| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | October 24 | | Webster | | By Epes Sargent (1813–1880) |
| | | | Death of Daniel Webster, October 24, 1854. |
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NIGHT of the Tomb! He has entered thy portal; | |
| Silence of Death! He is wrapped in thy shade; | |
| All of the gifted and great that was mortal, | |
| In the earth where the ocean-mist weepeth, is laid. | |
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| Lips, whence thy voice that held Senates proceeded, | 5 |
| Form, lending argument aspect august, | |
| Brow, like the arch that a nation’s weight needed, | |
| Eyes, wells unfathomed of thought—all are dust. | |
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| Night of the Tomb! Through thy darkness is shining | |
| A light, since the Star in the East never dim; | 10 |
| No joy’s exultation, no sorrow’s repining | |
| Could hide it in life or life’s ending from him. | |
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| Silence of Death! There were voices from heaven, | |
| That pierced the quick ear of Faith through the gloom; | |
| The rod and the staff that he asked for were given, | 15 |
| And he followed the Saviour’s own track to the tomb. | |
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| Beyond it, above, in an atmosphere finer, | |
| Lo, infinite ranges of being to fill! | |
| In that land of the spirit, that region diviner, | |
| He liveth, he loveth, he laboureth still. | 20 | | |
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