FOR CHRISTIE'S SAKE.

Upon us falls the shadow of night, And darkened is our day: My love will greet the morning light Four hundred miles away. God love her, torn so swift and far From hearts so like to break! And God love all who are good to her, For Christie's sake!

I know, whatever spot of ground In any land we tread, I know the Eternal Arms are round, That heaven is overhead; And faith the mourning heart will heal, But many fears will make Our spirits faint, our fond hearts kneel, For Christie's sake.

Good bye, dear! be they kind to you, As though you were their ain! My daisy opens to the dew, But shuts against the rain. Never will new moon glad our eyes But offerings we shall make To old God Wish, and prayers will rise For Christie's sake.

Four years ago we struck our tent; O'er homeless babes we yearned; Our all—three darlings—with us went, But only two returned! While life yet bleeds into her grave, Love ventures one more stake; Hush, hush, poor hearts! if big, be brave, For Christie's sake!

Like crown to most ambitious brows Was Christie to us given, To make our home a holy house And nursery of heaven. Oh, softer was her bed of rest Than lily's on the lake! Peace filled so deep each billowy breast, For Christie's sake!

To music played by harps and hands Invisible were we drawn O'er charmèd seas, through faëry lands, Under a clearer dawn: We entered our new world of love With blessings in our wake, While prospering heavens smiled above, For Christie's sake.

We gazed with proud eyes luminous On such a gift of grace,— All heaven narrowed down to us In one dear little face! And many a pang we felt, dear wife, With hurt of heart and ache All shut within like clasping knife, For Christie's sake.

I would no tears might e'er run down Her patient face, beside Such happy pearls of heart as crown Young mother, new-made bride! For 'tis a face that, looking up To passing heaven, might make An angel stop, a blessing drop, For Christie's sake.

If Love in that child's heart of hers Should breathe and break its calm, With trouble sweet as that which stirs The brooding buds of balm,— Listening at ear of peeping pearl, Glistening in eyes that shake Their sweet dew down,—God bless our girl, For Christie's sake!

But, Father, if our babe must mourn, Be merciful and kind! And if our gentle lamb be shorn, Attemper thou the wind! Across the Deluge guide our Dove, And to thy bosom take With arm of love, and shield above, For Christie's sake!

We have had sorrows many and strange: Poor Christie I when I'm gone, Some of my words will weirdly change, If she read sadly on! Lightnings, from what was dark of old, With meanings strange will break Of sorrows hid or dimly told, For Christie's sake.

Wife, we should still try hard to win The best for our dear child, And keep a resting-place within, When all without grows wild: As on the winter graves the snow Falls softly, flake by flake, Our love should whitely clothe our woe, For Christie's sake.

For one will wake at midnight drear From out a dream of death, And find no dear head pillowed near, No sound of peaceful breath! May no weak wailing words arise, No bitter thoughts awake To see the tears in Memory's eyes: For Christie's sake!

And There, where many crownless kings Of earth a crown shall wear, The martyrs who have borne the pangs Their palm at last shall bear,— When with our lily pure of sin Our heavenward way we take, There may we walk with welcome in, For Christie's sake!