Lines on the Death of William Ladd, Esq.

Lines on the Death of William Ladd, Esq.

Farewell, holy man, gone home to thy rest, -

While o'er thee each friend of humanity weeps;

And the children of grief thy philanthropy blest,

Bend in silence around where the peace-maker sleeps.

No more can the lonely and desolate heart

Be cheer'd by thy counsels, thy prayers, and thine alms;

When storms toss the ocean, and hope must depart,

Thy presence no longer the mariner calms.

Thou art gone where the widow has ceased to mourn;

Where the outcast and orphan bright mansions have found;

Where the sword and the helmet no longer are heard,

And the note of the war-trumpet never can sound.

But the harps of the ransom'd are heard in its stead, -

And lips that are holy shall teach thee to bear

Thy part in the song of the glorified dead,

While seraphims, silent, the melody hear.

Now thou canst commune with the prophets of old, -

With martyrs, who fear'd not the sword or the flame;

Yea, that numberless multitude thou dost behold,

On whom the Redeemer has written his name.

Thou hast seen the sweet Spirit, whose earthly career

Was finished at Ava,* mid suff'rings unknown, -

Whose labors of love, while she tenated here,

Were a text-book to thee, and a guide to thy own.

Shall we sorrow for thee, since thy bliss is complete?

Or weep that the promised possession was given -

For thy mission of peace, the reward that is meet -

An inheritance large in the kingdom of Heaven?

Ah, we look at our loss, and must mourn for thee still,

In grief that is hallowed, and sacred to love, -

Nor dried is the tear of remembrance until

We meet in the home of the blessed above!

Wrentheam, July, 1841.
*Mrs. Ann Judson.

J.M.P.

New Series 2:26, p. 102

1841.08.28

The following lines, upon the death of that exemplary Christian philanthropist, Rev. Mr. Ladd, are the production of a female friend in Massachusetts. We think them worthy, and most freely give them a place in our paper, and are happy to have our columns occupied with something commemorative of so good a man.