\ >• v*^ V^ \^ Vi/ ,Hi6iT^ THOUGHTS ON Tlwlogical ail k Sent Post Paid to any Address for 25 cts. or 5 for $1.00. A Liberal Discount to the Trade. Offers Solicited from Publishers for the Copyright. / Address, F. McCALL, Twin Lakes, Freeborn Co., Minn. McCANN & JACKSON, Printers, Minneapolis. \ V THOUGHTS ON rr ogicii wiMm ical afltl Oilier f orh, COPYRIGHTED 1887 ^ JUL 29 1887 ot think they did intend To lead mankind astray. But their strange theories, it is plain, Bears evil fruit to-day. 5. I offer you a few crude thoughts, Intended for your good, Some scattered crumbs, that you may find Nutritious mental food. 6. They were composed long years ago When I was in my prime. If I had|time to write them o'er ' They would not be in rhyme. 7. They treat of subjects where we need Close reasoning, single thought, To state, combat and overthrow The theories some have taught. 8. And he, who writes his thoughts in prose. Has nothing on his brain. To keep him from selecting words To make his meaning plain, 9. Blank verse allows some latitude, The proper w^ords to find. For to express the thoughts we wish In measure of some kind. to. But when the mind is glowing, with Three thoughts at the same time, We must be satisfied with words Adapted to our rhyme. 11. True poetry is triime thought, With soul and feeling fraught, A living power, a gift from God, That never can be bought. 12. A tower of strength, a citadel, Invincible and grand, With batteries of celestial fire That falsehood cannot stand. 13. 'Tis on the lofty mount of song. Where Angels hover round, The echo of their harps we hear. For this is holy ground, 14. Come with me to the mountain's side, I'll not attempt to climb, There's inspiration at the foot Enough for my poor rhyme +0+" Thoughts on the Nebulous Theory of Creation, Darwinism, &c, 1. The winds of December are sighing and wailing A mournful dirge as the old year departs To eternity, past that mystical ocean Of which science gives us so many strange charts. 2. The new fledged philosophers, skeptics and sages, This dark misty ocean have claimed to explore, They coasted a little, got wrecked on the headlands, And of this vast ocean tliey know nothing more. 3. They wickedly wasted their God given powers. To prove that the God given truth was untrue, They delved in the mountains, they dove in the ocean, And proved what an unguided reason will do. 4. They found an old monkey and called him their Father, (You laugh at such fancies and think them insane,) False science, too long and too ardently studied. Invariably ends in a mystified brain. 5. They fanc}' they know all about vast creation. Can tell you the age of this world to a day ; That all things were made by a nebulous nothing; And God never moulded a man out of clay. 6 6. That nebulous nothing created this world, And nebulous nothing made mountains and seas, And when it was wrath it made thunder and lightning, In happier mood it made birds, beasts and trees. 7. This wonderful nothing produced a shrewd monkey. And then out of nothing procured it a wife. For nebulous nothing went in to progression, Progression evolved mind, matter and life. 8. And thus without God. They invent a creation, Where Infinite power had nothing to do, Not even the job to provide a hereafter, Of joy or of sorrow for me or for you. 9. Thus science gone wild contradicts revelation. And naturally drifts to the infidel's goal, That beyond this one life, there is nothing to live for, There is no hereafter, and man has no soul. 10 And then poor lost wretch, you have nothing to hope for No fond expectations when this life is o'er, That you ever will join the bright angels in glory, Or meet with your loved ones that have gone you before. 11. Only darkness and clouds to surround your poor soul, As onward you drift to the cold silent tomb, The horrors of death with no hope of a Heaven, No light of Gods lamp through the terrible gloom. 12. But a future before you, you cannot escape, All hope of Salvation eternally fled, For if you believe not the prophets and Moses, You would not believe though one rose from the dead. 13. An honest belief in the wild speculations Of Darwin and others, there's none can dispute, "Would banish from man every holy emotion, And make him no more than a rational brute. 14. They say they discovered, far back in lost ages, That Man was a Molusk, then Monkey or Ape; The offspring of shell fish could hveak no commandment^ And thus from all penalty they do escape. 15. They laugh at religion, they need no redeemer; Irresponsible offspring of matter alone. No odds what they do in this state of existence. They sin not, and therefore no Christ can atone. 