Death was full urgent with thee, Sister dear, br And startling in his speed;— br Brief pain, then languor till thy end came near— br Such was the path decreed, br The hurried road br To lead thy soul from earth to thine own God's br abode. br br Death wrought with thee, sweet maid, impatiently:— br Yet merciful the haste br That baffles sickness;—dearest, thou didst die, br Thou wast not made to taste br Death's bitterness, br Decline's slow-wasting charm, or fever's fierce br distress. br br Death came unheralded:—but it was well; br For so thy Saviour bore br Kind witness, thou wast meet at once to dwell br On His eternal shore; br All warning spared, br For none He gives where hearts are for prompt change br prepared. br br Death wrought in mystery; both complaint and cure br To human skill unknown:— br God put aside all means, to make us sure br It was His deed alone; br Lest we should lay br Reproach on our poor selves, that thou wast caught br away. br br Death urged as scant of time:—lest, Sister dear, br We many a lingering day br Had sicken'd with alternate hope and fear, br The ague of delay; br Watching each spark br Of promise quench'd in turn, till all our sky was br dark. br br Death came and went:—that so thy image might br Our yearning hearts possess, br Associate with all pleasant thoughts and bright, br With youth and loveliness; br Sorrow can claim, br Mary, nor lot nor part in thy soft soothing name. br br Joy of sad hearts, and light of downcast eyes! br Dearest thou art enshrined br In all thy fragrance in our memories; br For we must ever find br Bare thought of thee br Freshen this weary life, while weary life shall be.