| Thomas R. Lounsbury, ed. (1838–1915). Yale Book of American Verse. 1912. |
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| John Greenleaf Whittier. 1807–1892 |
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| 74. Lines on the Death of S. O. Torrey |
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| Secretary of the Boston Young Men's Anti-Slavery Society |
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| GONE before us, O our brother, | |
| To the spirit-land! | |
| Vainly look we for another | |
| In thy place to stand. | |
| Who shall offer youth and beauty | 5 |
| On the wasting shrine | |
| Of a stern and lofty duty, | |
| With a faith like thine? | |
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| O, thy gentle smile of greeting | |
| Who again shall see? | 10 |
| Who amidst the solemn meeting | |
| Gaze again on thee?— | |
| Who, when peril gathers o'er us, | |
| Wear so calm a brow? | |
| Who, with evil men before us, | 15 |
| So serene as thou? | |
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| Early hath the spoiler found thee, | |
| Brother of our love! | |
| Autumn's faded earth around thee, | |
| And its storms above! | 20 |
| Evermore that turf lie lightly, | |
| And, with future showers, | |
| O'er thy slumbers fresh and brightly | |
| Blow the summer flowers! | |
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| In the locks thy forehead gracing, | 25 |
| Not a silvery streak; | |
| Nor a line of sorrow's tracing | |
| On thy fair young cheek; | |
| Eyes of light and lips of roses, | |
| Such as Hylas wore— | 30 |
| Over all that curtain closes, | |
| Which shall rise no more! | |
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| Will the vigil Love is keeping | |
| Round that grave of thine, | |
| Mournfully, like Jazer weeping | 35 |
| Over Sibmah's vine,— | |
| Will the pleasant memories, swelling | |
| Gentle hearts, of thee, | |
| In the spirit's distant dwelling | |
| All unheeded be? | 40 |
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| If the spirit ever gazes, | |
| From its journeyings, back; | |
| If the immortal ever traces | |
| O'er its mortal track; | |
| Wilt thou not, O brother, meet us | 45 |
| Sometimes on our way, | |
| And, in hours of sadness, greet us | |
| As a spirit may? | |
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| Peace be with thee, O our brother, | |
| In the spirit-land! | 50 |
| Vainly look we for another | |
| In thy place to stand. | |
| Unto Truth and Freedom giving | |
| All thy early powers, | |
| Be thy virtues with the living, | 55 |
| And thy spirit ours! | |
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