And sweet is all the land about, and all the flowers that blow, And sweeter far is death than life to me that long to go. III. It seemed so hard at first, mother, to leave the blessed sun, And now it seems as hard to stay; and yet, His will be done! But still I think it can't be long before I find release; And that good man, the clergyman, has told me words of peace. IV. O blessings on his kindly voice and on his silver hair! And blessings on his whole life long, until he meet me there! O blessings on his kindly heart and on his silver head! A thousand times I blest him, as he knelt beside my bed. V. He taught me all the mercy, for he showed me all the sin. Now, though my lamp was lighted late, there's One will let me in: Nor would I now be well, mother, again, if that could be, For my desire is but to pass to Him that died for me. VI. I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the death watch beat, There came a sweeter token when the night and morning meet: But sit beside my bed, mother, and put your hand in mine, And Effie on the other side, and I will tell the sign. VII. All in the wild March-morning I heard the angels call; It was when the moon was setting, and the dark was over all; The trees began to whisper, and the wind began to roll, And in the wild March-morning I heard them call my soul. VIII. For lying broad awake I thought of you and Effie dear; I saw you sitting in the house, and I no longer here; With all my strength I prayed for both, and so I felt resigned, And up the valley came a swell of music on the wind. IX. I thought that it was fancy, and I listened in my bed, And then did something speak to me— -I know not what was said; For great delight and shuddering took hold of all my mind, And up the valley came again the music on the wind. X. But you were sleeping; and I said, "It's not for them; it's mine." And if it comes three times, I thought, I take it for a sign. And once again it came, and close beside th window-bars, Then seemed to go right up to heaven and die among the stars. XI. So now I think my time is near. I trust it is. 1 know The blessed music went that way my soul will have to go. And for myself, indeed, I care not if I go to-day, But, Effie, you must comfort her when I am past away. XII. And say to Robin a kind word, and tell him not to fret; There's many worthier than I would make him happy yet. If I had lived-I cannot tell-I might have been his wife; But all these things have ceased to be, with my desire of life. XIII. O look! the sun begins to rise, the heavens are in a glow; He shines upon a hundred fields, and all of them 1 know. And there I move no longer now, and there his light may shine Wild flowers in the valley for other hands than mine. XIV. O sweet and strange it seems to me, that ere this day is done The voice that now is speaking may be beyond the sun Forever and forever with those just souls and true— And what is life, that we should moan? why make we such ado? XV. Forever and forever, all in a blessed home- come To lie within the light of God, as I lie upon your breast And the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. THE LOTOS-EATERS. I. "COURAGE!" he said, and pointed toward the land; "This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon." All round the coast the languid air did swoon, II. A land of streams! some, like a downward smoke, Rolling a slumbrous sheet of foam below. They saw the gleaming river seaward flow From the inner land: far-off, three mountain-tops, Three silent pinnacles of aged snow, Stood sunset-flushed: and, dewed with showery drops, Up-clomb the shadowy pine above the woven copse. III. The charmed sunset lingered low adown In the red West: through mountain clefts the dale IV. Branches they bore of that enchanted stem, V. They sat them down upon the yellow sand, |