                                  A LEGACY
                          by John Greenleaf Whittier


                  Friend of my many years!
                 When the great silence falls, at last, on me,   
                 Let me not leave, to pain and sadden thee,
                  A memory of tears,

                  But pleasant thoughts alone
                 Of one who was thy friendship's honored guest
                 And drank the wine of consolation pressed
                  From sorrows of thy own.

                  I leave with thee a sense
                 Of hands upheld and trials rendered less - 
                 The unselfish joy which is to helpfulness
                  Its own great recompense;

                  The knowledge that from thine,
                 As from the garments of the Master, stole
                 Calmness and strength, the virtue which makes whole 
                  And heals without a sign;

                  Yea more, the assurance strong
                 That love, which fails of perfect utterance here,
                 Lives on to fill the heavenly atmosphere
                  With its immortal song.


                            back to main page
This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page