A DREAM OF LIFE.
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For beauty, glory, fame and genius, All perish in one fleeting gleam,And what are earth's most priceless jewels, That men their worth should e'er esteem.
Then, thought I, through that world of sleep, I heard the voice of an angel cry,Bring forth the Book, whose fadeless pages, Have ne'er been scanned by mortal eye.And there upon its spotless record, Inscribed in letters of pure gold,Lay chronicled, through untold ages, Each deed, heroic, true or bold,Earth's heroes e'er, had cherished, Each kind word spoken to the weak,Each fervent prayer, for erring manhood, Each loving word, Earth's children speak.
Then spake a Voice, through the sleep-world ringing, I, Sovereign of the Earth and sky, Permit no noble deed to perish, No great and holy life to die.Oblivion cannot claim the glory, Of human life, great and divine,And in Eternity's great record, I keep these jewels of mine.