16. It was Darwin's father who fancied a mussel Had crawled from the ocean and dwelt upon land, Got rid of its shell, and progressing for ages, Evolved the branches whereon for to stand. 17. The father transmitted this silly delusion To a son who was blessed with a wonderful brain, He grasped everything on the face of creation, To build up a theory the myth to maintain. 18. The mussel he changed to a monkey so frisky. And started it off to select a nice wife; One fatal omission upsets the whole theory. The poor brute was doomed to a sad single life. 19. He has filled a nice volume with sophistry full, So ably handled that many believe That we owe our existence to monkeys alone. And have not decended from Adam and Eve. 20. Man never decended from any such monkey, For they were the product of certain fixed laws, Produced in that way they could have no decendants; And in a few words I will tell you the cause. 21. It is a grand truth, that cannot be refuted, Like causes can only produce like effects, So after progressing for millions of ages. Those mythical monkeys were all of one sex. 22. They could not have differed in size, sex or form, Like causes produced them alike it is plain, So monkey, selection, progression and all that "Was but the wild dream of a mystified brain. 23. Every one of their theories are baseless as this. From their nebulous world to their ape produced men, When tested with truth they will tumble to dust. But like phantoms they raise them again and ag^im. 24. They throw no true light on eternity past. They catch not a glimpse of the far distant shore. The phosphoric light from old fossels and bones But make the dim distant more dark than before. 25. But historj^ is ever repeating itself in The proneness of man to seek refuge in lies; From the Antedeluvians down to our day. What God has asserted will never suffice. 36. They will doubt and attempt for to prove it untrue, Interpret, pervert and expound In a way To prove it in conflict with nature's great laws, Which they claim the Almighty is bound to obey. 27. 'Twas such learned fools in the days of old Noah, Made people believe they would not be drowned, They could not be frightened by any such nonsense, The reasoned from cause to effect so profound. 28. It never had rained and where was the water, Old Noah could palm upon them no such fraud; Perhaps they believed him a raving. fanatic. And laughed at the man with a message from God. 29. They argued no doubt there was not enough water In all vast creation a deluge to cause ; And that as earth had, she must ever continue By fixed eternal, unchangeable laws. 30. Convinced of the truth of those learned deductions, To warnings and threatenings they turned a deaf ear; They had science enough to prove themselves fools, Without sense enough, God's displeasure to fear. 31. So the ark was full freighted, the entrance closed Ere one of those wise fools got ready to sail ; But they lived long enough this great truth for to learn, God's will is the law and they died with a wail. 32. Or rather I should say they were soon convinced. There was no such thing as unchangeable laws. And that nature must ever be subject to God, Who through vast creation is motor and cause. 33 They soon found to their grief there was enough water, Rushing up from the earth, pouring down from the skies To perform exactly what Noah foretold And prove all their science a terrible lie. 34 Astonished they saw the first storm cloud ascending, That ever obscured the bright rays of the sun. From out the dark mass saw the red lightning flashing, While loud thunder pealed, their destruction began. 35. False hope took its flight and the Infidels shuddered. No caviling now while the elements roar, For those terrible agents obeying God's will, They had not discovered or dreamed of before. 9 36. The trembling earth coUapscd on its center, The rock ribs protrude from the wreck of the world, The torrents rush up from the fathomless deep. Proud man and his works to destruction are hurled. 37. One family alone from a populous earth, Triumphantly float o'er the desolatassed on each. 24 183. That none will be condemned who had not ample opportunity to- either accept or reject the offers of pardon and solvation through Christ. 184. And as Christ was preached to the spirits who were a foretime in prison who were disobedient in the days of Noah. So will he be- preached to the end of time to all those who in this life had not the? opportunity to acccept or reject salvation through Jesus. 