']
"'_Paul, O Paul, forgive and be forgiven;
Earth is all trial;--there is peace in heaven_.'
"Aye, Captain, in that sad and solemn hour
I laid my hand upon the arm of Christ,
And he hath led me all the weary way
To this last battle. I shall win through Him;
And ere you hear the _reveille_ again
Paul and Pauline, amid the psalms of heaven,
Embraced will kneel and at the feet of God
Receive His benediction. Let me sleep.
You know the rest;--I'm weary and must sleep.
An angel's bugle-blast will waken me,
But not to pain, for there is peace in heaven."
He slept, but not the silent sleep of death.
I felt his fitful pulse and caught anon
The softly-whispered words "_Pauline_," and "_Peace_."
Anon he clutched with eager, nervous hand,
And in hoarse whisper shouted--"_Steady, men_!"
Then sunk again. Thus passed an hour or more
And he woke, half-raised himself and said
With feeble voice and eyes strange luster-lit:
"Captain, my boat is swiftly sailing out
Into the misty and eternal sea
From out whose waste no mortal craft returns.
The fog is closing round me and the mist
Is damp and cold upon my hands and face.
Why should I fear?--the loved have gone before:
I seem to hear the plash of coming oars;
The mists are lifting and the boat is near.
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