My Brother James And I

WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF A BEREAVED BROTHER.     We were playmates long together,         By the brook and on the hill,     In the golden, summer weather,         When the days were long and still;     We were playmates in the firelight         While the winter eyes went by,     And we shared one couch at midnight -         My brother James and I!     We were schoolmates, too, together,         In the after years that came,     And in toil, or task, or pleasure,         Ours was still one heart, one aim;     Hand in hand we struggled sunward         Toward fair Science' temple high     Aiding each the other onward -         My brother James and I!     We were men at last together -         Oh, the well remembered time,     When we left the dear, old homestead         In our early manhood's prime!     Even then not disunited,         Went we forth with courage high     To one aim and effort plighted -         My brother James and I!     But at length there came a shadow         Dark with signs of change and blight     Deep'ning silently but surely         To a long and tearful night,     And beside a lonely river         That went darkly rushing by     Parted we - but not forever -         My brother James and I!     Not forever! not forever!         Though the stream is dark and wide     He is beck'ning to me ever         From the sun lit, summer side,     There the glory fadeth never,         And I know that by and by     We shall tread that shore together -         My brother James and I!