p. 158 | The Home Circle

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 15, 1879

The Home Circle.

"I GATHER THEM IN."

NIGH to a grave that was newly made Leaned a sexton old on his earthworn spade; His work was done, and he paused to wait The funeral train through the open gate; A relic of by-gone days was he, And his locks were as white as the foamy sea ; And these words came from his lips so thin, "I gather them in! I gather them in!".

"I gather them in! for man and boy, Year after year of grief and joy, I've builded the houses that lie around In every nook of this burial ground, Mother and daughter, father and son, Come to my solitude, one by one— But come they strangers or come they kin, I gather them in! I gather them in!"

"Many are with me, but still I'm alone! I am king of the dead, but I make my throne On a monument slab of marble cold, And my scepter of rule is the spade I hold. Come they from cottage, come they from hall, Mankind are my subjects—all, all, all! Let them loiter in pleasure, or toilfully spin, I gather them in! I gather them in!"

"I gather them in, and their final rest Is here, down here, in earth's dark breast." And the sexton ceased—for the funeral train Wound mutely over that solemn plain; And I said to my heart—when time is told, A mighter voice than the sexton's old Will sound o'er the last trump's dreadful din, "I gather them in! I gather them in!"