I know when the silver cord is loosed, Not long and dark shall the passage be The eye that shuts in a dying hour Will open the next in bliss; The welcome will sound in the heavenly world Ere the farewell is hushed in this. THE VOICEFUL LAND. C. H. A. BULKLEY. "Into the Silent Land Ah! who shall lead us thither?"-Longfellow. 'T' IS not a Silent Land! Tones of harmonic spheres, Heard not by mortal ears, Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land! 'Tis not a Silent Land, Over ethereal hills, 'Till the rapt spirit thrills; Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land! 'Tis not a Silent Land! 'Tis not a Silent Land! 'Tis not a Silent Land! 'Tis not a Silent Land! 'Tis not a Silent Land! Hosts of the pure and true, Shouts of delight renew Round the beloved, fled 'Tis not a Silent Land! Step on the better shore; Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land! 'Tis not a Silent Land! To the unisons of love! Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land! H HEAVEN'S JOYS. THOMAS A'KEMPIS-1380-1471. IGH the angel choirs are raising Heart and voice in harmony; The Creator King, still praising, Whom in beauty there they see. Sweetest strains from soft harps stealing; Trumpets, notes of triumph pealing; Radiant wings, and white stoles gleaming, Up the steps of glory streaming; NATURE OF HEAVEN. Where the heavenly bells are ringing ; To the mighty Trinity! Holy, holy, holy! crying; For all earthly care and sighing In that city cease to be! Every voice is there harmonious, Whom adore the seraphim Aye, with love eternal burning; To their Fount of honor turning; O how beautiful that region! Full of deep tranquillity, Light and peace from end to end! All the happy dwellers there Shine in robes of purity, Keep the laws of charity, Labor finds them not, nor care. Ignorance can ne'er perplex, THE INCORRUPTIBLE. HORATIUS BONAR. O joy is true, save that which hath no end; No life is true, save that which liveth ever; No health is sound, save that which God doth send; No love is real, save that which changeth never. Heaven were no heaven, if its dear light could fade; If its sweet skies could suffer stain or shade, But now its beauty is forever vernal; And ever new the song its dwellers sing. O heaven of heavens, how true thy life must be! O long, long Summer of eternity, Bright noon of angels, ever clear and bright! |