 | Poems of home and country |  |
297
TO DIE IS GAIN.
[_]
During a severe illness in July, 1892, Dr. Smith wrote the following lines upon small scraps of paper, as he had strength. They were preserved and printed by his son, very tender memories attaching to the family experiences of that summer. Believing that they will bear spiritual comfort to many in other households, the compiler of this volume has the assent of their author to this present use.
To feel the mild, delicious clime,
Where summer never fades;
To breathe the glorious atmosphere,
Which sickness ne'er invades;
Where summer never fades;
To breathe the glorious atmosphere,
Which sickness ne'er invades;
To reach at last that happy land,
Where tears are never known;
To see the wondrous face of Him
Who sits upon the throne;
Where tears are never known;
To see the wondrous face of Him
Who sits upon the throne;
All the great souls of all the years,
In Heaven's high courts to meet;
All kindred spirits, glorified,
To join, in converse sweet;
In Heaven's high courts to meet;
All kindred spirits, glorified,
To join, in converse sweet;
To burst the chrysalis, and soar
On love's triumphant wing;
To swell the hymns of mighty praise,
The ransomed armies sing;
On love's triumphant wing;
To swell the hymns of mighty praise,
The ransomed armies sing;
To wear the robes of saints in light;
To shine as shines the sun;
To hear the Saviour's welcome voice
Pronounce the glad “well done!”
To shine as shines the sun;
To hear the Saviour's welcome voice
Pronounce the glad “well done!”
298
And, O, the crowning height of bliss,
Where all the glories blend,
To know the bliss, the light, the love,
Shall never, never, end!
Where all the glories blend,
To know the bliss, the light, the love,
Shall never, never, end!
Beyond the shades of sin and woe,
With joyful speed to fly,
And in God's loving arms to rest,—
Oh, it is gain to die.
With joyful speed to fly,
And in God's loving arms to rest,—
Oh, it is gain to die.
| Poems of home and country | |