ON THE DEATH OF I saw her laid in the silent tomb, For I thought of a land of beauty and light, Where there is no shadow, or darkness, or night; And I knelt by her bed, and we prayed to bé And when I saw her young cheek fade, And death and pain around her bed, She spoke of a God of peace and of love And she folded her hands upon her breast, And she prayed that her soul might be at rest: Yet she sometimes fondly and sadly took And, Oh! it was beautiful to see, A soul thus pass to eternity. Anon. OFT HAVE I THOUGHT. Oft have I thought, if I should die, And leave the place of love I hold, Oblivion soon the tear might dry, And hearts, now warm for me, grow cold. How would my inmost soul be chilled, Myself remembered but in name. No room for me by hearth or board, Well! such may be-yet in my heart A smile should light them as they came, Edmeston. LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS. Children of God, who, pacing slow, In strength and weakness, joy and woe, Why move ye thus-with lingering tread, A doubtful mournful band? Why faintly hangs the drooping head? Why fails the feeble hand? Oh! wish to know the Saviour's power, A moment's toil, a passing shower Is all the grief ye share. The Lord of Light, though veiled awhile, He hides his noon-day ray, Shall soon in lovelier beauty smile To gild the closing day; And bursting through the dusky shroud, Ride throned in light o'er every cloud, And guide you to his rest. Bowdler. THE ROSE. A rose in yonder garden grew And bathed in beams of light. And all the host of insect beaux Alas! the flower, one fatal night, And from his pinions scattered blight I saw it in the sunny morn, 'Twas dying on its stem; Yet wore, though drooping and forlorn, Its dewy diadem! But every roving butterfly Looked on the rose and wandered by ! |