Chapter XVI: Appendix: III (p. 51)

"OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS"

(Written by Bute in November, 1867, _aet._ 20.)

The world is very foul and dark,
And sin has marred its outline fair;
But we are taught to look above,
And see another image there.
And I will raise my eyes above--
Above a world of sin and woe,
Where sinless, griefless, near her Son,
Sits Mary on her throne of snow.

Mankind seems very foul and dark,
In some lights that we see it in,
Lo! as the tide of life goes by,
How many thousands lie in sin.
But I will raise my eyes above--
Above the world's unthinking flow,
To where, so human yet so fair,
Sits Mary on her throne of snow.

My heart is very foul and dark;
Yes, strangely foul sometimes to me
Glare up the images of sin
My tempter loves to make me see.
Then may I lift my eyes above--
Above these passions vile and low,
To where, in pleading contrast bright,
Sits Mary on her throne of snow!

And oft that throne, so near our Lord's,
To earth some of its radiance lends;
And Christians learn from her to shun
The path impure that hellward tends,
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For they have learnt to look above--
Above the prizes here below,
To where, crowned with a starry crown,
Sits Mary on her throne of snow.

Blest be the whiteness of her throne;
That shines so purely, grandly there!
With such a glory passing bright,
Where all is bright and all is fair!
God make me lift my eyes above,
And love its holy radiance so
That some day I may come where still
Sits Mary on her throne of snow.

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APPENDIX IV (p. 211)

A PROVOST'S PRAYER

The following was the prayer always said by Bute at the opening of the meetings of the Town Council of Rothesay, during the term of his provostship. It was composed by himself, or rather compiled from two prayers contained in the Roman Breviary--one the Collect for Whit-Sunday, and the other a prayer at the end of the Litany of the Saints.

PRAYER.

"O God, Who dost teach the hearts of Thy people by sending to them the light of Thine Holy Spirit; grant unto us that the same Thy Spirit may inspire us in all our doings by His heavenly grace, and bless us therein by His continual help, that every prayer and work of ours may begin from Thee and by Thee be duly ended, and that we, who cannot do anything that is good without Thee, may so by Thee be enabled to act according to Thy will, which is our sanctification; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen."

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