Part 10

All will then be faded:--night will borrow Stars of light to crown our perfect rest; And the dim vague memory of faint sorrow Just remain to show us all was best, Then melt into a divine to-morrow:-- O how poor a day to be so blest!

--_Adelaide Procter._

Now the day is over, Night is drawing nigh, Shadows of the evening Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers, Stars begin to peep, Birds, and beasts, and flowers, Soon will be asleep.

JESU, give the weary Calm and sweet repose; With Thy tenderest blessing May mine eyelids close.

Grant to little children Visions bright of Thee; Guard the sailors tossing On the deep blue sea.

Comfort every sufferer Watching late in pain; Those who plan some evil From their sin restrain.

Through the long night watches May Thine Angels spread Their white wings above me, Watching round my bed.

When the morning wakens, Then may I arise Pure, and fresh, and sinless In Thy Holy Eyes.

Glory to the FATHER, Glory to the SON, And to Thee, Blest SPIRIT, Whilst all ages run.

--_Unidentified._

THE LAND OF LIGHT.

That clime is not this dull clime of ours; All, is brightness there; A sweeter influence breathes around its flowers, And a far milder air. No calm below is like that calm above. No region here is like that realm of love; Earth's softest spring ne'er shed so soft a light, Earth's brightest summer never shone so bright.

That sky is not like this sad sky of ours, Tinged with earth's change and care; No shadow dims it, and no rain-cloud lowers,-- No broken sunshine there! One everlasting stretch of azure pours Its stainless splendor o'er these sinless shores; For there Jehovah shines with heavenly ray, There Jesus reigns dispensing endless day.

Those dwellers there are not like these of earth, No mortal stain they bear; And yet they seem of kindred blood and birth, Whence, and how came they there? Earth was their native soil, from sin and shame, Through tribulation they to glory came; Bond-slaves delivered from sin's crushing load, Brands plucked from burning by the hand of God.

Those robes of theirs are not for these below; No angel's half so bright! Whence came that beauty, whence that living glow? Whence came that radiant white? Washed in the blood of the atoning Lamb, Fair as the light those robes of theirs became, And now, all tears wiped off from every eye, They wander where the freshest pastures lie, Through all the nightless day of that unfading sky!

--_Horatius Bonar._

Abide with me! fast falls the evening tide, The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay on all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour, What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

--_Lyte._

FAREWELL OF THE SOUL TO THE BODY.

Companion dear! the hour draws nigh, The sentence speeds--_to die, to die_. So long in mystic union held, So close with strong embrace compell'd, How canst thou bear the dread decree, That strikes thy clasping nerves from me? --To Him who on this mortal shore, The same encircling vestment wore, To Him I look, to Him I bend, To Him thy shuddering frame commend. --If I have ever caus'd thee pain, The throbbing breast, the burning brain, With cares and vigils turn'd thee pale, And scorn'd thee when thy strength did fail Forgive!--Forgive!--Thy task doth cease, Friend! Lover!--let us part in peace. If thou didst sometimes check my force, Or, trifling, stay mine upward course, Or lure from Heaven my wavering trust, Or bow my drooping wing to dust-- I blame thee not, the strife is done, I knew thou wert the weaker one, The vase of earth, the trembling clod, Constrained to hold the breath of God. --Well hast thou in my service wrought, Thy brow hath mirror'd forth my thought, To wear my smile thy lip hath glow'd, Thy tear, to speak my sorrows, flowed, Thine ear hath borne me rich supplies Of sweetly varied melodies, Thy hands my prompted deeds have done, Thy feet upon mine errands run-- Yes, thou hast mark'd my bidding well, Faithful and true! Farewell, farewell!

Go to thy rest. A quiet bed Meek mother, earth with flowers shall spread, Where I no more thy sleep may break With fever'd dream, nor rudely wake Thy wearied eye.

Oh, quit thy hold, For thou art faint, and chill, and cold, And long thy gasp and groan of pain Have bound me pitying in thy chain, Though angels urge me hence to soar, Where I shall share thine ills no more. --Yet we shall meet. To soothe thy pain, Remember--we shall meet again. Quell with this hope the victor's sting, And keep it as a signet ring, When the dire worm shall pierce thy breast, And nought but ashes mark thy rest, When stars shall fall, and skies grow dark, And proud suns quench their glow-worm spark, Keep thou that hope, to light thy gloom, Till the last trumpet rends the tomb. --Then shalt thou glorious rise, and fair, Nor spot, nor stain, nor wrinkle bear, And, I with hovering wing elate, The bursting of thy bonds shall wait, And breathe the welcome of the sky-- "No more to part, no more to die, Co-heir of immortality."

--_Mrs. Sigourney._

THE END.