Classic Poem

W E'RE gathered here to greet one friend to-night
With loving words and kindly clasp of hand,
To say that we are glad the Reaper Death
Hath left this ripened sheaf with us to stand:
Too oft he gathers fairest flowers, and leaves
To long, dark years the hearts he thus bereaves.

But we are gathered, too, with grateful hearts
For all the bounties of that boundless love
Which gives us health and friends and every gift
To win our hearts, and bid us look above
To that fair land where we shall meet again
The loved and lost of earth, all free from sin.

We think of such to-night: we cannot meet
In friendly converse with the dear ones left,
Without some thoughts of those who earlier passed,
And left our hearts to mourn, that, thus bereft,
We must walk onward through Life's lengthened day,
Nor hope to meet them till we pass away.

Yet while sweet thoughts of blessings that have flown,
Which brighten with the swiftly rolling years,
Still linger in our hearts like music tones,
We bless our God for all that Life endears, —
For friends remaining still upon this shore,
Till God's call comes to sail the great sea o'er.

O friend! whose birthday we remember now
With grateful hearts that God hath sent thee here,
To tread the ways of virtue and of truth,
And many a heart to bless, and path to cheer,
We come to-night to clasp thy hand in love,
And ask for thee the blessing from above.

We thank the Guiding Mercy that hath led
Thy feet to tread in Wisdom's better way,
And hath thine industry and labor blest
With good success as we behold this day;
But most of all hath helped thee well to know,
That noble deeds assist the soul to grow.

God bless thee still, and bless with thee the friend,
Long years ago thy loved and chosen bride,
And still by mercy spared to tread Life's path
E'en to thy sixtieth birthday, at thy side:
God spare you, with each present, absent friend,
To meet full oft ere life on earth shall end.

And when we part to meet no more below;
When, one by one, we're summoned to the skies, —
Love's golden chain will still unbroken be,
And to our Father's house we all shall rise:
Let this thought make more glad this festive hour,
That we are subjects of God's sovereign power.

Nor yet his Power alone, but Sovereign Love ,
Which sees the falling sparrow, counts each hair,
Guides every star through space, and deems no soul
Beyond the sweep of his paternal care.
He will be with us till our lives shall end,
And in his home, at last, join friend with friend.