Though I was near thee when thy spirit fled;

It nearly broke my heart to think that I

Could not be bending o’er thy dying bed—

Supporting in mine arms thy fainting head!

It was God’s holy will to lay me low,

And, ere I left my couch, O, thou wert dead!

It pleased my Father that it should be so,

And I will not repine, my heavenly Father! No!

XXX.

And she—our sole surviving sister—who