University of Virginia Library

GOOD NIGHT.

And now for Death, the beautiful and strong,
With which so many years
This breaking heart hath lived, that turned to song
The sadness of its fears;
Known to me better far than child or wife,
And (may be) sweeter still
Than these, or the poor thin unliving life
Of anguish born and ill;
Why should I shrink from the appointed end,
That always was in sight—
From the dear face of a familiar friend?
Good night.
Oh, I have loved, through my small humble span,
The suffering and the poor,
And in my measure tried to play the man,
At the dark cottage door;
This straining breast was stabbed by every pain,
If it a brother's thrilled,
And sacrifice I found a richer gain,
That more my coffers filled;
But was my work, in tears and travail done,
A desperate losing fight
Against tremendous odds, although Christ won;
Good night.
I do confess I feebly served my God,
Who here for mercy pray,
And with wild steps that stumbled oft, I trod
The stony upward way;
Though sure I am that under every mask
Which made my worship dim,
My heart of hearts was loyal in its task,
And pointed unto Him;
Perchance too much I valued human praise,
Or basked in earthly light,
But I have loved and others tried to raise—
Good night.

822

It is not death, to which I slowly drift
From this vain fevered strife,
But the great ocean Love, which me will lift
To true and living Life;
I am not going far, I only mount
Into a higher room,
One step, and then the fulness of the Fount,
Whose waters here were gloom;
And though my darlings I may sorely miss,
The parting must be right,
And now I feel the Father's evening kiss—
Good night.