horrow thou shalt die.

warmth upon the shore, asured path is all gone o'er; with strain and sigh, hed the truth; and I,

was destined for."

rt thou then so much more

that thou shouldst reap thereby?

From this wave-washed mound

brim look with me;

thought till it be drowned.

though the last line be,

il leagues and leagues beyond,

se leagues, there is more sea.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti [1828-1882]

V A HEAD-STWONE

dèn ov a stwone

hurch-yard all alwone,
I ran up, wi' pride
here, an' pushed a-zide

A bunch o' bennets that did hide
A verse her father, as she zaïd,
Put up above her mother's head,
To tell how much he loved her.

The verse wer short, but very good,
I stood an' larned en where I stood:-
"Mid God, dear Meäry, gi'e me greäce,
To vind, lik' thee, a better pleäce,
Where I woonce mwore mid zee thy feäce;
An' bring thy children up to know
His word, that they mid come an' show
Thy soul how much I loved thee."

"Where's father, then," I zaid, "my chile?"
"Dead too," she answered wi' a smile;
"An' I an' brother Jim do bide

At Betty White's, o' t'other side

O' road." "Mid He, my chile," I cried,
"That's father to the fatherless,
Become thy father now, an' bless,

An' keep, an' leäd, an' love thee."

Though she've a-lost, I thought, so much,
Still He don't let the thoughts o't touch
Her litsome heart by day or night;

An' zoo, if we could teäke it right,
Do show He'll meäke His burdens light
To weaker souls, an' that His smile
Is sweet upon a harmless chile,
When they be dead that loved it.
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.

Forever

3343

heans, dear, this desolate heart-pain; daily way, and walk in it again; other sphere the loved who leave us

onder still, nor why we do not know.

loved and dead, if they should come

s, "What is life?" not one of us could

ep as ever death can be;

to us, this life we live and see!

-these vanished ones-and blessed

us, beloved! though we may show you

ck reveal the mystery of deathwould, the mystery of breath."

life comes not with knowledge or in

ath must go as little children sent. But I believe that God is overhead; ving, so death is to the dead.

Mary Mapes Dodge [1838-1905]

FOREVER

ve truly never die,

y year the sad memorial wreath, vers, types of life and death,

n their graves.

e pure life saves,

e is love; and love can reach
o earth, and nobler lessons teach
by mortals read.

Well blest is he who has a dear one dead:
A friend he has whose face will never change-
A dear communion that will not grow strange;
The anchor of a love is death.

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,
Whose love comes laden with the scent of youth,
Through twenty years of death.

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]

brer's Task is O'er" 3345

ABORER'S TASK IS O'ER"

aborer's task is o'er;
battle day is past;
the farther shore
he voyager at last.
Thy gracious keeping
now Thy servant sleeping.

tears of earth are dried;
s hidden things are clear;
work of life is tried

ster Judge than here.

Thy gracious keeping

now Thy servant sleeping.

penitents, that turn cross their dying eyes, e of Jesus learn feet in Paradise.

Thy gracious keeping

now Thy servant sleeping.

nore the powers of hell

vail to mar their peace;

Lord shall guard them well, died for their release.

Thy gracious keeping

now Thy servant sleeping.

earth, and dust to dust," now the words we say, d, we wait in trust

resurrection day.

Thy gracious keeping

now Thy servant sleeping.

John Lodge Ellerton [1801-1873]