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211
STANZAS.
[Oh! mourn not for the early blest]
Oh! mourn not for the early blest,
Called from a world of care away;
And gathered to her blissful rest,
In the bright realms of sunless day!
Called from a world of care away;
And gathered to her blissful rest,
In the bright realms of sunless day!
The more her innocence and worth
Combine to make her memory dear;
The fitter seems her flight from earth,
To that far purer, happier sphere.
Combine to make her memory dear;
The fitter seems her flight from earth,
To that far purer, happier sphere.
Shall we, in selfish sorrow cold,
Mourn—when the Shepherd, in his love,
Takes from his lower earthly fold
Another lamb to one above?
Mourn—when the Shepherd, in his love,
Takes from his lower earthly fold
Another lamb to one above?
212
In this some danger needs must
dwell;
Around it spoilers seek their prey;
But there we know that all is well!
For nothing can that flock dismay.
Around it spoilers seek their prey;
But there we know that all is well!
For nothing can that flock dismay.
Or shall we mourn so sweet a flower
Appeared to blossom—but to die;
Because in this, its earthly bower,
Its charms no longer greet our eye?
Appeared to blossom—but to die;
Because in this, its earthly bower,
Its charms no longer greet our eye?
Look up! with Faith's meek eye serene,
Beyond the grave's dark, chilling gloom,
And there that flowret shall be seen
Unfolding in immortal bloom.
Beyond the grave's dark, chilling gloom,
And there that flowret shall be seen
Unfolding in immortal bloom.
The Heavenly Gardener shall we blame,
Who hath transplanted it from sight,
And, knowing best its fragile frame,
Placed it where storms can never blight?
Who hath transplanted it from sight,
And, knowing best its fragile frame,
Placed it where storms can never blight?
Mourn not for her! but rather mourn,
Since there our sorrow cannot err,
For some who yet on earth sojourn,
That gladly would change lots with her.
Since there our sorrow cannot err,
For some who yet on earth sojourn,
That gladly would change lots with her.
213
Mourn rather for the living dead!
Than for the seeming dead—who live!
These need no tears our grief can shed;
But those far more than we can give!
Than for the seeming dead—who live!
These need no tears our grief can shed;
But those far more than we can give!
There are who live but in the name
Of what the world as LIFE declares!
Oh! doubt not these more truly claim
Our tears; more deeply still our prayers!
Of what the world as LIFE declares!
Oh! doubt not these more truly claim
Our tears; more deeply still our prayers!
For them let tears and prayers be
rife,
That He who still is—as of old,
The Resurrection, and The Life!
May such with pitying eye behold.
That He who still is—as of old,
The Resurrection, and The Life!
May such with pitying eye behold.
But mourn not for the early blest,
Called from a world of care away;
And gathered to her blissful rest,
In the bright realms of sunless day!
Called from a world of care away;
And gathered to her blissful rest,
In the bright realms of sunless day!
2nd Month 4th, 1845.
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