ONLY A LITTLE WAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 29

ONLY A LITTLE WAY.

A. little way— l know it la not far To that dear home where my beloved are, And yet my faith growß weak* r as I Btand A poor, lone pilgrim in a, dreary land. Where present pain the future bliss obscures, And still my heart sits, like a bird upon The empty nest, and mourns its treasures gone ; Plumed for their flight, And vanished quite. Ah ! me, whero Is the comfort— though I say They have but journeyed on a little way T A little way— at time 3 they seem so near, Their Toicei ever murmur at my ear ; To all my duties loving pretence lend, And with sweet ministry my steps attend And bring my soul the luxury of tears. 'Twas here we met and parted company ; Why should their gain be such a grief to me ? This scene of loss ! Thou heavy cross I Dear Saviour, take the burden off, I pray, And show me heaven is but— a little way. Thaie sombre robes, these saddened faces, all The bitterness and pain of death recall. Ah 1 let me turn my face where'er I may, I see the traces of a sure decay ; And parting takes tha marrow out of life. Secure in bliss, we hold the golden chain Which death, with scarce a warning, snaps in twain, And never more Shall timo restore Tho broken links. Twas only yesterday They ranished from our sight- a lifctle way. 'A little wayl This sentence I repeat, Hoping and longing to extract some sweet To mingle with the bitter. Prom thy hand I take the cup I cannot understand, And in my weakness give myself to fchee. Although"!!; seemt so very, very far, To that dear home where my belovsd are,

I know, I know It is not bo. Oh ! give me faith to feel it when I say That they are gone— gone but a little way.