Silence falls, unbroken save by sobs of strong men
In that room, where Lincoln, at the morning hour's chime
Passed out into the unknown from the world of human ken.
Gone his body and his life work from the world inclosed by time;
But in the silence that was falling after breath of broken prayer,
Words eternal broke the quiet like a bell toll on the air;
Never in the world's wide story, wiser spoke nor Prophet, spoke nor
Sages,
Than these words that broke the silence: "He belongs now to the Ages!"
"To the Ages!" well you spoke it, Stanton of the massive mind!
He belongs, the years have shown it, to the world of human kind!
Heard his story, where'er hearts throb o'er the world's far spreading
way;
Heard his story, children listen at the closing of the day;
Heard his story, lovers speak it in their hushed and saddened tones
As they wander in the twilight, dreaming of their coming homes;
Heard his story, statesmen tell it, with a thrill of pride and truth;
Heard his story, old men speak it to the country's growing youth.
And the years have shown the Prophets, and the years have shown the
Sages;
Writ in fire these words of wisdom, "He belongs now to the Ages!"
[Illustration: ABRAHAM LINCOLN