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November 12th, 1851.
SHE sat within Life’s Banquet Hall at noon, | |
| When word was brought unto her secretly, | |
| “The Master cometh onwards quickly; soon | |
| Across the Threshold He will call for thee.” | |
| Then she rose up to meet Him at the Door, | 5 |
| But turning, courteous, made a farewell brief | |
| To those that sat around. From Care and Grief | |
| She parted first: “Companions sworn and true | |
| Have ye been ever to me, but for Friends | |
| I knew ye not till later, and did miss | 10 |
| Much solace through that error; let this kiss, | |
| Late known and prized, be taken for amends; | |
| Thou, too, kind, constant Patience, with thy slow, | |
| Sweet counsels aiding me; I did not know | |
| That ye were angels, until ye displayed | 15 |
| Your wings for flight; now bless me!” but they said, | |
| “We blest thee long ago.” | |
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| Then turning unto twain | |
| That stood together, tenderly and oft | |
| She kissed them on their foreheads, whispering soft, | 20 |
| “Now must we part; yet leave me not before | |
| Ye see me enter safe within the Door; | |
| Kind bosom-comforters, that by my side | |
| The darkest hour found ever closest bide, | |
| A dark hour waits me, ere for evermore | 25 |
| Night with its heaviness be overpast; | |
| Stay with me till I cross the Threshold o’er. | |
| So Faith and Hope stayed by her till the last. | |
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| But giving both her hands | |
| To one that stood the nearest,—“Thou and I | 30 |
| May pass together; for the holy bands | |
| God knits on earth are never loosed on high. | |
| Long have I walked with Thee; Thy name arose | |
| E’en in my sleep, and sweeter than the close | |
| Of music was thy voice; for thou wert sent | 35 |
| To lead me homewards from my banishment | |
| By devious ways, and never hath my heart | |
| Swerved from Thee, though our hands were wrung apart | |
| By spirits sworn to sever us; above | |
| Soon shall I look upon Thee as Thou art.” | 40 |
| So she crossed o’er with Love. | |
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