We stood upon the lonely shore
And watched the bounding bark
Which far away the loved ones bore,
On billows wild and dark;
And then there came a gloomy sound
Mournfully, mournfully stealing around--
And the sound was this,
As it rose and fell
O'er the broad expanse,--
_"Farewell, farewell!"_
We sought our home--once bright and fair,
No word of hope we said,
For Sorrow entered with us there,
With slow and silent tread;
And came a voice from every room
Mournfully, mournfully through the gloom;
And the voice was this,
As it sadly fell
On our aching hearts,--
_"Farewell, farewell!"_
The garden that at morn was gay,
And the sequestered bower,
Seemed to have wept their bloom away,
All in one little hour;
We heard a voice upon the breeze
Sigh mournfully, mournfully through the trees,
And the voice was this,
As it rose and fell
On the balmy air,--
_"Farewell, farewell!"_
Years, weary years have passed us o'er
Since that unhappy morn,
And in our arms we clasp once more
With rapture our first-born.
And thankful for our Father's care
Gratefully, gratefully raise the prayer,
That when life is o'er
Our anthems may swell
Where lips breathe no more--
Farewell, farewell!