Part 1.
It is some long years ago,
And yet seems scarce a day,
That Jesus down from Heaven stooped,
And Henry took away.
The sturdy child was slightly ill
Upon the Sunday morn,
But when the clock the midnight tolled,
Our boy was from us torn!
And week on week lay Edgar sick,
But as his strength increased,
“Is Henry well?” he frequent said;
His questions seldom ceased.
Yet never heard he Henry’s voice,
He asked and asked in vain,
Until, at length, obliged to tell,
We said, “Not here again.
“Will you your brother see, dear boy,
For Henry is not here;
To Heaven, where Jesus lives, he’s gone:
Be patient, Edgar, dear.”
“O! shall we never on this earth,
Meet Henry anymore?”
Cried Edgar, lifting up his hands,
And weeping very sore.
“Dear mother, let us take the train,
And all to Heaven go,
Nor let us home return again,
I long to see him so—.”
“My darling boy,” his mother said,
“Such things can never be,
But we must wait till Jesus’ comes,
Then Henry we shall see.”
“My mother,” Edgar then would say,
“You have but one boy here,
Like two boys I will be to you,
And try your heart to cheer.”
And he would stroke away the tears,
His little best would try,
By loving and obedient ways,
To hush his mother’s sigh.
As in the wheel-chair by the sea
He sat, and stronger grew,
He oft would ask the passers-by,
If they of Henry knew.
And if one cared to hear his words,
And listened to his say,
“Henry’s in Heaven — Do you love God?”
Said he, in his sweet way.
When little more than five years old,
To health once more restored,
He with his uncle walked one day,
And spoke thus of the Lord.
They strolled along a pretty lane,
When two big men came by,
Who begged for halfpence, said they starved,
But spoke, alas, a lie.
Then holding to his uncle’s coat,
“Unless they Jesus love,”
Outspoke the child, “these naughty men
Will never go above.”
“Dear boy,” his uncle kindly said,
“Would you to Heaven go?”
“Indeed, indeed, I think I should.”
“Then why, I wish to know?”
“Say, would it be because you’re good?”
“O! no,” the child replied;
“No uncle, dear, but just because
Jesus for sinners died;
And I believe upon the Lord”—
O! children, what say you?
God grant you may the Saviour love,
And to His love be true!
“Edgar, my love,” his uncle asked,
“Do you to Jesus pray?”
“Yes, very often, uncle, dear;
Yes! many times a day.
And sometimes in the night as well,
Awake in bed I lie;
‘O! quickly make my sister well,’
To Him my heart will cry.
‘Please God to hear my little prayer,
Make haste—do not delay—
This week—tomorrow—very soon—
Perhaps, O Lord, today.’
But God does not do what I ask,
Dear sister is not well;
Yet why He does not answer me,
Indeed I cannot tell.”
“My love, you are a little child,
And do not always know
The best and wisest; but the Lord
Will teach you as you grow.”
“Then I will say, ‘If Thou dost please,
Make haste and hear my cry,
Bless’d Lord, when right it seems to Thee,’
And He will then reply.”
“And, Edgar, do you ask the Lord
For uncles, aunts, and all,
And for your cousins also, dear,
Do you on Jesus call?”
Then Edgar said he prayed indeed,
“That all might Jesus love!”
His heart was large, his wish the best,
That all might meet above.
His nurse, one day, was chiding him
For disobedient ways:
Then Edgar to his bedroom runs,
And to his God he prays.
He tells his Father of the fault—
Our sins we must confess—
And in his little heart he feels
God’s love and tenderness.
Then sweetly to his nurse he comes,
“Now, Nurse, dear, pardon me.”
“Stay, Edgar, you have naughty been,
So quick I cannot be.”
“But, Nurse, as God has pardoned me,
Forgive me so must you”;
Which, having heard, her tender heart
Did not delay to do.
ML 12/23/1917