POEMS.

“Then let the Book receive in these prompt lines A just memorial; and thine eyes consent To read that they who mark their course behold A life declining with the golden light Of summer in the season of sere leaves; See cheerfulness undamped by stealing Time; See studied kindness flow with easy stream, Illustrated with inborn courtesy; And an habitual disregard of self Balanced by vigilance for others’ weal.”

Welcome, welcome little stranger, Fear no harm and fear no danger, We are glad to see you here, For you sing sweet Spring is near. Now the white snow melts away, Now the flowers blossom gay, Come dear bird and build your nest, For we love our Robin best.

Voyager across the seas, In my arms thy form I press; Come, my baby, me to please, Blue-eyed nurseling, motherless! All is strange and beautiful; Every sense finds glad surprise; Life is lovely, wonderful, Faces fair and beaming eyes. Safe, ye angels, keep this child, Life-long guard her innocence, Winsome ways, and temper mild; Heaven, our home, be her defence!

Mysterious death! who in a single hour Life’s gold can so refine, And by thy art divine Change mortal weakness to immortal power! Bending beneath the weight of eighty years, Spent with the noble strife Of a victorious life, We watched her fading heavenward through our tears. But ere the sense of loss our hearts had wrung, A miracle was wrought, And swift as happy thought She lived again, brave, beautiful, and young. Age, pain, and sorrow dropped the veils they wore, And showed the tender eyes Of angels in disguise, Whose discipline so patiently she bore. The past years brought their harvest rich and fair, While memory and love Together fondly wove A golden garland for the silver hair. How could we mourn like those who are bereft, When every pang of grief Found balm for its relief In counting up the treasures she had left? Faith that withstood the shocks of toil and time, Hope that defied despair, Patience that conquered care, And Loyalty whose courage was sublime. The great deep heart that was a home for all; Just, eloquent, and strong, In protest against wrong; Wide charity that knew no sin, no fall. The Spartan spirit that made life so grand, Mating poor, daily needs With high, heroic deeds, That wrested happiness from Fate’s hard hand. We thought to weep, but sing for joy instead, Full of the grateful peace That follows her release; For nothing but the weary dust lies dead. O noble woman! never more a queen Than in the laying down Of sceptre and of crown, To win a greater kingdom yet unseen. Teaching us how to seek the highest goal; To earn the true success; To live, to love, to bless, And make death proud to take a royal soul.

Dear Pilgrim, waiting patiently, The long, long journey nearly done, Beside the sacred stream that flows Clear shining in the western sun; Look backward on the varied road Your steadfast feet have trod, From youth to age, through weal and woe, Climbing forever nearer God. Mountain and valley lie behind; The slough is crossed, the wicket passed; Doubt and despair, sorrow and sin, Giant and fiend, conquered at last. Neglect is changed to honor now; The heavy cross may be laid down; The white head wins and wears at length The prophet’s, not the martyr’s crown. Greatheart and Faithful gone before, Brave Christiana, Mercy sweet, Are Shining Ones who stand and wait The weary wanderer to greet. Patience and Love his handmaids are, And till time brings release, Christian may rest in that bright room Whose windows open to the east. The staff set by, the sandals off, Still pondering the precious scroll, Serene and strong, he waits the call That frees and wings a happy soul; Then, beautiful as when it lured The boy’s aspiring eyes, Before the pilgrim’s longing sight Shall the Celestial City rise.

When I remember with what buoyant heart, Midst war’s alarms and woes of civil strife, In youthful eagerness thou didst depart, At peril of thy safety, peace, and life, To nurse the wounded soldier, swathe the dead,— How piercèd soon by fever’s poisoned dart, And brought unconscious home, with wildered head, Thou ever since, mid languor and dull pain, To conquer fortune, cherish kindred dear, Hast with great studies vexed a sprightly brain, In myriad households kindled love and cheer, Ne’er from thyself by Fame’s loud trump beguiled, Sounding in this and the farther hemisphere, I press thee to my heart as Duty’s faithful child.