From "The Two Angels"

LL is of God! If He but wave His hand,

The mists collect, the rain falls thick and loud, Till, with a smile of light on sea and land,

Lo! He looks back from the departing cloud.

Angels of Life and Death alike are His:

Without His leave they pass no threshold o'er; Who, then, would wish or dare, believing this, Against His messengers to shut the door?

In Paradise

MY beloved ones,

How long did I lament

When "through the grave and gate of death"

Out of this world you went!

And still from sun to sun,

From solemn eve to eve,

How often I lament anew

And for your presence grieve!

How often little things

Will your dear ways recall,

And bring a mist before my eyes,
A shadow over all!

And though I sometimes think
You may be very near,
It does not still the inward cry,
"If only they were here!"

Yet there are other times,

Dark in themselves 'tis true, When I am filled with thankfulness, Beloved ones, for you.

When some sharp trial comes,

When cruel things befall,

Hardships and disappointed hopes
You have escaped from all.

With thankfulness in your behalf
Impossible of yore.

Sin is for you o'erpast,

The needless fret, the strife, The failure and the weariness That crush this mortal life.

A flood of joy flows in

That drowns the sense of grief,
As the fair vision of your peace
Comes to my glad belief

I cease to wish you here;

Lead them, dear Lord, I say,
From blessedness to blessedness
On their immortal way.

The Angels of Grief

WITH silence only as their benediction,

God's angels come

Where, in the shadow of a great affliction,
The soul sits dumb!

Yet, would I say what thy own heart approveth : Our Father's will,

Calling to Him the dear one whom He loveth,
Is mercy still.

Not upon thee or thine the solemn angel
Hath evil wrought;

The funeral anthem is a glad evangel,-
The good die not!