Ash-Wednesday.

Glitt'ring balls and thoughtless revels
    Fill up now each misspent night -
'Tis the reign of pride and folly,
    The Carnival is at its height.
Every thought for siren pleasure,
    And its sinful, feverish mirth;
Who can find one moment's leisure
    For aught else save things of earth?

But, see, sudden stillness falling
    O'er those revels, late so loud,
And a hush comes quickly over
    All the maddened giddy crowd,
For a voice from out our churches
    Has proclaimed in words that burn:
"Only dust art thou, proud mortal,
    And to dust shall thou return!"

And, behold, Religion scatters
    Dust and ashes on each brow;
Thus replacing gem and flower
    With that lowly symbol now:
On the forehead fair of beauty,
    And on manhood's front of pride,
Rich and poor and spirit weary -
    All receive it, side by side.

And the hearts that throbbed so wildly
    For vain pleasure's dreams alone,
For its gilded gauds and follies,
    Now at length have calmer grown.
Oh! that voice with heavenly power
    Through each restless breast hath thrilled,
And our churches, late so lonely,
    Now with contrite hearts are filled.

Fair and lovely are our altars
    With their starry tapers bright,
With dim clouds of fragrant incense,
    Fair young choristers in white,
And the dying gleam of day-light,
    With its blushing crimson glow,
Streaming through the lofty casement
    On the kneeling crowd below.

Tis an hour of golden promise
    For the hearts that secret burn
With contrite and anxious wishes
    To the Father to return;
For a Saviour, full of mercy,
    On His altar-throne is there,
Waiting but that they should ask Him,
    For response to whispered prayer.