A bunch o' bennets that did hide The verse wer short, but very good, "Where's father, then," I zaid, "my chile?" At Betty White's, o' t'other side O' road." "Mid He, my chile," I cried, An' keep, an' leäd, an' love thee." Though she've a-lost, I thought, so much, An' zoo, if we could teäke it right, William Barnes [1801-1886] THE TWO MYSTERIES We know not what it is, dear, this sleep so deep and still; The folded hands, the awful calm, the cheek so pale and chill; The lids that will not lift again, though we may call and call; The strange, white solitude of peace that settles over all. We know not what it means, dear, this desolate heart-pain; go, Nor why we're left to wonder still, nor why we do not know. But this we know: Our loved and dead, if they should come this day Should come and ask us, “What is life?" not one of us could say. Life is a mystery as deep as ever death can be; Yet, oh, how dear it is to us, this life we live and see! Then might they say-these vanished ones-and blessed is the thought, "So death is sweet to us, beloved! though we may show naught; We may not to the quick reveal the mystery of death— you The child who enters life comes not with knowledge or in tent, So those who enter death must go as little children sent. Nothing is known. But I believe that God is overhead; And as life is to the living, so death is to the dead. Mary Mapes Dodge [1838-1905] FOREVER THOSE We love truly never die, Though year by year the sad memorial wreath, For death the pure life saves, And life all pure is love; and love can reach Well blest is he who has a dear one dead: A friend he has whose face will never change- The blessed sweetness of a loving breath Will reach our cheek all fresh through weary years. For her who died long since, ah! waste not tears, She's thine unto the end. Thank God for one dear friend, With face still radiant with the light of truth, John Boyle O'Reilly [1844-1890] NOW AND AFTERWARDS 'Two hands upon the breast, and labor is past "-RUSSIAN PROVERB Two hands upon the breast, And labor's done; Two pale feet crossed in rest,— The race is won; Two eyes with coin-weights shut, And all tears cease, Two lips where grief is mute, Anger at peace;— So pray we oftentimes, mourning our lot; God in His kindness answereth not. Two hands to work addressed Aye for His praise; Two feet that never rest Walking His ways; Two eyes that look above Through all their tears; Two lips still breathing love, Not wrath, nor fears; So pray we afterwards, low on our knees; Pardon those erring prayers! Father, hear these! Dinah Maria Mulock Craik [1826-1887] "Now the Laborer's Task is O'er" 3345 "NOW THE LABORER'S TASK IS O’ER” Now the laborer's task is o'er; Now the battle day is past; Now upon the farther shore There the tears of earth are dried; There the work of life is tried By a juster Judge than here. There the penitents, that turn To the cross their dying eyes, All the love of Jesus learn At His feet in Paradise. There no more the powers of hell Can prevail to mar their peace; Father, in Thy gracious keeping "Earth to earth, and dust to dust," Leave we now Thy servant sleeping. John Lodge Ellerton [1801-1873] LOVE AND DEATH ALAS! that men must see Glad, when with strong, cool hand Glad to have finished pain, And labor wrought in vain, Blurred by Sin's deepening stain. But Love's insistent voice Bids self to flee "Live that I may rejoice, So, for Love's cruel mind, Men fear this Rest to find, Nor know great Death is kind! Margaret Deland [1857 VAN ELSEN GOD spake three times and saved Van Elsen's soul; He spake by sickness first and made him whole; Van Elsen heard him not, Or soon forgot. God spake to him by wealth, the world outpoured Its treasures at his feet, and called him Lord; Van Elsen's heart grew fat And proud thereat. God spake the third time when the great World smiled, And in the sunshine slew his little child; Van Elsen like a tree Fell hopelessly. |