Contents -Volume INDEX -AUTHOR INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889

The Heart’s Song

By Arthur Cleveland Coxe (1818–1896)

IN the silent midnight watches,

List—thy bosom door!

How it knocketh, knocketh, knocketh,

Knocketh evermore!

Say not—’Tis thy pulse’s beating,

’Tis thy heart of sin;

’Tis thy Saviour knocks, and crieth,

Rise and let me in!

Death comes down with ruthless footstep

To the hall or hut:

Think you Death will tarry knocking

Where the door is shut?

Jesus waiteth—waiteth—waiteth,

But the door is fast;

Grieved, away the Saviour goeth:

Death breaks in at last.

Then ’tis thine to stand entreating

Christ to let thee in:

At the gate of heaven beating,

Wailing for thy sin.

Nay, alas! thou foolish virgin,

Hast thou then forgot

Jesus waited long to know thee,

But—He knows thee not.

1840.