And hath his summons to your hearts been spoken?
Hath his dark shadow crossed your threshold o’er?
Hath he links of fond affection broken,
And borne a loved one from this mortal shore?
So hath a floweret from your pathway faded;
A bright star shining o’er you set in gloom;
Bright rays of hope are from your vision shaded
By the dark curtain of the silent tomb.
’Tis well to weep: stay not the bitter tears
If thus the burdened heart may find relief;