185. Thank God! They are yet prisoners of hope But you my dear reader in a christian land can have no hope in the future if you now neglect this great salvation by which ycu would receive the gilt of eternal life be brought into direct communion with Gcd and into fel- lowship with saints and angels, thereby receiving strength to over_ come the animal propensities and passions, making your animal and intellectual persons, ministers of love, joy and peace to your spirit as- you pressed on to glory and to God. 186. If you spurn the offers of mercy and eternal life they will never be pressed on you again. This life can afford you no true happiness, and after death to the end of time your poor soul will suffer untold misery from a sense of guilt, remorse and terror of the second death,, the infliction of which justice may demaiul. 187. God is love and will not give eternal life to any that will not be saved by his grace. Read the soul stirriug appeals and pleadings of God that sinners would turn from their evil ways and live and that God so loves erring man that he gave his beloved Son to suffer and die to ransom them from death, and that the soul that sinneth shall die- And the catalogue of crime for which the obdurate sinners are ta suffer the second death. And blessed are they who have part in the- first resurection for on them the second death hath no powei. 188. And where can you find any proof for the horrible doctrine that God will or has made souls to sufler excruciating torments in a flaming hell through all eternity. 189. The forever found tin the scriptures means no more than thO' forever found in a conveyance^of an estate to you and your heirs for- ever, and you do not believe that it includes eternity. 190. Temporal or first death ends the sensibility of the body to pain and suflering. Eternal or second death will end the sensibility and existence of the soul. 191. Hell is the prison of the unredeemed where they are confined ta the day of judgment. God save my readers from that prision and the- remorse and terror of the second death. 192. A rational and unstrained interpretation of many texts of scripture will convince you that the burning lake will be found in the conflagra- tion of this planet when the elements shall melt with fervent 25 heat and in that lake death and hell will end and the unsaved will be utterly destroyed by the second death from which there will be no resurection. 193. Of the intellectual person of man I have said but little, though no doubt it exerts a mighty influence for weel or woe for time and for eternity, but whether it dies with the body or lives On with the spirit is a mystery I shall not at present attempt to solve. 194. But have often observed the disparity between the animal and intellectual persons in the same individual, some with well developed and strong bodies have a deformed and feeble intellect, and history gives us many proofs that with many dwarfed, weakly and deformed bodies have been united powerful and brilliant intellects. In the very aged we seldom find the intellect strong and active, and if not totally dead it seldom remains active till the death of the body. 195. So little is said in the bible of man's intellect that I am of the opinion that man's intellect does not amount to any more in the sight of God than man's body does. 196. And as the redeemed will be resurected with spiritual and glori- fied bodies, may they not have spiritualized and glorified intellects and in heaven the simple believer and the little child be as brilliant in intellect as, the most renowned philosophers. 197. The diversity of opinions by diflerent individuals, on the same subject, each having exactly the same statement, or source of informa- tion, is nowhere more apparent, than in the conflicting doctrines, and dogmas of the diflerent churches. Therefore in things pertaining to salvation do not place implicit confidence in either the church or your unguided reason. The holy spirit is the only intallable guide to guide you into all truth, and God, has promised His holy spirit to as many as ask Him. 199. Do not jeopardize your soul by relying on the so called rational or reli^non of reason, it is the vapor of theories that have no foundation in facts, there is no God in it. no guidance of the holy spirit, no advo- cate to plead for you, no atonement for sin, it cannot confer eternal life on any soul of man, and cannot save you from the horrors of the second death. 200. The disasterous results in France should dr»ter us. From ever accepting a creed without God. She gathered the vintage in anguish and terror. And fled from her idols, through torrents of blood. 