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109
DEPARTURE
“How little did I think to die
Thus splendidly!” he said,
“With God so near my chamber-door
In quest of me, and all these four
Great Angels round my bed.
Thus splendidly!” he said,
“With God so near my chamber-door
In quest of me, and all these four
Great Angels round my bed.
“The secret dam has burst; the race
Of blood is running low.
Without a mortal hand to hold,
I lie and feel the creep of cold,
And drift where I must go.
Of blood is running low.
Without a mortal hand to hold,
I lie and feel the creep of cold,
And drift where I must go.
“But Life and Death and Hope and Love
Are here, at last agreed.
As slaves obedient to their lord
While feasting at his laden board,
They offer all I need:
Are here, at last agreed.
As slaves obedient to their lord
While feasting at his laden board,
They offer all I need:
“A cup of water from the spring
Of never-known Content,
And startled Memory's bread to eat
(Some bitter, some intensely sweet)—
The whole a sacrament.
Of never-known Content,
And startled Memory's bread to eat
(Some bitter, some intensely sweet)—
The whole a sacrament.
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“Before my hands were fit to play,
My dazzled eyes to see,
God stooped, although I was so small,
And laughed, and gave a coloured ball
Of Heavenly Earth to me.
My dazzled eyes to see,
God stooped, although I was so small,
And laughed, and gave a coloured ball
Of Heavenly Earth to me.
“Refreshed by Angels round me here,
I think of it again;
Confess the damage I have wrought
To many souls by lack of thought,
And tremblingly explain.
I think of it again;
Confess the damage I have wrought
To many souls by lack of thought,
And tremblingly explain.
“Such folly, arrogance, and sin
Are grievous to my view;
And yet, there sounds the thrilling voice
Of Mercy saying,” I rejoice
To share my home with you.
Are grievous to my view;
And yet, there sounds the thrilling voice
Of Mercy saying,” I rejoice
To share my home with you.
Although the grieving Father counts
With sorrow every loss
Inflicted by an unjust heart,
He whispers that the greater part
Is cancelled by the Cross.
With sorrow every loss
Inflicted by an unjust heart,
He whispers that the greater part
Is cancelled by the Cross.
Enough that you were quick to name
The worth of all you owed,
And did not constantly forget
The signposts your Redeemer set
In love along the road.
The worth of all you owed,
And did not constantly forget
The signposts your Redeemer set
In love along the road.
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The Angels in a glorious group
Came nearer to his bed.
“How little did I think to die
Thus splendidly, with God so nigh
The chamber-door!” he said.
Came nearer to his bed.
“How little did I think to die
Thus splendidly, with God so nigh
The chamber-door!” he said.
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