The Portland daily press., 1891-12-25
IN MEMoRIAM
OF Rev. Joseph lei. Pratt.
TO MY MOTHER, CHRISTMAS, 1891.

/ loved thee wen. our hearts were enc
by NOR than common tie;
BY Christian work, (and thine is done)
VI cheer, and sympathy.
/ look back now upon the DAYS
When III my growing years,
Iny counsel came In tender way 5,
my love spoke oft in tears.
sometimes used to think thee ste I'm,
SO precious was Thy care,
And It was hard fer me to learn
How dear Fathers prayer.
see how much owe thee n sow,
And do miss thee so:
While memory fingers long,, somehow
Upon one year ago.
Thy home was called tb%e "Friendly Inn"
SO many passed thy q aoor;
And many soul was sDiest there, when
They knew not tho vert poor.
Gods promises wer q good to thee,
his ..as thy day,T ay strength shall be-"
Was sure unto the end.
Thy trials were of various kinds
Attic ion oft thy lot,
But thou vast dear, to pureSt minds
Thou cans not be forgot.
Long anf 1 well spent thy years, three score
Aud :. ariy half of ten,
Thrc ugh fry changing years and more,
IT. ny ministry has been.
FFull many souls by thee can tell
OF saw ng grace of God;
And all VINO knew thee say sits WELL"
Where'er thy feet have trod.
When thou vert old with bending form
With shortened step and slow;
Thy ripeued years too soon mad come,
Thy locks too much like snow.
Long months of suffering untold,
TIL ough weeks ON bed of pain;
Thy life gTeU (like as buds unfold)
In Sweetness (after ran.)
And that Sabbath night with wing
OF darkness DER thee spread;
Hnw sweetly. loudly didst thou sing
Upon thy dying bed.
"When I've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun;
I've no less days to slug Gods praise
Then when first begun"
A few days more, then peaceful morn,
My soul knew very wei
To thee had come Heavenly dawn,
Which language cannot tell.
Thy words more dear, thy face all smile,
Thy earnest call for prayer;
Thy whis cred, NOW IN rest awhile"
Impressed us ueath was there.
A lovely rest in sleep so calm,
And then tiny weary feet
The valley wa ked. but Christ's dear arm
Supporting, made IL sweet.
"A light keeps breaking in" thou said,
"a light keeps breaking ini"
No sting in death for thee 10 dread
"The sting of death is sin!"
Thy steady gazing up to Heaven
1by lifUed beck n M hand,
assurance, that to Iilee was given
Bright glimpse of better land.
Thy struggles with such courage fraught,
Bright setting of thy sun.
Thy whisper low the battles fought,
The victory is won."
Thy farewell kiss, thy last farewell.
Ia benedlctiOn grand.
"A legacy words meier can tell,
La pressure of thy hand.
And yet the valley was not passed.
CHS viii be done," there came
Yet from thy voice, and then at last
Thy light did swiftly wane.
And this was on sweet Christmastide
0, solemn was the sight;
kissed thee, bending q er thy side,
And caught thy last good night"
SHY Heavenly home is bright and fair"
Hymn thou had loved so lODg.
"No pain nor death eau enter Jhere''
Became thy dying song.
Thy lips no more cool draught could take
NO more thy voice could speak,
Thy eyelids closed no more TO wake,
Thy soul Its letters break.
A little band watched fieeting breath,
A band meier broke before:
A silence, such as men call death,
And thou art here no more.
We heard no flutteripg angels wing,
No sound OF Doatman'S oar;
We saw not chariot of the King,
NO VlSage left our door.
Yet thou didst go, thy form was left,
1hySeLf had gone somewhere;
While ln.tbat sOemn silence kept
Faith Whispered, "Over there"
On anniversary of Christ's birth
Angels again came down,
To sing good will" By Sorrowing hearth,
And lift thee TO thy crown.
How great thy Joy on Christmas night
To meet thy Lord aud kingl
And with celestial escort bright
Thy Sung OF victory sing.
Now as see thy grave. say
AS righteous, let me live,
And las tile righteous, let me de-"
My all TO Jesus give.
And thou hast been one year in Heaven.
What holidays" are thine;
II there to Thee such power is given,
y guide these steps of mine.
In memory OF sainted one,
My Father dear, but gone;
I'll strive to meet wDen time is done,
On resurrection morn.
HANNAH t. PRATT.