Poems (Brown)/Over the River
OVER THE RIVER.
Softly, then, as the setting sun
Fades from earth when day is done,
And leaves a raiment of sunny gold
Upon the hills, so gray and cold,
Faded Willie! our little boy,
With his golden curls and smile of joy!
His free, glad voice is hushed forever,
And he has crossed beyond the river.
And then the summons came again,
And filled our hearts with woe and pain:
It called for Effie! our baby girl,
With her eyes of blue, and soft brown curl,
And we yielded her up to the "boatman old,"
Who stood in his place.by the river cold.
He crossed with her to the farther side,
Beyond the waves and the dashing tide;
And we stood and gazed, but all in vain,
We could not call her back again;
Fades from earth when day is done,
And leaves a raiment of sunny gold
Upon the hills, so gray and cold,
Faded Willie! our little boy,
With his golden curls and smile of joy!
His free, glad voice is hushed forever,
And he has crossed beyond the river.
And then the summons came again,
And filled our hearts with woe and pain:
It called for Effie! our baby girl,
With her eyes of blue, and soft brown curl,
And we yielded her up to the "boatman old,"
Who stood in his place.by the river cold.
He crossed with her to the farther side,
Beyond the waves and the dashing tide;
And we stood and gazed, but all in vain,
We could not call her back again;
She had joined our Willie on the unseen shore,
And we must watch and sigh no more.
And yet again our home was robbed,
And two other darlings went to God.
Over the river, the deep, dark river,
I see the streets which their feet have trod.
And we must watch and sigh no more.
And yet again our home was robbed,
And two other darlings went to God.
Over the river, the deep, dark river,
I see the streets which their feet have trod.
And once again, in the cold, dark night,
When all was still, and the fire-light
Danced o'er our lonely room,
Two angels entered, and sat them down,
And the light from their wings dispelled the gloom.
We asked them whither and whence they came,
And also asked their angel name.
They answered,—and such a heavenly smile.
Played o'er their features all the while,—
"Our angel names we cannot tell."
And their voices sounded like a silver bell,
Ringing o'er the deep.
Then one of them asked, in so flute-like a voice.
That it made my breaking heart rejoice,
"O mother, do you not know me now?
Or is it the crown upon my brow
That blinds your sight?"
I started up in wild surprise;
My precious child was before my eyes!
Far happier now he seemed to be,
Than earthly children whom I see.
The other was my baby girl,
With her eyes of blue, and soft, brown curl.
They are happy now in their home of light,
Their crowns of gold, and their robes of white;
Over the river, the deep, dark river,
They have passed away from mortals' sight.
When all was still, and the fire-light
Danced o'er our lonely room,
Two angels entered, and sat them down,
And the light from their wings dispelled the gloom.
We asked them whither and whence they came,
And also asked their angel name.
They answered,—and such a heavenly smile.
Played o'er their features all the while,—
"Our angel names we cannot tell."
And their voices sounded like a silver bell,
Ringing o'er the deep.
Then one of them asked, in so flute-like a voice.
That it made my breaking heart rejoice,
"O mother, do you not know me now?
Or is it the crown upon my brow
That blinds your sight?"
I started up in wild surprise;
My precious child was before my eyes!
Far happier now he seemed to be,
Than earthly children whom I see.
The other was my baby girl,
With her eyes of blue, and soft, brown curl.
They are happy now in their home of light,
Their crowns of gold, and their robes of white;
Over the river, the deep, dark river,
They have passed away from mortals' sight.