p. 419 | WE SHALL RISE

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 3, 1900

WE SHALL RISE.

In the course of his wanderings among the pyramids of Egypt, Lord Lindsay, the celebrated English traveler, accidentally came across a mummy, the inscription upon which proved to be at least two thousand years old. In examining the mummy after it was carefully unwrapped, he found in one of its hands a small root. Wondering how long vegetable life could last, he planted the bulb in a sunny soil. In a few weeks, to his surprise and joy, a plant appeared, and a beautiful flower bloomed. This incident suggested to Mrs. S. H. Bradford the following lines:—

Two thousand years ago a flower Bloomed lightly in a far-off land; Two thousand years ago its root Was placed within a dead man's hand.

Before the Saviour came to earth, That man had lived and loved and died; And even in that far-off time, The flower had spread its perfume wide.

Suns rose and set, years came and went, The dead hand kept its treasure well; Nations were born, and turned to dust, While life was hidden in that shell.

The shriveled hand is robbed at last, The root is buried in the earth; When lo! the life long hidden there, Into a glorious flower burst forth.

Just such a plant as that which grew From such a root when buried low— Just such a flower in Egypt bloomed, And died, two thousand years ago.

Then will not He who watched the root, And kept the life within the shell, When those he loves are laid to rest, Watch o'er their buried dust as well?

And will not he, from 'neath the sod, Cause something glorious to arise? Aye! though it sleeps through countless years, Yet from that buried dust shall rise

Just such a face as greets you now, Just such a form as here we bear, Only more glorious, will arise To meet the Saviour in the air.

Then will I lay me down in peace, When called to leave this vale of tears; For "in my flesh shall I see God," E'en though I sleep two thousand years.