TO THE SPIRIT OF A DEPARTED SISTER*.
IF e'er departed spirit conscious glanc'd.
One look on earth, or near its orb advanc'd;
And light as air-as air unseen has moy'd, ·
Still ling'ring near the friends on earth belov'd-
Thou pure Intelligence, so lately fled,.
So lov'd in life, so deeply mourn'd when dead;
Unfold thy pinions on the hills of light,
And wing thy downward way to earth and night.
Sister and friend! a mourner's call obey:
Forego the songs of angels-come away:
O! come, and listen to that faithful voice
Which cheer'd thy soul in death!--
Rest in impenetrable shadows deep.
Thy groans, which pierc'd my heart, disturb'd my sleep:
The reader will perceive a connection between these lines and the preceding discourse: they were written by a Sister of the deceased on the same mournful occasion.
And ever as the morning light arose
Chased from my bosom feelings of repose.
No more, dear patient sufferer, shall a groan
Or heave thy bosom or disturb my own.
These tears by painful recollection mov'd,
Witness how much I priz'd-how much I lov'd.
Though painful was the task, and hard to part,
I tried to veil thine image from my heart:
This heart no longer able to endure
Sad recollections time alone can cure.
Endear'd by all thy patience-all thy pain-
Kindness and gentleness-the effort's vain.
We look around-thy form no more we sec:
But memory raises forms in vacancy;
Thy person and thy manner brings to mind-
Thy look benevolent-thy will resign'd—
Thy heart with tender gratitude oppress'd,
Now glist'ning in thine eye-now half express'd—
Now rising high to God-then would it fall
In tributary thanks-on me-on all.
What kind solicitude my spirit mov'd When fondly bending o'er the form I lov'd, Or kneeling by thy pillow, gently tried,
With sighs suppress'd, to speak of Him who died;
With sad emotions struggling in my breast,
Have sung, and smiled, and sooth'd thy soul to rest;
Have chased the tears which oft unbid would flow,
While fault'ring accents ill concealed my woe!
O! 'twas a hard deception-not a breath,
A sigh, a tear, disturb'd thy soul in death.
Never, O never, can my heart forget
Thy kind expressions, till it cease to beat!
The looks of love which linger'd in thine eye,
To which the spirit only can reply.
And never be forgot those hopes that shed
Their mild effulgence o'er thy dying bed!
Which to thy mourners gave reviving light
Through many a gloomy day, and long-long night.
When from their lips the word of promise flow'd,
Thy countenance with heav'nly brightness glow'd-
Sweet word of promise which thy pardon sealed,
And to thy faith eternal Life revealed!
The last expressions trembling on thy tongue Were-"Jesus-pity-Lord of Life, how long "Will thy salvation tarry? Thee I trust"In Thee I triumph-and with all the just, "Join'd at the resurrection, shall arise, "And reign with Thee."
When from thy lifeless form the spirit fled,
And left it number'd with the silent dead;
Unusual feelings swell'd my lab'ring breast-
I saw thee dying, and I saw thee bless'd!
The seeming calm of resignation stole
With deep, deep shadows o'er my torpid soul:
'Twas the sad pause of feeling! Then it rushed
Full on my heart, and from my eyelids gushed.
Prostrate I fell before that sacred Throne,
Whose high decrees are sovereign and alone-
Whose Spirit gave, whose Word recall'd thy breath,
Whose Promise cheer'd Thee in the vale of death.
If ever sorrow shed a genuine tear,
It fell, dear Martha! trembling on thy bier.
Bound by a mournful promise to abide,
In thy last moments, faithful to thy side;
For all my watching, tenderness, and care
So freely exercised, one service spare
When my own eyes shall close on all below,
And where thou art my willing feet shall go;
Stand thou the foremost on that heav'nly shore,
And whisper to my heart-" We part no more!"
Ellerton and Henderson, Printers,
Johnson's Court, London.
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