Christ's fair elect one, from a hidden life Of loving deeds and words of gentleness, Hath passed where all are loving and beloved, Beyond all weariness and all distress. Calm, like a lamb in shepherd's bosom borne, Quiet and trustful hath she sunk to rest; God breathed in tenderness the sweet "Well done!" That scarce awoke a trance so still and blest. Ye who remember the long loving years, The patient mother's hourly martyrdom, The self-renouncing wisdom, the calm trust, Rejoice for her whose day of rest is come! Father and mother, now united, stand Waiting for you to bind the household chain; The tent is struck, the home is gone before, And tarries for you on the heavenly plain. By every wish repressed and hope resigned, Each cross accepted and each sorrow borne, She dead yet speaketh, she doth beckon you To tread the path her patient feet have worn. Each year that world grows richer and more dear With the bright freight washed from life's stormy shore; O goodly clime, how lovely is thy strand, With those dear faces seen on earth no more! The veil between this world and that to come Grows tremulous and quivers with their breath; Dimly we hear their voices, see their hands, Inviting us to the release of death. O Thou, in whom thy saints above, below, Are one and undivided, grant us grace In patience yet to bear our daily cross,-- In patience run our hourly shortening race! And while on earth we wear the servant's form, And while life's labors ever toilful be, Breathe in our souls the joyful confidence We are already kings and priests with thee. SUMMER STUDIES Why shouldst thou study in the month of June In dusky books of Greek and Hebrew lore, When the Great Teacher of all glorious things Passes in hourly light before thy door? There is a brighter book unrolling now; Fair are its leaves as is the tree of heaven, All veined and dewed and gemmed with wondrous signs, To which a healing mystic power is given. A thousand voices to its study call, From the fair hilltop, from the waterfall, Where the bird singeth, and the yellow bee, And the breeze talketh from the airy tree. Now is that glorious resurrection time When all earth's buried beauties have new birth: Behold the yearly miracle complete,-- God hath created a new heaven and earth! No tree that wants its joyful garments now, No flower but hastes his bravery to don; God bids thee to this marriage feast of joy, Let thy soul put the wedding garment on. All fringed with festal gold the barberry stands; The ferns, exultant, clap their new-made wings; The hemlock rustles broideries of fresh green, And thousand bells of pearl the blueberry rings.