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A MESSAGE TO A LOVED ONE DEAD.
To Bishop James A. Shorter.
I send a message, my worthy Chief,
For I cannot come to thee now.
Though my heart is o'erwhelmed with its weight of grief,
At God's stern decree I must bow.
They tell me that thou hast fallen asleep,
That thou didst discharge thy whole duty;
They say it is folly to sit here and weep,
For thy life was complete in its beauty.
And purity crowned thy declining years,
And holiness circled thy head—
'Tis folly they say to sit down here in tears,
And grieve o'er the tomb of the dead.
I send a message, my worthy Chief,
For I cannot come to thee now.
Though my heart is o'erwhelmed with its weight of grief,
At God's stern decree I must bow.
They tell me that thou hast fallen asleep,
That thou didst discharge thy whole duty;
They say it is folly to sit here and weep,
For thy life was complete in its beauty.
And purity crowned thy declining years,
And holiness circled thy head—
'Tis folly they say to sit down here in tears,
And grieve o'er the tomb of the dead.
I hear the solft tones of Thy fatherly voice,
Saying: “Cling to the cross, my dear child,”
If after life's labors your soul would rejoice,
In the sunshine of God's presence mild.
Saying: “Cling to the cross, my dear child,”
If after life's labors your soul would rejoice,
In the sunshine of God's presence mild.
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No more shall Thy soft voice fall sweet on my ear,
No more in this life shall we meet—
Till Christ in His heavenly Kingdom appear,
And our warfare on earth is complete.
So I send thee this message to-night when I pray,
I'll give it the angels for thee—
They'll hasten to take it, they will not delay,
To bear it to heaven for me.
No more in this life shall we meet—
Till Christ in His heavenly Kingdom appear,
And our warfare on earth is complete.
So I send thee this message to-night when I pray,
I'll give it the angels for thee—
They'll hasten to take it, they will not delay,
To bear it to heaven for me.
I would not arouse thee, I would not awake,
From this thy merited rest;
Sleep soundly, thou loved one, thy comfort now take.
Upon thy Redeemer's breast!
From this thy merited rest;
Sleep soundly, thou loved one, thy comfort now take.
Upon thy Redeemer's breast!
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