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the peace of Heaven Will give you full relief； Yet if his earthly comfort So
much outweighs your grief；
〃Then； through a special mercy I offer you this grace； … You may seek
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him who mourns you And look upon his face； And speak to him of
comfort For one short minute's space。
〃But when that time is ended； Return here； and remain A thousand
years in torment； A thousand years in pain： Thus dearly must you purchase
The comfort he will gain。〃
* * *
The Lime…trees' shade at evening Is spreading broad and wide；
Beneath their fragrant arches； Pace slowly； side by side； In low and tender
converse； A Bridegroom and his Bride。
The night is calm and stilly； No other sound is there Except their
happy voices： What is that cold bleak air That passes through the Lime…
trees And stirs the Bridegroom's hair？
While one low cry of anguish； Like the last dying wail Of some dumb；
hunted creature； Is borne upon the gale：… Why does the Bridegroom
shudder And turn so deathly pale？
* * *
Near Purgatory's entrance The radiant Angels wait； It was the great St。
Michael Who closed that gloomy gate； When the poor wandering spirit
Came back to meet her fate。
* * *
〃Pass on；〃 thus spoke the Angel： Heaven's joy is deep and vast； Pass
on； pass on； poor Spirit； For Heaven is yours at last； In that one minute's
anguish Your thousand years have passed。〃
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VERSE： A CONTRAST
Can you open that ebony Casket？ Look； this is the key： but stay；
Those are only a few old letters Which I keep；to burn some day。
Yes； that Locket is quaint and ancient； But leave it； dear； with the ring；
And give me the little Portrait Which hangs by a crimson string。
I have never opened that Casket Since； many long years ago； It was
sent me back in anger By one whom I used to know。
But I want you to see the Portrait： I wonder if you can trace A look of
that smiling creature Left now in my faded face。
It was like me once； but remember The weary relentless years； And
Life； with its fierce； brief Tempests； And its long； long rain of tears。
Is it strange to call it my Portrait？ Nay； smile； dear； for well you may；
To think of that radiant Vision And of what I am to…day。
With restless； yet confident longing How those blue eyes seem to gaze
Into deep and exhaustless Treasures； All hid in the coming days。
With that trust which leans on the Future； And counts on her promised
store； Until she has taught us to tremble And hope；but to trust no more。
How that young； light heart would have pitied Me nowif her dreams
had shown A quiet and weary woman With all her illusions flown。
Yet Iwho shall soon be resting； And have passed the hardest part；
Can look back with a deeper pity On that young unconscious heart。
It is strange； but Life's currents drift us So surely and swiftly on； That
we scarcely notice the changes； And how many things are gone：
And forget； while to…day absorbs us； How old mysteries are unsealed；
How the old； old ties are loosened； And the old； old wounds are healed。
And we say that our Life is fleeting Like a story that Time has told；
But we fancy that wewe only Are just what we were of old。
So now and then it is wisdom To gaze； as I do to…day； At a half…
forgotten relic Of a Time that is passed away。
The very look of that Portrait； The Perfume that seems to cling To
those fragile and faded letters； And the Locket； and the Ring；
If they only stirred in my spirit Forgotten pleasure and pain； … Why；
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memory is often bitter； And almost always in vain；
But the contrast of bygone hours Comes to rend a veil away； … And I
marvel to see the stranger Who is living in me to…day。
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VERSE： THE BRIDE'S DREAM
The stars are gleaming； The maiden sleeps … What is she dreaming？
For seeshe weeps。 By her side is an Angel With folded wings； While the
Maiden slumbers The Angel sings： He sings of a Bridal； Of Love； of Pain；
Of a heart to be given； … And all in vain； （See； her cheek is flushing； As if
with pain；） He telleth of sorrow； Regrets and fears； And the few vain
pleasures We buy with tears； And the bitter lesson We learn from years。
The stars are gleaming Upon her brow： What is she dreaming So
calmly now？ By her side is the Angel With folded wings； She smiles in her
slumber The while he sings。 He sings of a Bridal； Of Love divine； Of a
heart to be laid On a sacred shrine； Of a crown of glory； Where seraphs
shine； Of the deep； long rapture The chosen know Who forsake for
Heaven Vain joys below； Who desire no pleasure； And fear no woe。
The Bells are ringing； The sun shines clear； The Choir is singing； The
guests are here。 Before the High Altar Behold the Bride； And a mournful
Angel Is by her side。 She smiles； all content With her chosen lot； … （Is her
last night's dreaming So soon forgot？） And oh； may the Angel Forsake her
not！ For on her small hand There glitters plain The first sad link Of a life…
long chain； … And she needs his guiding Through paths of pain。
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VERSE： THE ANGEL'S
BIDDING
Not a sound is heard in the Convent； The Vesper Chant is sung； The
sick have all been tended； The poor nun's toils are ended Till the Matin
bell has rung。 All is still； save the Clock； that is ticking So loud in the
frosty air； And the soft snow； falling as gently As an answer to a prayer。
But an Angel whispers； 〃Oh； Sister； You must rise from your bed to pray；
In the silent； deserted chapel； You must kneel till the dawn of day； For； far
on the desolate moorland； So dreary； and bleak； and white； There is one；
all alone and helpless； In peril of death to…night。
〃No sound on the moorland to guid