New Hampshire Journal Of Agriculture

Miscellaneous Selections.

From Waverley Magazine.

We Thought Her Dying.

BY W. W. HEDBARD.

We thought her dying. Night and day
We sat beside her couch of pain,
And saw the life-tide ebb away,
Despairing its return again;
In vain seemed every healing art,
In vain the hope, the tear, the prayer,
Of friends enshrined within her heart,
And sacred held as angels there.

Not many feel the cold despair
That froze my heart in those sad hours,
To see the death-frosts gathering where
My heart had garnered all its flowers;
And never can I feel again.
Till pillowed in the grave my head,
Such agonizing thrills of pain,
As when she, faintly whispering, said:

"Yes, yes, I'm dying, dying now;
Death bids me from you all depart-
His shadows are upon my brow,
His hand is searching for my heart;
And yet I cannot, must not die!
To save me is the power not thine"

On me she fixed her earnest eye-
I wished that death were closing mine
"No, no! I know you could not save-
I knew my hours were numbered here;
Dost thou not see that new-made grave?
And there-see, see!-there comes my bier!
O, would that hearse might pass along!
I am not ready now. There, there!
Dost see them come, the shadowy throng?
And list! O, list that heavenly air!

And must I, must I leave you all,
To perish in my early bloom,
And lie down with the shroud and pall,
Alone within the silent tomb?
Nay, nay, I cannot go alone!
But pillowed on thy loving breast,
Within thine arms, beloved one,
I'd welcome my eternal rest.

It may not be; 'tis gathering fast,
The chilling seal upon my brow;
My young heart's mournful dream is past;
And yet, how can I leave thee now!
Bright angels from the radiant Throne.
Float round me-hark? dost hear them sing
Oh, were I not to go alone,
How quick up by their side I'd spring!

I love thee, dearest, thee-dost hear?
The lone one passing from thine eyes.
Adores thee; list, bend low thine ear!
I'll love thee, mourn thee in the skies!
And though on thine as on my heart,
This blow will fall and rend our love
Its radiant chain of gold apart
We'll re-unite its links above!

This is the sweet, leaden spell.
That bids my heart its grief forget;
Farewell, then dearest one, farewell!
I'm going; no, not yet, not yet,
I've had another heavenly dream!
I think they whispered in my ear,
That as on earth the stars do beam,
The souls of light should re-appear.

If so-if from yon world of bliss
Love still may own its mortal birth,
I'll hasten every day to this.
And raise thee more and more from earth.
And soon the seraph's harps of gold
Shall thrill the circumambient air
Around the Saviour-shepherd's fold.
That I have won thee, clasped thee there!

Thou'lt linger round my lonely grave
When Summer's twilight zephyr's sigh
Among the flowers that o'er it wave,
And lift above thy pleading eye
And oh, I meet that look of love!
And promise thee, a seraph's prayer
Shall not detain this heart above.
While thou art kneeling, pleading there!

Oh, then, farewell-strange music floats,
Like angels breathing on my ear;
List, list! my guardian-angel's notes!
Dear, dearest sister, art thou here;
Why hast thou come?" "The God who sways
Creation's depths, and reigns above,
Has sent me to restore thy days,
In answer to the prayer of love!

The seraph from the star-gemm'd Throne,
With hallowed incense filled the room,
One breath of which inhaled alone,
Had saved an angel's wasting bloom!
Disease relaxed its deathly hold-
The flower on which its frost had lain
Revived! and now each dewy fold
Flings perfume on the air again!

Oh, who would doubt that angel bands
Have influence o'er the spirit here-
That faithful guards in dreamless lands
Give smile for smile, and tear for tear!
That all the spirit's solemn sighs
Ascend, and, floating through their bowers,
Attract their notice from the skies,
To soothe and heal the woes of ours:

Every angelic heart is stirred,
And every voice in Mercy pleads,
When sorrow's trembling voice is heard
Ascending from a heart that bleeds!
And quickly, from their heavenly course,
They hasten to this world of care,
To over-rule their evil force,
And grant the stricken spirit's prayer.