“O, what is the life of the soul,
 But the life of the Infinite Whole?
 For God and his creatures are One,
 As the tide from the ocean of light,
 Which sets through the day and the night,
 Is the same in the star-beam or sun.
“He hath laid out the sea and the land;
 He hath balanced the Heavens in his hand;
 And the Earth, in that order sublime,
 How greatly and grandly she rolls,
 And casts off her harvests of souls,
 In the boundless fruition of Time!
“We ask not his face to behold;
 Of his glory we need not be told;
 For the Word of his witness is near.
 His Life is the Infinite Light,
 Which quickens our blindness to sight;
 And he speaks that his children may hear.
“He suffers and sins with them all;
 He stands, or he falls when they fall;
 For he is both substance and breath.
 Their strength from his greatness they draw;
 His wisdom and will are their law;
 And he is their Saviour in death.
“When the depths of all hearts are unsealed
 Shall the word of his truth be revealed,
 That MAN is by NATURE DIVINE;
 And faith in God’s presence within,
 Shall strengthen the spirit to win
 A peace which no tongue can define.”

Then the music floated upward,
 Where the light of parting day,
 With its gold and crimson glory,
 On the mountain summits lay;
 And it left me longing, praying,
 And with quickened steps essaying
 Swift the nearest hights to gain,
 That my captivated being
 Might unto a clearer seeing
 Of those fading forms attain.
 And ere long, with hands uplifted,
 Kneeling on the mountain high,
 Out into the listening silence
 Did I send my pleading cry:—
 “O thou beauteous land of Beulah,
 Just beyond my longing sight!
 O ye bright ones, loved and lovely,
 Dwelling in celestial light!
 Leave, O! leave me not behind you
 With the darkness and the night!”
 In the sunshine and the shadow,
 Then I saw an open door;
 And a voice cried, “Come up hither!
 Life is yours forevermore.”
 Gales of Araby around me
 Seemed to wave their fragrant wings;
 Strains of music, low and tender,
 Thrilled along celestial strings.
 Like a spotless lily, blending
 Matchless bloom and breath divine,
 Did my lost one, long lamented,
 Lay her soft white hand in mine;
 And uplifted,
 Strangely gifted,
 With a power unknown before,
 Did my love and I together
 Enter at the open door.
Lo! again those bright immortals,
 As their fadeless flowers they wreathe,
 Words of greeting oft repeating,
 Celebrate this festive eve.
 Listen to their tuneful message
 For the hearts that joy or grieve:—

Song of the Ministering Spirits.

“Truth’s heralds bright,
 With feet of light,
 Upon Life’s mountains stand,
 Sent to proclaim,
 In God’s high name,
 Glad tidings to the land.
 With smiles of love
 They wait above,
 And, ‘Come up hither!’ cry.
 When souls shall climb
 Life’s hights sublime,
 Then Death itself shall die.
“The little child,
 Whose bright eyes smiled,
 Whom angel-hands upbore,
 The good, the kind,
 The pure in mind,
 Glide through Life’s open door.
 With voices sweet,
 Their lips repeat
 The chorus of the sky:—
 ‘All souls shall be
 From doubt made free,
 And Death itself shall die.’
“Joy crowns with flowers
 Life’s summer-hours,
 When storms of sorrow cease;
 And wintry snows,
 And calm repose,
 Bring thoughts of holy peace.
 Thus pales or burns
 Life’s star by turns,
 As swift the moments fly;
 But winter’s blight,
 And sorrow’s night,
 And Death itself, shall die.
“From Death’s abyss
 To hights of bliss
 Must souls immortal strive;
 While loss and gain,
 And peace and pain,
 Shall keep their faith alive.
 But higher still,
 With tireless will,
 Their course shall upward lie,
 Till palms shall wave
 Above the grave,
 And Death itself shall die.”

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The garment which caused the death of Hercules.

[2] Since the above poem was given, through the pressure of public opinion, she has been pardoned, and sent back to England.

[3] Socrates.

[4] Pronounced Ig-war-no-don.

[5] The name signifies a small laurel-wreath.

[6] If.

[7] Perhaps.

[8] Very great.

[9] Against.

[10] Every.

[11] Cunning.

[12] Daisy.

[13] Each tottering child.

[14] Humble cot.

[15] Walk crazily.

[16] Contrary.

[17] Referring to the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

[18] Since.

[19] Mend.

[20] Sorrow.

[21] Very proud.

[22] Go astray.

[23] Praying.

[24] Birchen grove.

[25] Flowers.

[26] Larks.

[27] Running brooks.

[28] Dove.

[29] Friend.

[30] Money.

[31] Each.

[32] Heaven above.

[33] Shelter.

[34] My darling.

[35] I shall never see thee more.

[36] The favorite hymn of Theodore Parker.