CHERUB BAND. 141 GOD LOOKED AMONG HIS CHERUB BAND. GOD looked among his cherub band, And one was wanting there, To swell along the holy land The hymns of praise and prayer. One little soul which long had been He watched with loving eye. It was too promising a flower The world was all too bleak and cold To yield it quiet rest, God brought it to his shepherd-fold And laid it on his breast. There, mother, in thy Saviour's arms, For ever undefiled, Amid the little cherub band, Is thy beloved child. FUNERAL HYMN. WHERE the long reeds quiver, Sleeps our babe alone. England's field-flowers may not deck his grave, Woods unknown receive him, Midst the mighty wild; Yet with God we leave him, Blessed, blessed child! And our tears gush o'er his lonely dust, Though his eye hath brightened Oft our weary way, And his clear laugh lightened Half our heart's dismay; Still in hope we give back what was given, FUNERAL HYMN. And to her who bore him, Her who long must weep, From his pale, sweet sleep! 143 Those blue eyes of love and peace again Through her soul will shine, undimmed by pain. Where the long reeds quiver, Where the pines make moan, Earth to earth alone! God and Father! may our journeying's on From the exile's sorrow, From the wanderer's dread, Of the night and morrow, Early, brightly fled; Thou hast called him to a sweeter home, Now let thought behold him With his angel look, Where those arms enfold him, Which benignly took Israel's babes to their good Shepherd's breast, When His voice their tender meekness blessed. Turn thee now, fond mother! Here to dream and mourn! Only kneel once more around the sod, |