Still are its memories dear!
The maple shadows that around it lay,
Stirred by the breezes from the silvery bay,
Or bathed in moonlight clear—
How fair were they!
Lovely when decked with earliest buds of spring,
Loveliest when radiant autumn came to fling
A glory on each spray.
Oh home of praise and prayer!
Where glad sweet voices raised the morning hymn,
Pleaded for blessing in the twilight dim,
Or thrilled the midnight air.
Can we forget
The meetings and the partings we have known?
The welcome glad, the farewell's sadder tone—
Ah, we remember yet.
We were not there
When thro' its halls the fierce destroyer swept;
But God was watching, while our dear ones slept—
Safe were they in His care.
All safe with Him;
Yes, for our Robbie "sings for Jesus" now
In sweeter tones, with far more sunny brow,
And eyes no tear's can dim.
They wait His word—
Stanley and Robbie side by side—and we
Caught up together with them soon shall be
For ever with the Lord.
S. R. GELDARD.
All former kindness was as nothing compared to that now received, as will be seen by the following from Miss Bilbrough:—
"BELLEVILLE, February 2, 1872.