"The Sabbath" by Nathaniel Parker Willis (N. P. Willis, 1806–1867)

And then broke in the Sabbath chime of bells—

And the old man, & his descendants went

Together to the house of God. I joined

The well apparell'd crowd.

The holy man

Rose solemnly, & breathed the prayer of faith—

And the gray saint, just on the wing for heaven—

And the fair maid—and the bright haired young man—

And child of curling locks, just taught to close

The lash of its blue eye the while;

—all kneltIn attitude of prayer—and then the hymn,

Sincere in its low melody, went up

To worship God.

I went my way—but as I went,

I thought

How holy was the Sabbath-day of God.

N. P. Willis