is done and the summit attained,
And the barriers fall--
Though a battle's to fight ere the guerdon be gained,
The reward of it all.
I was ever a fighter, so--one fight more,
The best and the last!
I would hate that death bandaged my eyes, and forbore,
And bade me creep past.
No! let me taste the whole of it, fare like my peers,
The heroes of old,
Bear the brunt, in a minute pay glad life's arrears
Of pain, darkness, and cold.
For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave,
The black minute's at end,
And the elements' rage, the fiend voices that rave,
Shall dwindle, shall blend,
Shall change: shall become first a peace out of pain,
Then a light, then thy breast,
O thou soul of my soul! I shall clasp thee again,
And with God be the rest!

--Robert Browning.

OUR HOME ABOVE

We thank thee, gracious Father,
For many a pleasant day,
For bird and flower, and joyous hour,
For friends, and work, and play.
Of blessing and of mercy
Our life has had its share;
This world is not a wilderness,
Thou hast made all things fair.

But fairer still, and sweeter,
The things that are above;
We look and long to join the song
In the land of light and love.
We trust the Word which tells us
Of that divine abode;
By faith we bring its glories nigh,
While hope illumes the road.

So death has lost its terrors;
How can we fear it now?
Its face, once grim, now leads to him
At whose command we bow.
His presence makes us happy,
His service is delight,
The many mansions gleam and glow,
The saints our souls invite.

We welcome that departure
Which brings us to our Lord;
We hail with joy the blest employ
Those wondrous realms afford.
We call it home up yonder;
Down here we toil and strain
As in some mine's dark, danksome depths;
There sunshine bright we gain.

To God, then, sound the timbrel!
There's naught can do us harm;
Our greatest foe has been laid low;
What else can cause alarm?
For freedom and for victory
Our hearts give loud acclaim;
Whate'er befall, on him we call;
North, South, East, West, in him we rest;
All glory to his name!

--James Mudge.

AT LAST

When on my day of life the night is fall