ADELAIDE JACKSON MENAND. 



OCTOBER 15, 1890. 



Not in the freshness of life's early morn, 

 When hope was high and fair life's pathway shone 

 With promise of bright days to be, 

 A golden glory of futurity 



Not then the summons came. 



Not when the noonday sun was high o'erhead, 

 When summer days fast to the autumn sped, 

 When from the hurry of youth's flying feet 

 The rest of noon was to the spirit sweet 



Not then the summons came. 



Years had rolled on and brought that sweet repose 

 Which, duties well performed, the spirit knows; 

 Peace, rest and freedom from earth's anxious care 

 Age only brought, with crown of silvery hair 



And still no summons came. 



Yet, all unseen by us, her nature grew 

 Nearer to heaven our spirits never knew 

 How thin the veil concealing from her sight 

 The golden portals bathed in heaven's blest light. 



Nor heard the summons come. 



She heard, the veil was lifted, all around 

 Flowed pleace eternal, not a sigh no sound, 

 No pain no fear no anguish earth was gone 

 And to the raptured soul its heaven was born 



When the blest summons came. 



No tears no fears let every grief be stilled 

 Why weep for her, who every task fulfilled, 

 Goes to her rest ? pray rather thus may be 

 Life's blissful close for us for thee for me 



When the last summons comes. 



PARA, December, 1890, EDWARD S. RAND, JR. 



