“She sleeps,” they said;
With noiseless tread
They pass their way;
She will awake,
At morning break,
In endless day.
“She sleeps,” they said;
Some tears are shed
From loving eyes;
To-day she sings,
With King of kings,
In Paradise.
One stands apart,
With breaking heart,
From all the rest;
His grief appears
Too great for tears,—
To weep were best.
“She sleeps,” they said
Around her head
The sunbeams play;
When all are gone
One lingers long
Who wills to stay.
He calls her name
And loves the same
As when in life;
With paling cheek
He bids her speak,—
His promised wife.
Alone are they;
What can he say
That she may hear?
He takes her hand,—
She’ll understand
When he is near.
He sees the smile
And waits awhile
With bated breath;
But lips speak not
Her loving thought,
Whose seal is death.
Around her face,
In girlish grace,
Falls silken hair;
Her dear eyes close
Yet well he knows
The soul light there.
His own is she;
On bended knee
Once more he prays:—
“Dear Father give,
While I shall live,
Strength for my days;
Help me to be
As pure as she;
And then at last
Unite us two
In Heaven, with You,
When life is past.”