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Thus, though we for awhile,
Must miss thy sunny smile,
Though what may be thy destined lot we cannot, cannot tell;
And though we add a sigh
Unto our last good-bye,
Yet lovingly and hopefully we say to thee—"Farewell!"
Must miss thy sunny smile,
Though what may be thy destined lot we cannot, cannot tell;
And though we add a sigh
Unto our last good-bye,
Yet lovingly and hopefully we say to thee—"Farewell!"
ADA.
A fragile form, yet full of native grace;
Delicate cheeks, yet a sweet winsome face;
Soft, sparkling eyes, free utterly from guile;
Lips relaxed ever in a genial smile;
A gentle voice, whose tones, or grave, or gay,
Called the heart's deepest feelings into play;
A sunny presence bright'ning all around;
A life where joy seemed ever to abound,
Where sprang the living water, Christ-bestowed,
Filled the whole being, ay, and overflowed.
This was the Ada that we joyed to know
In days that seem so short a time ago,—
First of three orphan sisters, homeless, lone,
Yet welcoming a friend in everyone.
The rich to her were e'en as kindred near,
The poor no less were brethren, sisters dear;
The aged mirrored back her smile alway,
The children sought her oft to join their play;
She loved them all, and loved all beauteous things,
So merrily was borne on time's swift wings;
Yet often would she lift her wistful eyes
To visions seen by faith beyond the skies,
For she, too, had her share of sorrow here,
(Though the great Antidote was ever near),
And higher aspirations filled her soul
Than could be bounded by an earthly goal.
Delicate cheeks, yet a sweet winsome face;
Soft, sparkling eyes, free utterly from guile;
Lips relaxed ever in a genial smile;
A gentle voice, whose tones, or grave, or gay,
Called the heart's deepest feelings into play;
A sunny presence bright'ning all around;
A life where joy seemed ever to abound,
Where sprang the living water, Christ-bestowed,
Filled the whole being, ay, and overflowed.
This was the Ada that we joyed to know
In days that seem so short a time ago,—
First of three orphan sisters, homeless, lone,
Yet welcoming a friend in everyone.
The rich to her were e'en as kindred near,
The poor no less were brethren, sisters dear;
The aged mirrored back her smile alway,
The children sought her oft to join their play;
She loved them all, and loved all beauteous things,
So merrily was borne on time's swift wings;
Yet often would she lift her wistful eyes
To visions seen by faith beyond the skies,
For she, too, had her share of sorrow here,
(Though the great Antidote was ever near),
And higher aspirations filled her soul
Than could be bounded by an earthly goal.
We said farewell, and ocean bore her hence
Unto a land of purer radiance,
Unto a land of purer radiance,