26 201. She banished religion and defied reason, Infidelity held her dread carnival, The priests and the nobles were ruthlessly murdered And Paris was changed to a wild raging hell 202. O ! God save this nation from infidel free thought From Godless blaspheming philosojDhy save O ! may we be wise and in this life prepare for A home with the blest beyond death and the grave. 203. Believe in the Prophets in Christ and the Bible Some strive to refute them bat prove them all true, For they all foretold in this age of the world ^Exactly what these windy boasters would do. 204 They make lies their re!uge neglect their salvation And barter their souls for a short lived renown They wield all the powers with which God endowed them To prove His word false and have lost a bright crown. 205. As well might a sheep try to swallow the ocean. Or goat toss the Andeas and Alps in the sea. As science attempt to refute revelation T'will still be unshaken when mountains shall flee. 206. The scriptures are true and they cannot be broken By all the vile efforts of Devils and men. Past present and future all cluster around them And prove God directed the inspired pen. 207. Great Babylon, Nineveh, Tyre and Sidon €ry out out from their ruins to every age. The long buried past yea; the wnole ancient world Attest to the truth of the sacred page 208. The spirits like frogs are abroad in the land With doctrines of devils exciting to strife Vast navies are fitting vast armies equiping And demons are urging war! war! to the knife. 209. The nations are acting the terrible drama Foretold by the prophets long ages ago, They will rush madly on to their tragical end And sink in an ocean of bloodshed and woe. 210. There is not a sentence a threat or a promise Contained in the bible that will not prove true To prevent the fulfillment of all there foreteld Is more than the whole combined world can do. 27 211. Christian statasmeu well Iviiow tliat tlie time is at hand Foretold by the prophets of war in the east This terrible contiict they cannot avert God Has promised the vultures and ravens this feast. 312. All the armies on earth will rush to the contiict No nation at peace be allowed to remain For demons will force them all into the contiict And millions by millions of men will be slain. 313. It will sweep like a tempest all over the earth In torrents the blood of her children will flow It seems as if God had forsaken mankind The earth like a drunkard will reel to and fro 214. The signs of the times indicate an uprising Of the Godless and vile in every land To break from restraint, set all laws at defiance And sweep to distruction the noble and grand 215. They are organized now under intidel leaders The theorists have told them that men has no soul And hence to indulge all the animal passions Is the acme of life and man's final goal. 216. The churches no longer have power to restrain them They scoff at religion and laugh at the priest No power on earth from destruction can save them The ravens and dogs on their bodies will feast. 217. They are led by fierce ruffins, who live on their toil United the^' will not much longer remain The children of God will be saved from their vengeance And they by each other be miserably slain. 218. The whole human race are in fearful commotion At home or abroad no prospect of peace Each class 'gainst all others are madly contending And every hour their wild passions increase "219. When nations in war are destroying each other Their armies contending with powerful foes Those fierce factions will rise and slaughter each other Their death will insure to this earth sweet repose. 220. They long persecuted and slandered God's people Professing religion they murder the saints They will reap what they sowed in anguish and terror The Lord is at hand to avenge our complaints. 28 221 The formal professor and obdurate sinner Will bitterly mourn their terrible fate They trifled too long with God's love and His mercy And would not repent till alas 'twas too late. 222. When Russia has formed a compact alliance With all of the nations that lie round about They will conquer the Turks with terrible slaughter And from Egypt attempt to drive Brittons out 223. Then swiftly will come the conflict of nations The Hebrews, the allies of Britton will be For the terrible day of the Lord is at hand And swift ships will bear them across the wide sea 224. Fear not, God hath sworn that Russia shall never Possess the dear land where Messiah once trod He is coming again in power and glory To conquer and reign, an invincable God. 225. Shout! shout!! ye seed of Israel's race. Rejoice and be exceeding glnd For your salvation draweth nigh Let none of Abram's sons be sad. 226. Come O ! ye weary wanderers come In foreign lands no longer roam Give up your stubborn unbelief And God will call His outcasts home. 227. Home! to Jerusalem to worship there your God Home! to the sacred land where ancient prophets trod Home ! where your enemies no more can vex your soul Home! to your father land where Jordan's waters roll. ENDING OF PART THE EIIIST. :ot- Mnsings on tiie Banks of tlie Mississippi. 