My race is now completed,

And were that last good-night

A thousand times repeated,

My gain would well requite.

Dear friends! because I leave you,

O be not thus distrest;

For what indeed should grieve you?

Since I am now at rest.

Away! all grief and sadness,

Henceforth away from me!

My heart o’erflows with gladness,

That I am thus set free:

Now thousand joys I borrow

From my Creator’s hand;

And earthly pain and sorrow

Come not in this fair land.

Ah! those whom earth yet captures,

Who rove as pilgrims still,

But faint can lisp the raptures

Eternity which fill:

To die in God is better

Than in the world to live;

Now sin can no more fetter,

No frailties pain can give.

Then strew my bier with flowers,

As ’twere a conqueror’s car;

I gain from vernal bowers,

That bloom in heaven afar,

A crown that ne’er shall wither;

And He Who ever lives,

God’s Son, Who bears me thither,

The victor’s chaplet gives.

My father, where I’m sleeping,

To pierce the darkness tries;

My mother stands by weeping,

And turns away her eyes:

But though your hearts are breaking,

And anguish whelms you o’er,

Now heavenly comfort seeking,

Dear parents! weep no more.

A little while but lent you,

Now God has called me home;

So now, no more lament you

Because my hour is come:

But say, “the Lord has given,

Then let Him take away;”

God wills our fate in heaven,

We must His Will obey.

This shews how frail our state is,

That you my grave must see;

From God’s own Hand my fate is,

A Father’s hand to me:

Then comfort take, and think not

Too soon I yield my breath;

For they too early sink not,

Who please their God in death.

* * *

To join God’s seraph-legions

Blest soul! speed on your flight;

We, in these mournful regions,

Know nought of your delight:

But though awhile you leave us,

When dawns that glorious ray,

With joy you will receive us;

Oh! might it be to-day!