THE WELCOME HOME.
Warm is the Welcome! 'tis our way to grasp
The hand in love or greeting till it ache;
But to a tender heart our love doth take
The happy pair it doth so proudly clasp.
And very tender in its love To-day
Is every heart touched with a thought of Him
Low-lying in the Cypress-shadow dim,
From which we came to waft you on your way,
And the still face, that looks from Ashridge towers
With smile more regnant in its touching ruth,
And sad hoar-frost upon the dews of youth,
And Widow's weeds to mix with bridal-flowers.
Through Him we lost, we have more love to give.
As some fond Mother yearningly hath breathed
Her life out in the new life she bequeathed,
Our dearest died that this great love might live.
These darling Violets eloquently mute,
Are rich in sadder bloom and sweeter breath,
And that pathetic sanctity of death,
Because our buried joy was at their root.
These Roses blush with a more vital glow
Of crimson—like pale buds, whose tips are red,
As though the flower's heart, in breaking, bled—
Because of looks so lately wan with woe.
These are our Jewels! tears that purged our sight
Like Euphrasy; they lay above the Dead
All drear and dim; but the sad drops we shed
Now live with twinkling lustres in Your light!
The love that darkly wept at heart hath risen
Transfigured. See its sunburst in each face!
As Earth, with all her flowers, smiles embrace
To Spring, rejoicing from her wintry prison.
These Voices, mounting merry as Larks up-spring,
But now were praying on the low, cold sod:
The night is past—they soar in praise to God;
They make the old English greeting rarely ring.
We lean and look to You, thinking of Him.
Warm welcome for the sake of One that's gone;
Warm welcome for your own! Pass on, pass on;
We wave our hands, and shout till sight grows dim:
And, ere the shouts cease ringing in your ears,
We drink a health—all standing—drink to you,
While in our eyes the tears are standing too:
Old tears, that wanted to be wept for years:
But keep a holy hush 'mid all the noise,
To match the silent music your hearts make:
Pass on into your faëry heaven, and take
Our gentlest blessing on your wedding joys.
The dawn will rise, though golden days be set;
The birds sing merrily, in spite of Death;
Young hearts will love while lasts this human breath;
Rainbows bridge Earth and Heaven for eyes tear-wet.
Pass gaily on in glory through the gate
Of your new life, beneath this Bridal-Dawn;
And when from future days the veil is drawn
All happy fortunes for you lie in wait!
And, looking on your bliss, with proudest flush
May the dear Mother's face be glorified.
We, now the sound hath ceased, will stand outside
Your Portals—all hearts praying 'mid the hush.
