Classic Poem

The joys of earth are manifold,
Our every footstep greeting;
And birds and flowers, and hills and streams,
In beauty we are meeting.
Yet earth is not our only home,
The thought brings sweet emotion:
Our brightest joys we hope to share
Beyond Life's stormy ocean.

We love our glad green earthly homes,
Our bright and sparkling waters,
The rich communion here we hold
With earth's fair sons and daughters;
But oh! that home we hope to gain,
Far, far above the mountains,
Has greener fields and bluer skies,
And purer, sweeter fountains.

Beyond the grave, where not a soul
By mem'ries sad is haunted,
But where the wondrous healing-tree
By Life's fair stream is planted,
There is our home, with joy more rare
Than told in Eastern story;
And Christ's dear smile its light shall give
Through all that realm of glory.