20
TO MY FATHER'S FRIEND.
Friend of the reverend name, on earth most dear,
A Father's precious and consoling name,—
Unchanging friend of him, how bright appear
Thy worth, thy virtue, and affection's flame.
A Father's precious and consoling name,—
Unchanging friend of him, how bright appear
Thy worth, thy virtue, and affection's flame.
Vainly this troubled mind essays to speak
The strength and firmness of the cordial tie;
How in each heart, with pious pleasure meek,
The sacred friendship glows that cannot die.—
The strength and firmness of the cordial tie;
How in each heart, with pious pleasure meek,
The sacred friendship glows that cannot die.—
That sacred friendship, of no earthly kind,
That firm endures 'mid every scene of woe:
When silent sorrows overwhelm the mind,
With purer lustre beams the brightened glow.
That firm endures 'mid every scene of woe:
When silent sorrows overwhelm the mind,
With purer lustre beams the brightened glow.
The tie that binds thee, true Worth's fadeless charm,
Unites with pleasing and resistless force;—
Worth that vicissitudes can ne'er disarm,
Nor turn from its undeviating course.
Unites with pleasing and resistless force;—
Worth that vicissitudes can ne'er disarm,
Nor turn from its undeviating course.
Firmly allied in spirit and in mind,
Each for the other sheds soft pity's tear;
By faith supported, and by hope refined,
Each waits for bliss beyond this nether sphere;—
Each for the other sheds soft pity's tear;
By faith supported, and by hope refined,
Each waits for bliss beyond this nether sphere;—
With eyes unclouded to behold the dawn
Of endless day and of perpetual joy,
Where no keen anguish, nor sharp sorrow's thorn
The everlasting friendship shall annoy.
Of endless day and of perpetual joy,
Where no keen anguish, nor sharp sorrow's thorn
The everlasting friendship shall annoy.
