'T was morning in heaven, 'twas night on the earth,
And angels were gathered death's river anear,
To welcome a soul to the holier birth,
And sung, in their gladness, an anthem of cheer,
The pure and the loyal, the loving and blest.
All joined in the music of perfect accord:
"We welcome thee, spirit, by sorrow oppressed,—
Yea, enter thon into the joy of thy Lord!
"We welcome thee home from the darkness and care,
The trial and weariness, doubting and fear.
Hail! blest of our Father, no longer despair,—
The journey is ended, the guerdon is here;
Here, safe in the kingdom, no more to depart,
Where love, never fading, is sorrow's reward,
Are all the dear idols long lost from thy heart,—
O enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!"