REFLECTIONS by Sarah E. Lindsley

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 28, 1862

REFLECTIONS

By Sarah E. Lindsley

On the Death of our dear sister H. S. Drake.

FOND, cherished hopes are vanished! terrestrial joys are fled; Dear sister, thou art numbered now with the sleeping dead.

Sudden was thy departure from sorrow and from woe, And now that thou art absent, a gloom is spread below.

When round the social altar, we miss thine earnest prayer, Or met for public worship, alas, we miss thee there. We miss thy exhortations, poured forth in fervent strain, That we might strive with ardor, eternal life to gain.

Long hadst thou been expecting, soon to behold thy Lord Upon the clouds descending, the faithful to reward. Thy hopes are disappointed; but still thou art more blest, For God in love hath chosen, to lay thee down to rest.

Safely from earth's commotions, sweetly dost thou repose, Hid from a stormy future, hid from thine inward foes. Almost we look with envy, upon the new-made mound, And wish ourselves beside thee, so peaceful in the ground.

But may we still be faithful, and to the end endure, And bear life's ills with patience, through trials growing pure. His grace is all sufficient, in whom we have believed, And none, howe'er unworthy, hath ever he deceived.

Not long will be thy slumbers, in yonder quiet tomb, The King of life is coming, to banish all its gloom, 'Tis then, beloved sister, we trust to meet thee there, Where scenes that mortal's ne'er conceived, the ransomed saints will share.

SARAH E. LINDSLEY. New Haven, N. Y.