Memory-Bells.

Up from the spirit-depths ringing,             Softly your melody swells,     Sweet as a seraphim's singing,             Tender-toned memory-bells!                     The laughter of childhood,                     The song of the wildwood,     The tinkle of streams through the echoing dell,                     The voice of a mother,                     The shout of a brother.     Up from life's morning melodiously swell.     Up from the spirit-depths ringing             Richly your melody swells,     Sweet reminiscences bringing,             Joyous-toned memory-bells! -                     Youth's beautiful bowers,                     Her dew-spangled flowers,     The pictures which Hope of futurity drew, -                     Love's rapturous vision                     Of regions Elysian,     In glowing perspective unfolding to view.     Up from the spirit-depths ringing,             Sadly your melody swells,     Tears with its mournful tones bringing,             Sorrowful memory-bells!                     The first heart-link broken,                     The first farewell spoken,     The first flow'ret crushed in life's desolate track, -                     The agonized yearning                     O'er joys unreturning,     All, all with your low, wailing music come back.     Up from the spirit-depths ringing.             Dirge-like your melody swells;     But Hope wipes the tears that are springing,             Mournful-toned memory-bells!                     Above your deep knelling                     Her soft voice is swelling,     Sweeter than angel-tones, silvery clear,                     Singing: - in Heaven above,                     All is unchanging love,     Mourner, look upward, thy home is not here!