LOVE BEYOND THE GRAVE. 



" Lilian ! sweet Lilian ! how shall we do without thee ? 

 How shall we bear a life from which has been taken all the 

 music and the sunshine?" 



Such was the half-despairing cry of the hearts that loved 

 thee, thou gentlest of earth's children, when thou wert sum- 

 moned to the shadowy-peopled realm of death. How much of 

 hope and promise died with thee, lovely one ! Years have gone 

 by since we gave thee to the keeping of the grave, yet do we 

 find ourselves listening for thy light footstep on the stair, wait- 

 ing for thy gay laughter in the hall, looking out wistfully for 

 thy bright face in the vacant chamber. Thou wert of those 

 whom God lends to earth for a season, as if to show us what 

 human nature may be in its purest, and highest, and holiest state 

 of being ; then gathers to Himself ere the dust of wordly care 

 should settle on the spirit's snowy wings, to stain their spotless 

 plumage. 



