The fairest flowers that Summer wrings
From grassy mound to scent the air—
The leaves that sweetest beauty wear
When from the skies on happy wings
Spring flies to earth—in sad decay
Are first to fall, and fade away.
And like the garden rose that rears
'Mongst lesser flowers its stately form,
But droops and dies before the storm,
When Winter's gloomy face appears—
Yet leaves within Affection's heart
A beauty, that can ne'er depart—
A love, that Death may never claim,
Nor mix with his forgetful gloom
Amidst the stillness of the tomb;
So Memory keeps his honoured name
Within the mind; there shall it be
Till Time shall find Eternity.
His life was like the snowy cloud
That peaceful decks the evening sky,
And fills with love the gazer's eye;
But when the voice of thunder loud
Commands, it finds an early doom,
And disappears amongst the gloom.
Or like the snowy-crested wave
That sweeps along the sounding shore
In sunshine, then is seen no more,
Was his sweet life that early gave
Its noble soul to Him who lives
For aye, and takes but what He gives.
Ne'er trod the earth a purer soul
Than he, upon whose early bier
I lay unworthy tribute here;
Nor, while the stream of life shall roll,
On earth at least I hope to find
A youth of more exalted mind
Than he, whom God hath called away
To grace the loveful lands of never-dying day!
D. R. W.
Printed and Published by W. & R. Chambers, 47 Paternoster Row, London, and 339 High Street, Edinburgh.