“And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times.”—Isaiah xxxiii. 6.

I looked and thought, “All is too gray and cold

To wake my place-enthusiasms of old!”

Till a voice passed: “Behind that granite mien

Lurks the imposing beauty of a Queen.”

I looked anew; and saw the radiant form

Of Her who soothes in stress, who steers in storm,

On the grave influence of whose eyes sublime

Men count for the stability of the time.