The Home Circle

The Home Circle

THEY meet once more around the hearth

Within their quiet home,

Where 'mid their own sweet household mirth

Is heard no jarring tone.

The lamp sheds down its cheerful light

On youth and beauty there,

On manhood in his conscious might,

On woman, gentle, fair.

The father with a smile of pride

Looks on each form so dear,

And strives, his tenderness to hide,

To check the starting tear.

Long years of sorrow, toil and pain,

Are all alike forgot,

His home, his loved, his all remain;

Earth has no happier lot.

The mother's heart with love o'erflows,

Sweet tears of rapture rise,

Bliss deep, untold, her bosom knows,

Bound by those tender ties,

She gazes on that happy band,

And thinks of years to come,

And prays that to a "better land,"

The Lord would lead them home.

And they who thus from childhood's years

Have shared one common home,

United in their hopes and fears,

Nor wish from thence to roam,

Oh, brightly do their bosoms glow

With joy, untouched by care,

And sweetly do their voices flow

So gently mingling there.

A few short years have winged their flight,

How desolate that hearth!

How lonely is that home once bright!

Hushed are those sounds of mirth.

There is no form within its walls,

Ere seen amid that throng,

Deserted are its empty halls,

Unheard youth's merry song.

That father's smile, that mother's voice,

Have passed from earth away,

And they who did once here rejoice,

The young, the fair, the gay;

Their joyous meetings now are o'er,

Around thy hearth, sweet home!

Wide scattered o'er their native shore,

In distant climes they roam.

Some, 'mid the dreams of youth and love,

Have sunk to peaceful sleep,

While lone, and sad in heart they rove,

Who true their memories keep.

Soft eyes that then so brightly shone

Are dimmed with silent tears,

So changed those brows, we scarce could own

The friends of early years.

And will the loved ne'er meet again

That happy, blessed band?

Yes, when the Lord doth come so reign

They shall together stand.

Though severed wide, their sleeping dust

May rest on shore or sea,

Each shall resign its precious trust,

Then shall their meeting be.

If by one God, one Saviour led,

They pilgrims dwell below,

United in one common head,

One joy, one hope to know;

Then shall all sorrow ever flee,

And gladness, peace be given.

Oh, joyful shall their meeting be,

All saved, all blessed in heaven.

C.

2:44, p. 176

1838.12.22

From the Episcopal Recorder