Answer To Wife's Benediction

Dearest wife, I've raiscd thy pillow, And I watch thy failing breath ; O'er my heart iall deep, dark slmdows As I saze on thee, and death. At thy side I'm seated, darling, And I feel thy feeble grasp As, in anguish, I release thee From my trembliug, loving clasp. I, too, dreani of that, bright moment When thou stood'st my bride and wife ; Then thy blessedness I'd purchase, Had it cost me e'en my life. From that dream here's a rude waking, Crushing down both mind and heart; Must I learn this painful lesson? Here and now, Oh, must we part! Soon my sorrows will not reaeh thee; Thou'lt be far beyond their power - WHh the God in whom thou trusteth,- Ere time marks another hour. That thy iuture's bright and blessed Is a daily joy to rae ; It will lighten evsry sorrow, To know it is not shared by thee. Round thy bed our boys are gathered, And with me they stand and weep; A last blessing give untothem, That they evermore may keep. In our hearts thoul't live forever, On our lips thou'lt daily be, Till we too shall cross the river, And with thee our Saviour see. I shall gaze upon our children,! Night by night when thou art gone ; No one elseis left to love them, I must guide them all alone. Night and day from harm 111 shield them, And love's vigils I shall keep; Gently through life will I lead them Until by thy side I sleep. Close the hand I'm clasping, darling, As I watch thy ebbing life ; Shall I no more hear thee answer, When I whisper, dearest wife! Life is dark, and bleak, and dreary, I am left without a home - Broken-hearted, weak, and weary ; Oh, that He'dtome say,"ComeI" But our children need my presence, And for them I fain would stay ïill ray work in time is finished, Till I close life's weary day. When 'tis done and Jesús calis me To the rest prepared above, Oh, the joy that there awaits me, Dweiling with thee in His love ! Then we'll have the joy of loving "As we never loved before, Lo Ving on unehilled, unhindered, Loving once and evermore. ' '