A DEATH-BED. His heart replete with Christian grace To him the grave no victory had, May I so live, that, when I feel A DEATH-BED. JAMES ALDRICH. 321 HER suffering ended with the day, Yet lived she at its close, And breathed the long, long night away, In statue-like repose. But when the sun, in all his state, Illumed the eastern skies, She passed through glory's morning gate, And walked in Paradise! THE MARTYRDOM OF PERPETUA. A. D. 202. S. G. BULFINCH. THERE sat within a dungeon's gloom Did her high heart its faith resign; And that pale cheek at times would glow With light, whose glory was divine. They came, the dear ones of her hearth, To whom her earthly love was given ; They strove to win again to earth The spirit, ready now for heaven. Husband and sister sued in vain, In vain, though burning tears replied; To love she gave those drops of pain, Triumphant over all beside. Her aged father came and knelt, Bowed his white locks before his child; And the sad daughter deeply felt, Yet through her tears looked up and smi They brought her infant; as he lay Before her, in his slumber fair, THE MARTYRDOM OF PERPETUA. Almost the mother's heart gave way, But God had heard his martyr's prayer. Her strength arose. "My child shall be To hover o'er his slumbering head, She died; that spirit, calm and high, Whom faith in God has girt with power. Yet, through their grief, the Christian band The pure, the faithful, was at rest; On that fair brow for ever shone. In those the Christians' path who trod; And, won by her undaunted faith, A thousand heathen turned to God. 323 SONNET. 1 CORINTHIANS XV. GEORGE LUNT. O FOOL, to judge that He who from the earth Changing and yet the same, and of His power And little lower than the angels made, More changed by sin, to death itself betrayed, Yet heir of heaven by an immortal trust. Doubter unwise, in reason's narrow school, Well might the great Apostle say, " Thou fool!” A FUNERAL SONG. 325 66 A FUNERAL SONG. FROM THE FUNERAL DAY OF SIR WALTER SCOTT." MRS. HEMANS. LOWLY and solemn be Thy children's cry to thee, A hymn of suppliant breath, A spirit on its way Now call'st thou back thine own, Watching in breathless awe, Filled by one hope, one fear, Now o'er a brother's bier Weeping we stand. How hath he passed, — the lord Of each deep bosom chord, To meet thy sight! |