Classic Poem

Fountains in the wilderness
Are the Holy Promises
Gushing from the Rock of Truth,
Giving life and endless youth.

As a bird with wearied wing
Seeks the living water-spring,
Thence to draw new strength to fly
Upward toward its native sky;

So the tired pilgrim-saint,
In the desert, sad and faint,
Draws new life from Christ, the Lord,
At these well-springs of His Word.

Unseen angels, hovering there,
Like sweet perfume in the air,
Noiselessly, with heavenly art,
Lift the shadows from his heart.

Prayers that wing their way to heaven
Come again with answers given,—
Laden come with treasures sweet,
From the golden Mercy-Seat,

Bringing balm, and bread, and wine,
From the Promised Land divine,
Welcome food as ravens took
To Elijah at the brook.