Chapter XXXIII · “THE MISSING LINK.”

Dark night lay over the land, O’er the graves of all the dead, And all hearts were stirred, and filled With feelings deep and dread; Not without doubt and fearing, But as chilled by sudden gloom,— No ray of comfort peering Through the door-way of the tomb! Their souls were sad and trembling On the river’s dreary brink, They prayed that in death’s shadows They might find the Missing Link! Yet love still seemed to be lost, Or like bird with broken wing, So weak, and lone, and helpless, That it could not soar and sing. How could this mouldered body Be renewed again, they said, When the golden day goes down To the midnight of the dead? See the little tender heart That love had so softly pressed, With its tiny dimpled hands Folded on its icy breast, While the mother’s soul of love, Bends over the precious dead. Is it now by death transplanted Where no bitter tears are shed? Where, in answer to her prayer, In a region bright and fair, Safe beyond all earthly care, Angels lead her over there? Dear ones stood with broken heart, Torn from all their loves apart, Fathers, mothers with their dead, While their hopeless words were said! O land of crape and mourning, Land dark with midnight gloom, Is there no hope beyond us, And beyond the silent tomb? A land where there are no dead, Where no farewell tears are shed, Where there is no funeral pall Evermore—Does death end all? Like an infant’s cradle rocking, Then there came a gentle knocking, And little children’s hand Opened up the Spirit-land. O Missing Link! O blessed hand! That opened wide the heav’nly land! Those who once filled earth’s fond places Watch and wait with angel faces. God speed thee, Book, that bears this truth— Eternal life, eternal youth! Go, bear the gratitude of souls Far as Truth’s endless being rolls![25]