Hell and its demons were beck’ning her in;
The tone of an urchin, like one who forgives,
Drew her back and in heaven that sweet word—lives.
Words! Words! They are little, yet mighty and brave;
They rescue a nation, an empire save;
They close up the gaps in a fresh bleeding heart
That sickness and sorrow have severed apart,
They fall on the path, like a ray of the sun,
Where the shadows of death lay so heavy upon;
They lighten the earth over our blessed dead,