The face of man, all meet his wondering sight,
And fill his thankful heart with new delight.
Nor words nor thoughts can picture what he feels,
As, with full heart, at Jesus’s feet he kneels.
Almighty Savior! thou art ever near,
The fainting soul to comfort and to cheer;
Give us the blind man’s joy, the blind man’s faith,
Trust in our lives, and brightening hope in death.
“How deserted are now those scenes of such great and mighty interest! Jericho, once the stronghold of the ancient Canaanites, then a populous and probably magnificent city of the Jews, is now a small and mean village, the abode of a few Arabs, and its once beautiful plains, through which flows the sacred river of Jordan, are almost as dead and inanimate as the waters of the sea in its vicinity, where the proud and guilty cities of former days were buried. “Sin, in its varied forms,” said Mrs. Wilson, has brought this desolation on this chosen land, this land, more blessed and favored than all others, not only in its natural advantages, but as the land which God had selected to display His omnipotent power, and where the Savior of the world passed the short but eventful years of his life upon earth. Let our prayers, my children, ascend to the Giver of all good, that He will check, in our hearts, ever, the slightest indication to evil, for the consequences are always misery.” “What a misfortune, to be blind,” said Susan. “I can scarcely imagine a more desolate condition than that of a person totally blind.” “It is not always so,” returned Elizabeth, “I have heard it said that blind people were frequently more contented, more uniformly placid in their dispositions than many who can see. Is it so, mother?” “I knew a blind man,” said Mrs. Wilson, “the whole tenor of whose life would justify us in that belief. He was always quiet and calm, of a pleasant countenance, and there was an habitual smile about his mouth which would seem to express the sunshine of his heart. He would sometimes ramble about, without any guide but his cane, feeling his way by the walls and fences, but never attempting to leave these way-marks without some helping hand, frequently claiming the assistance of the children of the village, which was never refused. His home was a happy one, consisting of his aged father, his brother, and a relative of the family, who acted as housekeeper, but was, in reality, considered as daughter and sister, and whose kindly heart led her to make the life of poor Joseph as happy as it was possible to render it. In his solitude, when confined to the house by the inclemency of the weather, he would dictate verses for some one to write, and, however they might be wanting in smoothness, or correct diction, although even the sense might be doubtful, yet there was a strain of piety and reliance on God which showed a heart resigned to His will. The peaceful grave has closed over him and his death was calm and gentle as his life. And now, with grateful thanks to God for all his goodness, we will retire to rest.”