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They watched and waited through your anxious days,

And when they saw, with heavenly wisdom blest,

That under God's wise counsel it was best

To give that life release from all its care,

And crown it for the cross it had to bear,

They took the ready spirit by the hand,

And led it safe to God's sweet Summer Land.

Death rings the soul no curfew from his bells, -

That solemn peal the heavenly morning tells.

Or it may be that for some lesser woe

His angels' feet have fallen light as snow

Among your troubled ways, to bring you peace,

To still your doubts, to bid your strivings cease.

Of some fair hope, perchange, you fondly dreamed,

And beautiful and good the vision seemed ;

But angels saw the poison in your cup,

And caught it e'er your hands could take it up.

You saw a garland wove from fairest bowers,

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