HOW BLEST THE ART THAT LINKS IN SACRED BONDS.
PRESERVED THOUGHTS.
How blest the art that links in sacred bonds
The living present with the living past!
The life of other years to ours responds,
Pulse-beat to pulse-beat thrills, and first to last.
The thoughts once breathed in prose, or rolled in song,
Treasured in faithful records, sound again;
Genius and love their harmonies prolong,
And vanished souls converse again with men.
And books are thoughts; these alcoves fair shall hold,
Like rare and priceless gems, the sacred trust,
When monumental piles and shrine of gold,
Battered and worn, shall crumble into dust.
Whose shall the honor be, O history, say,—
When, passed from earth, the glorious thinkers sleep,—
Their thoughts, like jewels rescued from decay,
In fitting chambers to arrange and keep?
Thank God! such trusts to human hands are given;
Thank God! such trusts shall not be given in vain;
Earth's clustered blooms will show fair fruit in heaven,
Thoughts, saved on earth, will shine in heaven again.
How blest the task, in this short life of ours,
Life's loving work and influence to extend,
Clothing the mortal with immortal powers,
Making all ages with all ages blend!
