OUT OF THE DEPTHS.

In my home I sat aweary, Thinking of the life so dreary That before me lay; Of the life once bright and cheery, That was now so dark and dreary, That had been so sad and lonely, Since my darling one, my only, Passed from earth away; Taking with her all the brightness, All the joy and all the lightness, Leaving me so lone, That my heart could not cease moaning, Could not cease its bitter groaning, For my child—my own. Thus I sat in deepest sadness Thinking of the joy and gladness, That alas! had flown; Thinking of the joy and pleasure That she gave in such full measure, Thinking of her cheerful smiling, Of her song, the hours beguiling, And her loving tone. Till these memories o’er me thronging Filled me with intensest longing And I cried, “O tell! Where is heaven? and is she there? Did she climb the ‘Golden stair’? With her is it well?” Though an angel child she seemed, Had she really been redeemed? Was she born of God? Had the blood on Calvary spilt, Made atonement for her guilt? Thus I pondered, sorely grieving, The old dogma still believing, That by Jesus’ blood Only, could the soul secure Life in Heaven; and was I sure That she had believed? Though her life was pure and sweet, And she seemed for Heaven made meet, Had she been received? “Lord,” I cried in bitter anguish; “For some proof my soul doth languish, That in Heaven above With the blest and pure ‘Immortals’ Who have passed within its portals, With the pure and holy angels, She is chanting glad evangels, Chanting hymns of love. She while here, was ever singing, Her sweet tones were ever ringing, Like a silvery bell. Oh! almost beyond endurance Seems my grief—without assurance That with her, ’tis well.” While thus, I sat moaning, sobbing, And my burdened heart was throbbing With its bitter grief, Suddenly a voice said near me, Child of earth, I come to cheer thee; Come to bring the words of gladness; Come to drive away the sadness; Come to bring relief Come to tell you that your child With her life so sweet and mild, Had a heaven on earth. And Death could not disinherit Of the pure and loving spirit Given her at birth. But when she passed o’er the River, When from earth her soul did sever, All that she had gained By fulfilment of each duty, All that gave her life such beauty, All the love and all the pleasure, Every grace your soul doth treasure, All that was attained, By her, in the earth condition, Passed with her to full fruition, When to her ’twas given O’er the Golden stair to climb Upward toward the life sublime, To the life called “Heaven.” As he spoke the cloud was rifted From my soul, the burden lifted, And a flood of light Filled my soul with radiant gleaming, With a new and heavenly beaming Like a pure seraphic vision Wafted from the realms elysian. Life once more seemed bright. As the flood of light rolled o’er me, Backward turned life’s page before me, Backward like a scroll. And I saw Heaven’s elevation Could be reached, but by gradation; By the growth of soul. This is what the angel taught me, This the lesson that he brought me, That to me was given As I sat that day aweary, In my home so dark and dreary, In my home so sad and lonely, Where so late, my child, my only, From me had been riven. Now no more in doubt and sorrow Walk I, but sweet hope I borrow From the lesson taught. Now I know that Heaven must ever Come by earnest pure endeavor! It must be inwrought!