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175
MORTAL AND IMMORTAL.
Oh! life is strange, and full of change,
But it brings me little sorrow;
For I came to the world but yesterday,
And I shall go hence to-morrow.
But it brings me little sorrow;
For I came to the world but yesterday,
And I shall go hence to-morrow.
The wind is drear, the leaves are sear,
Full dimly shows the sun,
The skies are bright, the earth is light;
To me 'tis almost one.
Full dimly shows the sun,
The skies are bright, the earth is light;
To me 'tis almost one.
The sunny rill, the wave dark and chill,
Across my breast may roll;
The saddest sigh, the merriest cry,
Make music in my soul.
Across my breast may roll;
The saddest sigh, the merriest cry,
Make music in my soul.
176
A few short years of smiles and tears,
Of suffering not in vain,
And the weary smart of a wounded heart
I never shall know again.
Of suffering not in vain,
And the weary smart of a wounded heart
I never shall know again.
I've wept for the bride at her husband's side;
I've smiled on the loved one's bier;
For a mystery was shown to me,
A thing of hope and fear.
I've smiled on the loved one's bier;
For a mystery was shown to me,
A thing of hope and fear.
Who sows in tears his early years
May bind the golden sheaves;
Who scatters flowers in summer bowers
Shall reap but their withered leaves.
May bind the golden sheaves;
Who scatters flowers in summer bowers
Shall reap but their withered leaves.
A wayward child, on whom hath smiled
The light of heavenly love;
A pilgrim with a vision dim
Of something far above;
The light of heavenly love;
A pilgrim with a vision dim
Of something far above;
I live for all who on me call,
And yet I live for one;
My song must be sweet to all I meet,
And yet I sing to none.
And yet I live for one;
My song must be sweet to all I meet,
And yet I sing to none.
177
A quiet tone, that maketh known
A spirit passing by,
A breath of prayer on the midnight air,
And I am gone for aye;
A spirit passing by,
A breath of prayer on the midnight air,
And I am gone for aye;
Gone to the rest of the ever blest,
To the new Jerusalem,
Where the children of light do walk in white,
And the Saviour leadeth them.
To the new Jerusalem,
Where the children of light do walk in white,
And the Saviour leadeth them.
Forever gone, and none to mourn;
And who for me would sorrow?
I came to toil in a desert soil,
And my task will be done to-morrow.
And who for me would sorrow?
I came to toil in a desert soil,
And my task will be done to-morrow.
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