The Angel's Errand

The Virgin Mary paced a wood,
And plucked the flowers that round her stood.

The brown she pluck'd, and blue so sweet,
She wished the Master she could meet.

Our Lord sat on his heavenly throne.
And th' angel bade in kindly tone:

"Down to the earth thy journey wing,
"And up to me the Virgin bring."

A bird sat on a linden-spray.
And trill'd a sweet and heavenly lay.

He sat him on a peartree rod,
And sang of Christ, and sang of God.

One day he sang, he sang for three,
Before she chanced the bird to see.

But when she heard the notes he sung.
How much she joy'd in heart and tongue!

"Lord Jesus, grant this bird were mine,
"I'd seat him on a gilded shrine.

"Lord Jesus, would the bird were tame!
"I'd seat him on a golden frame."

The Virgin open'd windows three,
But into none of them would he.

She open'd five, she opened all,
Yet came not in that bird so small.

She went, bright as the streamlet clear.
To lure the little songster near.

He greeted her in tones of love,
"Tomorrow thou'rt in heaven above."

"In heaven shall I tomorrow be?
"Then I my Saviour there shall see."

The maid went out so sound and hale.
But breathed a blast of deadly bale.

"Sister, a coverlet o'er me spread,.
"Stand thou, dear mother, near my bed.

"Oh! brother, were a priest at hand!
"My dearest father near me stand.

"My parents, weep not ye for me,
"In heaven we soon each other see.

"And now my spirit I commend
"Into my blessed Saviour's hand."

Between the hours of four and five
They laid her down in bed alive.

Between the hours of eight and nine
Her breath in peace did she resign.

To clothe her corpse stood Mary there,
Her soul to heaven good angels bare.

And now with God is her abode,
Because a stedfast faith she show'd.

The maid had plighted Christ her love,
And now she dwells in heaven above.