Our Lost One
We lost our darling years ago,
But have not ceased to mourn him yet:
We ever speak of him in low
And tender tones of deep regret:
Old places bring his image near;
Old pleasures speak to us of him;
Old playthings make our eyes grow dim
With memories sorrowful and dear!
We gather round the fire by night,
And tell the tales of long ago;
And in the weird and ruddy light
We watch each other's features glow
We sing some gay and jovial air;
Our laughter shakes the echoing walls;
But o'er our hearth for ever falls
The shadow of his vacant chair!
And if by chance someone should wake
A merry strain he may have sung,—
Or if his whispered name should break
In trembling utterance from the tongue;—
A moisture gathers in our eyes;
A hush falls on us from above;
And to the yearnings of our love
Again we see his image rise!
We see again the golden hue
Of sunny tresses waving free!
We see from eyes of deepest blue
Long lashes lifted wonderingly!
Gay noises from old corners start;
Low laughter ringing clear and sweet,
And patterings of little feet
Waken old echoes in the heart!
Poor grovellers still among the dust,
We cannot lift our souls on high,
In purest faith and perfect trust,
To thee, our lost one, in the sky!
Still earth's delusive hopes we chase;
Its vain imperfect pleasures quaff;
Half of our love is here, but half
Must reach thee in thy radiant place!
Oh, far beyond our earth-bleared ken,
In concourse of the good and wise,
Dost thou not view the ways of men
And all their littleness despise?
With wonder in thy downward glance
Dost thou behold our actions here?—
Ah, pity thou our guilt and fear,
Our frailty and our ignorance!
When weary of the toilsome road,
Besprinkled with the dust of care,
Bowed down beneath the weighty load
Of burdens that we still must bear!
Wondering when all this toil shall cease!
Yearning to win the promised rest!
Stoop from thy home among the blest
With breathings pure of heavenly peace!
Still hover near us on our way;
Surround us with thine unseen love;
Restrain us when we seek to stray,
And gently raise our hopes above!
And when at last the heavenly land
Shall on our dazzled vision burst,
O angel-brother, be the first
To stretch to us a welcome hand!
But have not ceased to mourn him yet:
We ever speak of him in low
And tender tones of deep regret:
Old places bring his image near;
Old pleasures speak to us of him;
Old playthings make our eyes grow dim
With memories sorrowful and dear!
We gather round the fire by night,
And tell the tales of long ago;
And in the weird and ruddy light
We watch each other's features glow
We sing some gay and jovial air;
Our laughter shakes the echoing walls;
But o'er our hearth for ever falls
The shadow of his vacant chair!
And if by chance someone should wake
A merry strain he may have sung,—
Or if his whispered name should break
In trembling utterance from the tongue;—
A moisture gathers in our eyes;
A hush falls on us from above;
And to the yearnings of our love
Again we see his image rise!
We see again the golden hue
Of sunny tresses waving free!
We see from eyes of deepest blue
Long lashes lifted wonderingly!
Gay noises from old corners start;
Low laughter ringing clear and sweet,
And patterings of little feet
Waken old echoes in the heart!
Poor grovellers still among the dust,
We cannot lift our souls on high,
In purest faith and perfect trust,
To thee, our lost one, in the sky!
Still earth's delusive hopes we chase;
Its vain imperfect pleasures quaff;
Half of our love is here, but half
Must reach thee in thy radiant place!
Oh, far beyond our earth-bleared ken,
In concourse of the good and wise,
Dost thou not view the ways of men
And all their littleness despise?
With wonder in thy downward glance
Dost thou behold our actions here?—
Ah, pity thou our guilt and fear,
Our frailty and our ignorance!
When weary of the toilsome road,
Besprinkled with the dust of care,
Bowed down beneath the weighty load
Of burdens that we still must bear!
Wondering when all this toil shall cease!
Yearning to win the promised rest!
Stoop from thy home among the blest
With breathings pure of heavenly peace!
Still hover near us on our way;
Surround us with thine unseen love;
Restrain us when we seek to stray,
And gently raise our hopes above!
And when at last the heavenly land
Shall on our dazzled vision burst,
O angel-brother, be the first
To stretch to us a welcome hand!
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