1. On Mississippi's banks I stand The air is clear the view is grand Not on the Danube or the Nile. Do brighther skies or sunshine smile. 2. But they are rich in ancient story And remnants of departed glory That in their ruins yet display A grandure greater than our day 29 •3. With all our boasted art and skill They are the masterpiece still Arena of the human race What struggles on thy soil took place. 4. What valient armies were arrayed What heticombs of heroes made What mighty nations rose and fell Would take too long for me to tell. 5. But 3^et a moment we delay A word of ancient Rome to say She was the home of liberty The first great nation of the free. 6. Her staesman sought the public good. And for a time done all they could A great republic she became Her senators were men of fame. 7. Not men of wealth but statesmen true Who had the will to dare and do She rose resplendant for a time Great conqueror in every clime 8. Her power and greatness was complete The world lay trembling at her feet But as she grew in pomp and pride The democratic spirit died. 9. Czar after Czar rose to her throne And made her conquered millions groan Her sons of wealth were all her care There were no rights for others there. 10. Justice in courts w-as bought and sold She knew no other God but gold This nation if she copies Rome Had better take the lesson home. 11. And turn before it is too late Por us to shun her wretched fate All hail the Saxons Goths and Huns We glory that we are their sons 12. That by their hands proud Rome was fired And tyranny in flames expired The mighty mistress of the world By them to utter ruin hurld. 30 13. Her literature^ her works of art All ! all ! in lurid flames depart The wealth of centuries in a day In fire and smoke have past away. 14. But little of the written page Have been transmitted to our age Her gems of art we moarn in vain But some grand ruins yet remain. 15. The wealth she forced from other lands ^ Was snatched from out her feeble hands Not half her works are known by name For nearly all past off in flame. 16. But then the world could breath more free It was the torch of liberty. For bondage is a dreaded vice That freedom's cheap at any price. 17. It is a treasure all should prize Man's greatest, boon beneath the skies But if we do so quietly Let politicians have their way. 18. A few years more you may depend Justice and liberty will end Protective tariff is the way Our rights and liberties to slay. 19. To turn God's blessings to a curse And ever rob the poor man's purse And let rich corporations take All that the struggling millions make. 20. But when the nation was in need And money must be had with speed, 'Twas right to raise from importation Enough to save a bankrupt nation. 21. Now that the treasuries flowing o'er Just make them stop and take no more, Ko longer for a party vote Or trust the politicians bloat. 22. To many now in power and place Are to this nation a disgrace. Political designing knaves Elected by vile abject slaves. 31 23. Who sell their suffrage for a price To men who scruple at no vice They in the house and senate too A vulger venial wealthy crew. 24. To statesmanship they can't aspire Amassing wealth is their desire, The corporations have their care Who will with them the plunder share. 25. 'Tis time 'gainst such the peoi)le rose This state of things for to oppose, Arise at (mce expel those knaves And be no longer dupes and slaves. 26. There's statesman plenty good and true And noble patriots not a few, If called by you to power and place Would be an honor to our race, 27. But I have drifted quite away, from what at first I thought to say On this beautiful bluff" of the great Mississippi, Where fancy might weave some strange fiction you know ^^^ ^ ^_^ While the soft winds are rippling the face of the waters ' ..It^^^^J As on to the far distant ocean they flow. 28. But where are the great tribes that once dwelt by this river As sullen and dark as the waters below, They are passing away like the mist of the morning To vile for our pity to weak for our foe. 29. There's a history here if the hills could but tell it A mystery we earnestly strive to unfold. To the dim distant past they leave nothing to guide us No old crumbling runins the story has told. 30. They have lived, they have died, and what have they accomplished They leave not a vestage to prove they have been Throughout this vast region not one temple or tower Or trace of a once mighty people is seen. 31. During'all the commotions that rent the old world The throws and convulsions to set themselves free From the thraldom of priests and the grasp of the tyrant Was it all a dead calm this side of the sea. 32. Only hunting and fishing on this side the ocean Or out on the bright lakes so sparkling and blue. Dancing over the waves with their fond dark eyed maidens In loves happy dream in a birchbark canoe. 