The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-08-22
Original 4Ortrp.
THE LAND OF EvERMoRE.
For the Democratic Advocate.
BY O. c. sHIPLEY.

BY o. c. sHIPLEY.
A PHANTAsY.
Once when slumber deep stole o'er me.
Lo a vision stood before me.
Clad in aiment of such beauty
had never dreamed before.
And this vision by me standing.
Frightening all the stairway landing,
Seemed entreating and commanding
Me TO follow to that shore.
To that cline of summer brightness
Lying on the peaceful shore
OF the land of Evermore.
And the room was find with fragrance
Over all unearthly radiance,
such as had ne'er imagined
Could ilume the Nights black shore.
Radiance whose holy brightness
Equalled driven snow in whiteness;
And form of fairy lightness
Shining calmly, sweetly GER
Then tones fell upon my hearing.
Only spoken am sure
In the land of Evermore.
Still the vision seem'd there pleading
Quick then to obey Its bidding
arose to follow, hoping
That, upon that other shore,
On that shore with pure bliss laden
SIN the distant fields of Alden
I might clasp again maiden
'clasp rare and radiant maiden"
Whom knew in days Of yore.
She who still is watching, waiting,
Within the veil of Evermore.
Then the phantom. going before me,
Swift on clouds of azure bore me.
To that summer land of beauty
Far above earth's din and roar.
Half its wonders none e'er telleth;
Where the sunlight ever dwelleth-
Where 4 chorus new, sweet, swelleth
Gandly on, foreyermore.
Surely" said 1, This is heaven,
This must be the sunny shore
That endureth evermore."
There, with wonder scenes surrounded.
How my earth-worn spirit bounded
At the indescribable glory
That each eountenanee now wore;
But the songs were all unsuited
To my heart, with sin polluted;
Yet by one sweet voice recruited
Almost to psalm-onee more
regained the strength TO utter
no farther would explore
This, the land of Evermore.
Broke again Tint strange light DER me:
Again the angel stood before me,
Pointing far away and upward.
Upward to an open door.
Then methought the scene grew DINNER,
1 moment lost the glimmer
Of her tresses' golden simmer
Then my faint heart cried no more
VIII leave this scene Of glory
Then the angel spoke once more
God is good foreyermore
With a nameless wonder gazing
On thes. sights, 'wildering amazing,
Till I felt cold. dark shadow
Creeping slowly, surely DER.
Ger my soul so madly burning
With its wealth of love, thus turning
To that maiden. wildly yearning
For her loved on earth's dark shore.
As 1 gazed silent pondered,
i'll passed again the door
Would lose her evermore?
And that song, whose ghost is keeping
Its echo in my bosom, sweeping
All vain thoughts of earth away,
Shall hear that song once more?
Above the cloud-world's wildernesses.
With star-pearls in her golden tresses,
Shall again feel her caresses,
When the pulse shall beat no more?
The deep blue eyes and languid lashes
That dropped with dreams, or rose with flashes
OF passions pure and holy ashes,
viii they greet me when storms are DER,
In the land of Eyermore?
Shall once again behold her,
Again unto my bosom fold her,
Mid the worlds beyond our vision p
Worlds that man burst not explore
There again be reunited,
In that land by glory lighted.
Where the flowers no frosts have blighted.
on that holy peaceful shore?
''In those fields of life elysian;"
There when storms of earth are DER,
Call her mine forevermore?
august. 1896,