Poems (Smith)/Death of Bertha Shultz

by Martha A. Smith

DEATH OF BERTHA SHULTZ.

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Thy gentle spirit has taken flight
 To the realms of angels on high;
Fled forever from our sight,—
 Farewell, sweet Bertha, good-bye.

Child of promise,—sweetest beauty,—
 With us on earth though short thy stay,
To know thee was to love thee dearly,—
 Too soon, alas! thou pass'd away.

Cherish'd one of fond affection,
 Even though our hearts may break,
We'll bow beneath this sad affliction,
 God who gives at last will take.

Though 'tis hard to learn the lesson,
 We'll bear it meekly: if we win,
By and by the gate will open,
 To admit our souls within.

Memory throws a mantle over
 Beauteous Bertha robed in white,—
Watching at God's portal ever,
 Waiting with lov'd ones to unite.

Mother,our hearts are griev'd with sorrow,
 Over thy irreparable loss:
Here to-day, but where to-morrow?
 The reaper, Death, will claim at last.

Gone, sweet Bertha, budding flower:
 God hath call'd thee to His fold,
Transplanted safely to His bower,
 Thy sweetest beauty to unfold.

Unto thy Father's love forever,
 Farewell thou beautiful beaming light,
Although Ave miss thee, and shall ever,
 We say "God bless thee," darling bright.