32 33. With no civilization no tyrant or taxes No king ancl no subjects no master or slave, They were free as the winds that blow over the mountians To» do as they pleased from their birth to their grave. 34. Some romancers and poets have got the idea A people so free had a heavenly time, That exempt from the vices of civilization Communing with nature their thoughts w^ere sublime. 35. So those scribblers report the bombast of the savage As glowing with beauty in every line. Grand poetic figures and flowers of rhetoric, So sparkling and blooming in eloquence fine. 36. But those scribblers and poets know nothing about them. Their stories but prove the old adage is true. They would flee in disgust from the tents of the savage, B.ut distance, dim distance enchanted their view. 37. Now dear reader don't fancy that I am romancing, Or telling a story that I have been told. You will find very few that know more of the Redmen Having been much with them since a boy ten years old. 38. Are they noble and brave ? Neither one or the other. Are they faithful and true ? I would like to know when. That they see God in clouds is a poetic fancy, So far from the truth that it suits not my pen. 39. They are poor. Godforsaken and demon cursed wretches. Malignant and vile as the spirits they woo. They have murdered each other without love or mercy, And tortured their victims most devilish to. 40. If we try te discover from what land they first came. Their habits and customs may guide us the best. They are not aborigines here I am certain. Their traditions all say they came from the west. 41. That their forefathers found when they reached this new wortd, In beautiful cities a numerous race. Who were living in peace and knew nothing of w^arfare. That they slaughtered them ofi" and soon took their place. 42. The old ruins now found on our southern borders, And millstones and crockery found in the west. Were the works of the people found here by the Eedmen. And do to the truth of tradition attest. 33 43. I think no bible scholar with Indians acquainted Can fail to discover how close they agree In their language and acts, superstition and customs, With tribes once in Canaan and near the Red Sea. 44. If their forefathers fled as the children of Israel Were led by the pillar and cloud to their land, They well knew the invincible foe then approaching Were led by a power they could not withstand. 45. They had finished the work God had gave them to do in, Preparing a home for a more favored race, To this then unknown land they were sent to make ready, A home for the christians, a safe dwelling place. 46. The poor Indians have now about finished their mission, And got little credit for what they have done. They are passing away like the mist of the morning, In a few fleeting years their race will be run. Macliine Poetry Recited at the Agricul- tural Fair, Albert Lea, Sept, 1871. Brother farmers we joyfully greet you today, With your wives and your daughters so lovely and gay But we cannot do justice in stanzas so few, To one half the subjects that we should review. The world does move at a glorious pace. And the march of invention is blessing our race. The sickle and flail and the scythe hoe and spade, Were mean slavish tools not for poetry made. They are passing away and in fact we are glad, We can bid them adieu and not feel a bit sad.. For men who toiled hard with such sticks and such metal, Too often were talked of as country cattle. Now the Poets are reaping and Painters make hay. And the Doctors and Lawyers are farming to-day, Throw away the old scythe unused let them rust, They have served out their day let them moulder to dust. Jump on the new mower McCormick's advance, 34 With good lively horses uefore it to prance, Then drive round your meadows and sure you will say, You have music and poetry making your hay. The day has arrived when the farmers no more, Is toiling and sweating to gather his store. The reaping and threshing is