Lines Suggested By The Conversation Of A Brother And Sister In The Chamber Of A Deceased And Highly Valued Parent.

My father! Oh! I cannot dwell     On hours when we shall meet again;     I only feel, I only know     That all my prayers for thee were vain.     "Come, brother, take a last farewell;     Soon, soon they'll bear him far away."     "No, sister, no, he is not there,     I parted with him yesterday.     "Our father is in Heaven now,     Forever free from care and pain;     And, if a half-formed wish could bring     His sainted spirit back again,     "The selfish wish I would not breathe;     'Twould cloud with woe that placid brow,     Round which a seraph seems to wreathe     A crown of glory even now.     "How deep the gloom that mantled there!     How sweetly, too, 'twas all withdrawn!     Thus, ever thus, night's darkest hour     Precedes the day's triumphant dawn.     "Oh! while he lingered, struggling still     With pain and anguish and despair,     The sting of death was felt indeed,     And then I wearied Heaven with prayer.     "But when the unfettered spirit fled     From earth and earthly cares away,     I joyed to think how blest would be     Its entrance on eternal day.     "I joyed to think that never more     That tranquil breast would throb with pain;     Hope pencilled, too, the sheltering port     Where parted spirits meet again.     "Oh! I would drain the bitter cup     To him in boundless mercy given,     A glorious Sabbath-day to win     Of never-ending rest in Heaven.     "Come, sister, let us follow him,     Though rugged was the path he trod;     'Twill lead us to the 'saints in light,'     'Twill lead us to our father's God."