The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-24
sARouDED AND IN THE SEA.

We stood onThe deck, a reyerent group, in
light of the setting sun,
With heads all barred and voices hushed, and
listening every one,
To the deep. low tones OF the skipper voice,
who the burial service read,
heart as we gave to the sea its dead
The unbidden tears all dimmed my eyes as
gaZed on the quetface;
A ray from the sun in the redd ming west
seemed TO light it with life and grace,
And nv heart was filled with plying love
for somebody far away,
Who was dreaming. perhaps, of her absent
boy on the eve OF that sad day.
The warm. colt breeze of the southern seas
81 FRED the locks on his forehead fair,
And thought of some mother whose fond
ling hand had caressed that golden hair;
] cut one curl from over his brow, and kissed
those lips white,
For somebody's sake, whose. light OF love
would be changed 10 sudden night
Hi1 only shroud was a rough, white sail, and
a flag about his breast;
His grave in the calm. many fathOms deep,
where He gives His beloved rest
With tender hands they lowered his BIER over
the tall ships side,
His funeral hymn was the gentle plash OF the
ebb!ng and flowing tide
That night the skipper, with tear-dimmed
eyes, brought me parcel small.
poor lad s KIT, and a woman knows best
of all
How 10 tell story that's hard to tell, and to
comfort 2 brother : heart.
VIII YOU WI te To his mother and tell her all
well, you know how TO start.
And tell herthat eycrv man of us loved her
hos. tho life of our boat;
Hearty and busy and full of life whether we
were ashore or a'Oat
We fam would hay" brought him safe back
2 In
Knew better than we. ana guided him home
to Il haven OF rest and love-!
90 ] opened the pack et with trembling hands
il SccHlei such Il sacred thing:
Letters and photos AMI little gifts and half
of a broken ring.
EecpSH[cS gathered in foreign lands for the
loving ones at home.
And 81 letter halt finished. to catch the mails
By passenger bound for Rome.
He told of an elephant hunt in CeylOn, Of q
storm in BiScay's Say.
OF the r IT rthrOugh the SueZ Canal and how
thcv all he'd the Christmas Day.
There was love to Harry and Dick and Ray
besides 10 NaCg and SuSe,
Who's feet he hoped hadn't bigger grown fol-
he d bought them Chinese shoes.
And now h. would soon be back he said, Il
his Scottish home again,
After two long years of wandering life OF
M" restless. stormy main;
Then he stopped, for he said his watch had
come. int nod finish II up tomorrow.
How could I send il! What could | say tC
brea. sUcn tale OF sorrow
One portrait was there of n worn, sweet face
ana beneath in II bOy.sh hand
Was VIZ item Mother" | saw her again il
the midst Cf smiling band
of boys ANA g.r,S OF every size, but she laid
a proud hand on one
Her sailor Ia with his bright, frank face, hel
eldest and ablest son.
Photos of schOoi-boy friends there were, ani
one Of fair Young face
Smiling and tendcreycd. beneath he had
written the one word Grace"
4 dainty h housewife. all 'broidered gay, held
buttons and pins and thrc I'd.
And worked on rle ribbon which held the
spOols: TO my darling brother Ned"
I broke toilis mother as well as could witt
many falling tear.
The news so sad and the curl / sent with al
of his treasures dear
An, that was the SoT.St saddeSt task thai
ever 7 have known.
Christ, Thou who hast wept with weeping
ones, comfort and keep Thine own.
Thou who in moments of sorrow and pain
thought of Thy mothers veal,
List 10 tine cry OF hearts sore pain, lister
and comfort and heal.
Give Thy peace, which is perfect peace, Lead
with Thine own r ght hand.
Till we Join our beloved, 70 part no more, il
Thy beautiful, happy land.
Had Gordon, in Detroit Free Press.