to see them take their humble meal
With a cheerful zest the noble and titled may not feel,
And then again they prayed to Him to hold his powerful hand
Above them and restore them unto their Fatherland;
They prayed to see their Temple uprear its sacred fane
In splendour on the holy hill of Zion once again.
It was sweet to see the little child, with his dark earnest eyes,
And his smile, like some sweet seraph’s, just descended from the
skies,
Join in the fervent prayer to see his wandering race restored
To the inheritance bestowed on their sires by the Lord.
He was an infant yet, but his mother’s voice had taught
His heart to loathe the sin and folly that had brought
Disgrace and exile on a nation that had been
Once ‘mid the countries of the earth exalted as a queen;
And from the depth of that pure heart, unsullied yet by pride,
He prayed that God would pardon them for having turned aside
From the worship of His holy faith to bow to wooden gods,
And that he would restore their descendants the abode
He had given to their sires in that lovely Eastern clime,
When they worshipped at his altars that were not then stained by
crime.
London,
June 30th, 1845. |
