Grand Haven Daily Tribune April 5, 1900
LINES.
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Written upon the death of JEANNETTE FERRY HANCOCK:
and feelingly inscribed to the friends of the deceased.
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BY DAVID FLETCHER HUNTON.
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O, did the bright-winged angels come,
Down from the “Shining Way”;
And carry her from home, to home,
Beyond the “Gates of Day”?
O, did they claim the lovely prize–
The fairest earthly Gem,
To shine anew, in Paradise–
Its brightest Diadem?
And has that pretty face been hid,
Forever from your view?
Must she, beneath the coffin’s lid,
Remain away from you?
In this great grief upon the sod,
It must be hard to say,
“Oh! God, I‘ll pass beneath Thy Rod”!
“Thy will be done today”!
From room to room, you sadly roam,
And ring your hands in prayer!
For oh! There’s sorrow in your home!
Your darling is not there!
And when you look into her room,
And see her empty chair;
The things she left, are clothed in gloom,
And whisper of despair.
Spring will return, with leaves and flowers–
Summer’ll bring, as oft before,
The birds, and bees, and shining hours;
But she’ll return no more!
And yet, in every freshening breeze,
In every wild bee’s hum;
In rustling leaves, and whisp’ring trees,
Her soft sweet voice may come!
Jeannette, is not far away,
Beyond this rolling sphere!
She’s nearer than you dream, today!
Who dare say, she’s not here!
We read, that we may entertain,
The angels, “unawares”!
Oh, may this thought be balm for pain,
And lighten all your cares!
Some day, in God’s sweet by and by,
When earthly scenes are o’er–
Sometimes, beneath a brighter sky,
You’ll meet, to part no more!
Upon Life’s pure and crystal stream,
Beneath a sapphire dome;
Where amethystine Temples gleam,
You all will be, At Home!
How beautiful this faith of ours!
How sweet to spirits torn!
It even wreaths the Grave, with flowers.
And comforts those who mourn!
It lifts the Soul on Hope’s bright wings,
When on the unknown sea;
And cheers it on, until it sings,
Nearer, my God, to Thee”!
Grand Haven, Mich., April, A. D. 1900.
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