The Past, Present, and Future In Prose and Poetry. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
IX. |
X. |
XI. |
XII. |
XIII. |
XIV. |
XV. |
XVI. |
XVII. |
XVIII. |
XIX. |
XX. |
XXI. |
XXII. |
XXIII. |
XXIV. |
XXV. |
XXVI. |
XXVII. |
XXVIII. |
XXIX. |
XXX. |
XXXI. |
XXXII. |
XXXIII. |
XXXIV. |
XXXV. |
XXXVI. |
XXXVII. |
XXXVIII. |
XXXIX. |
XL. |
XLI. |
XLII. |
XLIII. |
XLIV. | XLIV. THE REAPER. |
XLV. |
XLVI. |
XLVII. |
XLVIII. |
XLIX. |
L. |
LI. |
LII. |
LIII. |
LIV. |
LV. |
LVI. |
LVII. |
LVIII. |
LIX. |
LX. |
LXI. |
LXII. |
LXIII. |
LXIV. |
LXV. |
The Past, Present, and Future | ||
XLIV. THE REAPER.
There's a reaper who's been reaping
Ever since “Old Time” began,
And he claims for his theatre,
Earth,—and for his harvest, man!
Ever since “Old Time” began,
And he claims for his theatre,
Earth,—and for his harvest, man!
128
On the battle-field he reapeth,
By the way-side, on the sea,
Everywhere this mighty reaper
Reapeth frail mortality.
By the way-side, on the sea,
Everywhere this mighty reaper
Reapeth frail mortality.
Unlike 'most all other reapers,
Who ne'er let their crops decay,
He reaps on, the rapid reaper
Reaps—but lets the harvest lay.
Who ne'er let their crops decay,
He reaps on, the rapid reaper
Reaps—but lets the harvest lay.
Since this reaper began reaping,
Millions have by him been hurl'd,
And have, from life's busy scenes, been
Gathered—to the “spirit-world.”
Millions have by him been hurl'd,
And have, from life's busy scenes, been
Gathered—to the “spirit-world.”
Though he has been constant reaping,
Still the harvest is not done;
Whilst he passes by, he tells us
That our reaping-time will come.
Still the harvest is not done;
Whilst he passes by, he tells us
That our reaping-time will come.
129
Stern and bold this reaper's reaping,
And his locks are thin and white,
Yet he bravely wields the sickle,
And is reaping day and night.
And his locks are thin and white,
Yet he bravely wields the sickle,
And is reaping day and night.
No distinction does this reaper
Make—but reaps without delay;
Some of ev'ry tongue and nation
Have by him been swept away.
Make—but reaps without delay;
Some of ev'ry tongue and nation
Have by him been swept away.
If we're ready for this reaper,
In the final deadly strife,
When the conflict's fairly over
We shall enter into life.
In the final deadly strife,
When the conflict's fairly over
We shall enter into life.
The Past, Present, and Future | ||