And, borne on piers of mist, allied
The shadowy with the sunlit side!
"So," prayed we, "when our feet draw near
The river dark with mortal fear,
"And the night cometh, chill with dew,
O Father, let thy light break through!
"So let the hills of doubt divide,
To bridge with faith the sunless tide!
"So let the eyes that fail on earth
On thy eternal hills look forth,
"And in thy beckoning angels know
The dear ones whom we loved below!"
John Greenleaf Whittier.
AN OLD MAN'S IDYL.
By the waters of Life we sat together,
Hand in hand, in the golden days
Of the beautiful early summer weather,
When hours were anthems and speech was praise;
When the heart kept time to the carol of birds,
And the birds kept tune to the songs that ran
Through shimmer of flowers on grassy swards,
And trees with voices Æolian.