Page:Poems Holley.djvu/45

And then they thought "'twas strange that he,
 Her father, had not shed a tear,"
And then they talked of news, and all
 The promise of the year.

Her father sat beside the bed,
 Holding her cold hands tenderly,
And to the everlasting hills
 He mutely turned his eyes away:
"My God, my Shelter, and my Rock,
 Oh shadow me to-day!

He knew not when she crossed the stream,
 And passed into the land unseen,
So gently did she go from him
 Into its pastures still and green;
Into the land of pure delight,
 And Jordan rolled between.

Then knelt he down beside his dead,
 His white looks lit with sunset's flame:
"My God! oh leave me not alone—
 Jut blessed be Thy holy name."
The golden gates were lifted up
 The King of Glory came.