In God's Acre

I was wnnderlng in GocTs Acre, On u chili Ontober day; The Jeaves had a solemn rutle, And the skies wore a sober gray. I llstencd, wlth tender sllence, To the hymn of the ruslling leaves, And read In the flowers, How the Reaper gathers hls sheaves. The soxton was busy, making Kor the raau of eighty yenM A bed. for bis body ; hls spirit Had goue where there are no lenrs. I pnused where the green arass covered; A motherand llttle child ; A noble woraan, by love redeemed, And a babe sln never beguiled. My heart feit a loving longing Kor a fragrant pure white rose, A inyrtle Rprig and a sweet June pink, Aud a tear where the dew drop glows. The sprlg for the one who loves theni, The rose for the mother, fair. And for "Our Baby" the sweefjune pluk, Heaven's rlch wlth such jewel raro. Ah! herc would I tread eo softly, Where rose-tree and lvy vine Droope over a heart tlint was mind.'ul , So oft, of both me aud mine. I conld kneel In humble homage. And luvlngly klss Ihe sod Thai grows o'er thedust of "Grenthoart," Who longed to kuow Jesus as God. Over there lies all that was mortal Of a treasured only son ; Hut twelve short sunuy suinmers. And Johnie hls crown bad won. Through the land of sleep Is the passage To the city of God 's love; They rest in the kind earth's bosom, On thelr way to tbc horaeabove. The sleepers withln Qod's Acre, 'Neath tne rustling grass and leaves, Wlll the Masler klndly gather, When he hamers in hls sheaves.