The Loved And The Lost

The loved and the lost ! Why do we oall them lost? Because we mias them from our onward road? God's unseen angel o'er our pathway crost, Looked on us all, and loving them the most, Straightway relieved them of lif e' s weary load And thfs we cali a "loss"; oh, selflsh sorrow Oí selflsh hearts ! Oh ! we of little faith I Let us look round, some argument to borrow Why we in patience should await the morrow That surely must succeed this night of death. Ay, look upon this dreary, desert path, The thorns and thistles wheresoe'er we turn; What trials and what tears, what wrongs and wrath, What struggles and what strife the journey hath! They have escaped from these, and lo ! we mourn. Ask the poor sailor when the wreek is done, Who with his treasure strove the shore to re ach, vv hile with the raging waves he battled on, Was it not joy where every joy seemed gone, To see his loved ones landed on the beach? A poor wayfarer. leading by the hand A little child, had halted by the well To wash from off her feet the elinging sand And teil the tired boy of that bright land Where, this long journey past, they longed to dweil ; When lo ! the King who many mansions had Drew near and looked upon the suffering twain, Then pitying spake: "Give me the little lad; Ia strength renewed, and glorious beauty ciad, ril bring him with me when I come again." Did she make answer selflshly and wrong- " Nay, but the woes I feel he too must share I11 Or. rather bursting into joyful song, Go on her way rejoicing and made strong To struggle on, since he was f reed irom care f We will do likewise; death has made no breach In love and sympathy, in hope and trust; If outward sign or sound our ears ne'er reach, There is an inward spiritual speech That greets us still, though mortal tongues be dust. It bids us do the work that they laid down- Take up the song where they broke off the strain; So journeying till we reach the Heavenly town, Where are laid up our treasures and our crown, And our lost loved ones will be found again.