“Rejoice With Those Who Do Rejoice.”

Ye whom I fondly loved! my dearest joys Were treasured up in you; And a bright store of cherish’d earthly bliss, The future brought to view; ’Twas an illusive scene--that picture fair Hope’s rainbow pencil drew; Those Eden bowers have faded, and those walks Where brightest flowers grew, Now echo not the sound of lightsome steps; Those flowers, pale and few, Close up their faded petals mournfully, Nor drink the balmy dew; But I--I will no longer vainly droop O’er such a scene as this; For I am blest, ye happy shining ones! In all your blessedness!

Ye were the idols of my secret heart, Enshrined and worshiped there; And I, well pleas’d with my dear household gods, Found earth too bright and fair; No cloud seem’d gathering in gloomy wrath, To tell the storm was near; It came, as comes the midnight lightning’s flash, With sudden lurid glare; And left as dark a night within the heart, And chill’d the soul with fear; Gone is the altar of my idol love, No burning fires are there; But I--I gaze where beams th’ eternal sun Of bright celestial bliss; For I rejoice, ye glorious shining ones! In all your joyfulness!

CHARLESTON, June 20, 1840.

TO MY DEAR DEPARTED FRIEND.

Beloved! no--I will not wish for thee, Nor call thee from thy dear delightful home! Resign’d and patient still, O, let me be, While ’tis my lot in loneliness to roam.

Soon--soon--beloved! I shall go to thee; The longest life is short--time flies apace; I know ’tis well thou canst not come to me, Then would I loiter in my heavenly race.

O, ’twas an evil and a bitter thing, When I, forsaking thee, my Father God! With all my heart to earth’s delights did cling, And brought upon myself thy chast’ning rod.

Then let me bear it--though it break my heart; I’ll bless the hand that keeps me in the way; And if again from thee my steps depart, O, send the rod, lest I forever stray.

JUNE 16, 1841.