And as I deeply mused thereon, I said-
"If I were God, and he were in my stead,
I would not rest till all were comforted."
Then through the lonely places of my soul,
A sense as of a Living Presence stole,
Strong to sustain, and tender to console.
It spake no language, and no voice was heard,
Yet all my soul with eager longing stirred,
To catch the import of that living word.
And thus it spake,-"Seek thou to do and be,
Life must be lived, before the soul can see
The meaning of the Inner Mystery."
The morning came, and also came the end-
I saw the great white calm of death descend,
And seal with peace the forehead of my friend.
Then o'er my soul went surging to and fro
A nameless longing, to more surely know
That which my doubting heart had questioned so.
I gently laid my hand upon that head-
White with the snows the passing years had shed-
"Was life worth living? Oh, my friend!" I said.
And lo! as kindred souls in silence blend,
He answered, "Be thou comforted, Oh, friend!
Life is worth living. Death is not the end.
"What was, and is, and evermore shall be,
Enfolds us all in its eternity,
And blest indeed are those whom death makes free."
My soul was satisfied, I raised my eyes-
Filled with the tears that would unbidden rise,
And read life's lesson in the morning skies.
Above the mists and shadows of the night
The new-born day climbed up the golden height,
And all the stars went inward, lost in light.
Thus like the stars, our lives with light shall blend
And onward still from height to height ascend.
Life is worth living. Death is not the end.
Q