done with a whirr, That makes on the farm a glorious stir. The shuttle and plow are now running by steam, No poet of old ever found such a theme. The day has arrived when machinery sings, O'er the land and the sea its melody rings. The rail cars are rushing o'er mountain and plain, And take to the ocean your millions of grain. Great steam ships then take it across the wide sea, The nations clap hands in the height of their glee, The telegraph chatters o'er mountain and vale, In an instant it tells us some wonderful tale, Out stripping the swift winged moments of time, In the speed it brings tidings from every clime. The waves of the deep cannot keep us apart, . We talk through the ocean and heart answers heart, Not Milton or Byron in their grandest dreams. Were ever inspired by nobler themes Machine Poetry, Who invented the word?* I thought it an insult my anger was stirred. Did he mean to offend the Bard of the day. Who spun off his rhymes for love, mischief or play, I thought of the present the future and past. And this inspiration rame o'er me at last, Machine Poetry, it will yet be sublime. And peel its glad anthems to all comiog time, It will redeem man from the curse of his race, Make no drops of sweat or a care worn face. Give man time to prepare for a Heaven above. And transform this Earth to an Eden of love. *A premium of $5.00 was offered for the best piece of machine poetry to be read at the fair. The prize was awarded to the above, and with the money the author bought a shawl for his wife. 35 To My Wife, November 24th, 1872. Dear Ann: The bowers we loved are leafless now, The singing birds have fled, The flowers that bloomed along our path, Are numbered with the dead. A vague uncertain some brings. Such sadness to my heart When sitting in this leafless grove, Tears will unbidden start. Oh! would my loved one I could bless You with eternal bloom, And shield you from the cruel storms. That drive us to the tomb. But lilie the flowers we too must fade, Our friends and joys may fly. But let us cherish while we live, That love that cannot die. • The vine is clinging to the oak Though storms around it roar; It holds it with the fond embrace It did in days of yore. Cling to me as the withered vine Clings to the leafless bough. Though storms may come our hearts may twine Through life as fond as now. I know love is a deathless flower. That bloomed before man's fall, A precious plant from paradise. Our joy, our heaven, our alJ. Then while we live let love be ours To bless, till life be o'er And dying, take the precious gem Back to its native shore. 36 The Last Adieu, after a Short Visit to the Home of My Boyhood, Oh! Sing not those songs. They recall to this room The loved ones we laid in the cold, silent tomb. To stay my emotions, I struggle in vain, The living and dead stand before me again. Their voices together in harmony roll, The past rushes back like a wave o'er my soul, Their dearly loved voices I n'er can forget, Now dearer than ever, they come to me yet ; I see them, I hear them, so dear to my heart. Thy image fond Mother, can never depart. If 'twas not a fancy, wild work of the brain, How glad I would fly to thy bosom again. Again you would comfort your poor little Fred, And lay your kind hand on my sorrowing head. The grave where you sleep was my altar of prayer The moon and the stars oft' looked down on me there. I love it! I love it! ! In boyhood's sad years I watered that dear hallowed spot with m.y tears. 'TAvas Bethel, my Pisga, for heaven the goal. Where Jesus spoke peace to my poor troubled soul. I wandered afar, but wherever I be Each setting sun marks one day nearer to thee. The friends of my youth are fast passing away How few of them living, I number to day One after another we hasten along, Times' swift flowing river unceasing and strong, Is bearing us on to eternities shore, The haven of rest w^here no wild billows roar. God grant wx all meet in the home of the blest, Where grief cannot come, and the weary find rest. From nieces and nephews it greives me to part, So fondly I treasure you each in my heart, My prayer to the father of mercy will be, From griefs I have felt, may you ever be free, My heart throbs with pain as I step from the shore. So sacred to me I may n'er visit more The dear hallow^ed spot where in youth I have strayed^ In joy and in sorrow in sunshine and shade, Dear Brothers and Sisters I bid you farewell. And long may you live and in harmony dwell, In sadness I leave you forewarned I know, I clasp one dear hand for the last time below, With joy may we meet on eternity's shore. Where brothers and sisters are parted no more.