She smiled, serene and blissful, as death's dark eye she braved; Her sacrifice was given, her heart's proud hero saved. Our love and admiration lifted a starry dome Of happiness above her in life's last hour of gloam, And snow-white pure she passed then to her eternal home. Such tender love and holy to heaven's bounds can bear The souls that it embraces in sacrifice and prayer. THE BIER OF PRECENTOR A. REITAN (1872) (See Note 56) With smiles his soft eyes ever gleamed, When God and country thinking; With endless joy, his soul, it seemed, Faith, fatherland, was linking. His word, his song, Like springs flowed strong; They fruitful made the valley long, And quickened all there drinking. Poor people and poor homes among In wintry region saddest, In Sunday's choir he always sung, Of all the world the gladdest: "The axis stout It turns about, Falls not the poorest home without, For thus, O God, Thou badest." With sickness came a heavy year And put to proof his singing, While helpless children standing near His trust to test were bringing. But glad the more, As soft notes soar When winds o'er hidden harp-strings pour, His song his soul was winging. His life foretold us that erelong With faith in God unshaken Shall all our nation stand in song, And church, home, school, awaken, In Norway's song, In gladness' song, In glory of the Lord's own song, From life's low squalor taken. Fair fatherland, do not forget, The children of his bower! He, poor as is the rosebush, yet Gave gladness till death's hour-- With failure's smart Let not depart From this thy soil so glad a heart,-- His garden, let it flower! SONG Song brings us light with the power of lending Glory to brighten the work that we find; Song brings us warmth with the power of rending Rigor and frost in the swift-melting mind. Song is eternal with power of blending Time that is gone and to come in the soul, Fills it with yearnings that flow without ending, Seeking that sea where the light-surges roll. Song brings us union, while gently beguiling Discord and doubt on its radiant way; Song brings us union and leads, reconciling Battle-glad passions by harmony's sway, Unto the beautiful, valiant, and holy --Some can pass over its long bridge of light Higher and higher to visions that solely Faith can reveal to the spirit's pure sight. Songs from the past of the past's longings telling, Pensive and sad cast a sunset's red glow; Present time's longings in sweet music dwelling, Grateful the soul of the future shall know. Youth of all ages in song here are meeting, Sounding in tone and in word their desire; --More than we think, from the dead bringing greeting, Gather to-night in our festival choir. ON THE DEATH OF N. F. S. GRUNDTVIG (1872) (See Note 57)