farewell to my home.
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The waters of love's own immortal stream,Full on our souls, once more, its light shall beam.
Brother and friend! farewell!Not for thy rapture shed we grief's sad tear.No, we would keep thine image still so dear, As a sweet hallowed spell,—An added link to that bright chain of love,Which binds us to our better home above.
Meet was it that the huesOf summer's lingering flowers should light thy way,To those blest bowers whose hues know no decay. Watered by heaven's own dews,Thy Father's smile lights up the radiant bloom,Which sheds o'er those bright realms its rich perfume.
Rest in thy purity!As the lost fragrance of the summer flowerShall steal across our souls, at twilight's hour, Thy cherished memory.We will not grieve that thou hast earliest trodThe path which leads thee to thy Father, God.
No! rather let the loveThat once shed sunlight o'er our earthly wayPoint us to thy bright rest, heaven's "perfect day." In that sweet home above,The only heritage which cannot fail,Let us but meet,—beyond death's silent vale.
