Classic Poem

He saw in a vision—St. John of the Isle,
A band of young children, in whom was no guile,
Before the throne faultless, of Infinite love,
They stood with the Lamb, on Mount Zion above.
First fruits unto God, the Redeemer, they came,
In every fair forehead was written a name,
The name of the Lord, who had pardoned their sin,
And to his own kingdom had gathered them in.
They follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes,
To the mountain for praise, or the vales for repose,
And on the gold pavement, far up the bright street,
Forever, forever, they follow his feet.
Where flows the clear river, and blossoms the tree,
Where shineth like jasper, the waves of the sea,
Or under the rainbow that archeth the throne,
Wherever he goeth, he goes not alone;
They follow on foot, or they hover on wing,
And no man yet knoweth, the song that they sing.
Around the gold altar, by day and by night,
Are floating the hymns of these children of light;
Or where slope the pastures in beauty away,
They follow their leader, forever and aye.
By thousands, one hundred, and forty and four.
They stood in the vision, and yet there are more,
Who crowd to the gates with their numbers untold,
And pass through the portals of sapphire and gold.
Sweet babes of Jerusalem—radiant band,
What gave them a place on Mount Zion to stand?
O what but the fountain that issued so free,
When the Lamb of Mount Zion was hung on the tree,
They follow him, follow him, sing of his love,
Who, once, to redeem them, came down from above
First fruits unto God, all our little ones shine,
As they shone in the vision of John, the Divine.