Dear Friend, dear Helper, passed from earth
To heaven, in earthly grace, I here
Would give to thee homage sincere
And memory sweet. Thy ever kindly word
Has oft the sad heart warmed,
The drooped head raised, and thy sustaining hand
A fainting purpose thrilled
To better courage, firmer aim.
In that far realm where spirits meet
And greet with message mystic, there
Thou must, in sweet commune
Receive reward for earthly deeds.
Thy heart ne'er knew the unkind throb,
Was ever gentle, firm and true;
Whate'er the cause, if once espoused
Thou to thy watchword held thyself.
Throughout our land, in city, town,
Thy name beloved remains alive;
Alive in hearts, alive in minds,--
For thou hadst heart and brain as well
To touch the soul and win the thought.
Thy work for woman stands unspoiled;
Untouched by vanity or marred by pride,
Unsullied by a thought of self,
A generous impulse toward thy sex--
A woman's word for woman's need.
And so thy name in fragrance fine
Bespeaks again returning June,--
The spring of promise, budding hope!
The cypress changes to the rose,--
The rose of dawn, the rose of heaven;
And both are thine and thine the crown
All jewelled o'er with thy good deeds--
Deeds of mercy, deeds of love,
Are with us still though thou art gone!