Classic Poem

Another friend is gone,
Our dearest, kindest one,
And tears are on the faces of my flock;
But Heaven has let her in,
Where there is no more sin,
No pale affliction, and no parting shock.

Her worth was not in gold,
Or alms-deeds manifold,
But in a heart of tenderness and love:
She sought the home of grief,
Her presence brought relief,
And the sad sufferers look'd to Him above.

She dried the widow's tears,
Hush'd the wan mourner's fears,
The orphan smiled, and thank'd her for his bread:
The hungry bless'd her name;
Where'er her footsteps came,
The light of Charity Divine was shed.

Her life was like a star,
Where drifting icebergs are,
Pouring its rays upon the track-lost bark:
So she, with gentle mind,
Flung sunshine on her kind,
And woo'd them sweetly to the Gospel Ark.

She cheer'd the heart of Age,
Tottering upon life's stage,
And fill'd with gladness Childhood's trusting soul:
And when, with stealthy stride,
Death took her from our side,
Sad tears of sorrow from their fountains stole.

The Bible was her chart,
Her Saviour fill'd her heart,
Heaven was before her, holiness her theme!
She bore the fruits of peace,
Labour'd that strife might cease,
And flung the lore of truth upon Time's stream.

No outward bustling show,
One quiet gentle flow
Of trust and meekness, life has pass'd away:
Benevolent to all,
Heeding the Spirit's call,
And following the Redeemer day by day.

Thus lived she not in vain
Her life of ease or pain;
Then Eden's gates wide-open'd to her sight:
Where crystal rivers flow,
And rills not seen below,
Winding through valleys where there is no night.

Do not we ever find
The gentle and the kind
Are soonest summon'd from this world of strife;
Their great reward to share,
Where all is bright and fair,
And death is swallow'd up in endless life?

Farewell, kind friend, farewell!
Our loss we may not tell;
Thine is the gain for ever, evermore.
We bow to God's behest,
Whate'er He does is best,
And hope to meet thee on the angel-shore!