The Washington herald., 1910-12-04
THERE is NO DEATH.

Among the Contributions on our
subject this week none is more
interesting than a communication
received from Mrs. ]. l.. McCreery,
OF 2Sz Eleventh street northeast,
which consists or a short essay on
Death. and a clipping from some
newspaper which 1 am unable %
identify, but which tells its own
story. 1 reprint the clipping.
By J. l. MecREERY.
This poem has been the subisc. a con
siderable onIT5Fersy Il was written lats
Ia the fan Of lssZ and the next spring
vas sent TO ArthHrt Home Magazine.
Philadelphia. appearing therein in the
number for July. 1865. One T. Balmer. Of
Illinois. copied IT, signed his own name
u II. and sent il tss bis own 70 the
Farmers Advocate Chicago The editor
q some Wisconsin paper lWhOse name
have forgotten, If ever knew clipped ii
nom the Fanners Advocate for his own
columns; but surprising there was mis-
PRINT IL the signature. changed the IN"
therein TO w. ana thus the name of
buiWeT became attached 70 the poem
An Immense aceessioa Of popularity i'm
tanning it-cTcdited 10 BulWer-haFe been
sent me from nearly ever State IN the
union, and from England. Scotland, and
Ireland; II IS to be found in orthodox and
spiritual hymn and song books IN At least
one school reader In vide use and IN a
score Of bound volumes and selections; II
has been quoted from in speeches In the
legislatures of several States. and several
times IN the Congress Of the United States
On the last Of January. 1850 ] had ths
pleasure Il sitting IN the Strangers Gal
lefy Of The Hous II Representatives, IN
Washington. d. G., and hearing the Hon.
AiT. COdroth member Of Congress from
Pennsylvania IN his oraticn on the death
q hon. Rdsh Clara. memher Of Congress
from Iowa, quote a portion Of this poem,
which thus became embalmed icTedited TO
Bulwer as usual. in the Congressional
Record tsee 4eth Cong. ID SesS, Part ].
J.. s5sl. ETeTy reader can decide for him
self whether this widespread popularity has
It's basis in the merits Of the poem or IN
the celebrity Of its supposed author.
There is no death! the stars 90 dosn
To rise upon some other shore,
And bright in heavens jeWeled crown
They shine for evermore.
There is no DEATH the forest leaves
Convert n life the EieWiess air;
The rocks disorEanize to feed
Tire hungry moss they bear.
There is nS death the dust Ve tresd
Shall change, beneath the summer showers
To golden grain. or T-elloE fruit,
Or rsinbOw-tinted flowers.
There is no death The leaves may fan.
The flowers may fade and pass away
They only wait through wintry houFs.
The warm. sweet breath Of May.
There Is 30 death the choicest gifts
That heaven hath kindly lent to earth
Are ever first 10 seek again
The country Of their birth;
And al things that for growth OF !oy
Are worthy q or love CT care.
Whose loss has LEFT US desolais,
Are safely gameTed there
Though life becomes desert waste,
We know its fairest. sweetest flowers.
TTanspiaHtsd into paradise,
Adon immortal bowers.
The voice Of birdliks melody.
That We have missed and mournsd 50
long
Nov mingIes with the angei choir
In everlasting song.
There IS no death although We gTiegs
When beautiful. familiar forms
That We have learned 20 love are torn
From ouT embracing arms
Although with bowed and breaking heart,
With sable gsrb and silent tread.
And say that they are dead"
They are not dead! they have bat passed
BeyoRd the misfs that blind us here.
Into the new and larger life
OF that serener sphere.
They have but dropped their robe q clay
To Put their shining raimeut on;
They have not wandered far away
They are not LOST nor gone"
Though Disseminated and gI0riasd,
They still are here and love Us yet;
The deer ones they have left behind
They never can forget.
And sometimes. when or hearts Ervw faint
faint
Amid temptations fierce and deep.
Or when the wildly nsing waves
OF grief OF passion sweep
We feel upon osr fevered brow
Their gentle touch, their breath Of balm.
Their arms eufold rs. and our hearts
Grow comforted and calm.
And ever near as. though unseen,
Tie dear. immortal spirits tread
For ali the boundless universe
Is life: there is no dead