GREETING HYMN.

Written for the Alumni of Albion College, Michigan; and sung at their last re-union, June, 1881.

The gliding years have rolled along, And once again we come, With greeting hand and choral song, To our old college-home;-- Sweet college-home! dear college-home! We gladly gather here, Old friends to greet, Old faces meet, And sing our songs of cheer!

A welcome true for those we meet, For those we miss, a sigh; Of some we ne'er again may greet, We speak with tearful eye; Some rest with God, whose feet once trod These halls with ours of yore; And some there are Who wander far On many a distant shore!

God, bless and keep the ones who roam, And us who meet again; And lit us each for that bright home Where comes no parting pain;-- Oh, aid us still, thro' good or ill Still earnest for the right, With spirits true, To dare and do, With Heaven and thee in sight!

And as the lingering years go by, And changeful seasons come, Still let thine eye rest lovingly On this old college-home;-- Sweet college-home! dear college-home! We gladly gather here, Old friends to meet, Old faces greet, And sing our songs of cheer!

ONE BY ONE

One by one, ye are passing, beloved, Out of the shadow into the light. One by one, Are your tasks all done. Ended the toil, and the swift race run. Child and maiden, mother and sire, Sister and brother, Ye follow each other, Out of the darkness where we stand weeping, Weary and faint with our virgil-keeping, Into die summer-land, peaceful and bright!

One by one, ye are passing, beloved, Out of the darkness round us that lies-- One by one, Gliding on alone, Hearing nor heeding our plaint and moan. Friend and lover, the fondest, best, Most tender and true, Ye pass from our view, Out of the night that enfolds us ever, Out of the mists where we moan and shiver; Into the joy-light of sunniest skies!

One by one, we are hasting, beloved, Out of the midnight into the day. One by one, Are _our_ tasks all done, And the race that is set us with swift feet run. Loved and parted ones, still our own, Nearing you ever We press toward the river. Over whose waters ye passed on before us, Shortly to join in your rapturous chorus, And swell the hosannas of Heaven for aye!

One by one, ye are greeting, beloved, Those whom you left for a while in tears. One by one Is the bright goal won By those ye lost sight of at set of sun. Child and maiden, mother and sire, Sister and brother, Ye're greeting each other, Up where the holy ones round you are singing, Up where the new song of Heaven is ringing, Never to part through eternity's years!

LOVE

God so loved me that He gave Jesus for my sins to die; Jesus loved me in the grave, Jesus loves me still on high,-- Father-love and Saviour-love, Mine on earth and mine above!

Love, from highest heights that stooped,-- Love, to deepest depths that came,-- Love, that 'neath my burden drooped,-- Bore my anguish and my shame-- Died, that I may never die,-- Living, lifts me to the sky!

Love, the arm that reached me first,-- Love, the hand that raised me up,-- Love, my prison-bars that burst,-- Love, that filled my brimming cup-- Filled it full of Heavenly wine-- Filled, and blessed, and made it mine!

Love, the holy, cleansing fount Where I wash my garments white,-- Love, my Tabor, hallowed mount, Where I stand with Him in sight,-- Love, my watch-tower, till the day Chase all earth-born mists away!

AN EVENING HYMN

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety"

The tranquil hours steal by On drowsy wings and slow, And over all the peaceful sky The stars of evening glow.

No gathering clouds I see, I hear no rising blast, I fold my tired hands restfully, As though all storms were past.

Yet, whether so or not, O Lord, thou knowest best! This night, let every anxious thought And trembling fear have rest

This night I will lie down In peace beneath thine eye, Nor heed what ills unseen may frown, Since thou art ever nigh.

I will lie down and sleep, From every terror free; Nor wake to tremble or to weep, Secure, O Lord, with thee!

DEATH

'Tis but to fold the arms in peace, To close the tear-dimmed, aching eye, From sin and suffering to cease, And wake to sinless life on high.

'Tis but to leave the dusty way Our pilgrim feet so long have pressed, And passon angel-wings away, Forever with the Lord to rest.

'Tis but with noiseless step to glide Behind the curtain's mystic screen That from our mortal gaze doth hide The glories of the world unseen.

Tis but to sleep a passing hour, Serene as cradled infants sleep; Then wake in glory and in power, An endless Sabbath day to keep.