As one by one they enter in, and the stern portals close once more, The halo seems to linger round those kneeling closest to the door:  The joy that lightened from that place shines still upon the watcher’s face.

The faint low echo that we hear of far-off music seems to fill The silent air with love and fear, and the world’s clamours all grow still, Until the portals close again, and leave us toiling on in pain.

Complain not that the way is long—­what road is weary that leads there? 
But let the Angel take thy hand, and lead thee up the misty stair,
And then with beating heart await, the opening of the Golden Gate.

VERSE:  PHANTOMS

Back, ye Phantoms of the Past;
In your dreary caves remain: 
What have I to do with memories
Of a long-forgotten pain?

For my Present is all peaceful,
And my Future nobly planned: 
Long ago Time’s mighty billows
Swept your footsteps from the sand.

Back into your caves; nor haunt me
With your voices full of woe;
I have buried grief and sorrow
In the depths of Long-ago.

See the glorious clouds of morning
Roll away, and clear and bright
Shine the rays of cloudless daylight—­
Wherefore will ye moan of night?

Never shall my heart be burthened
With its ancient woe and fears;
I can drive them from my presence,
I can check these foolish tears.

Back, ye Phantoms; leave, oh leave me
To a new and happy lot;
Speak no more of things departed;
Leave me—­for I know ye not.

Can it be that ’mid my gladness
I must ever hear you wail,
Of the grief that wrung my spirit,
And that made my cheek so pale?

Joy is mine; but your sad voices
Murmur ever in mine ear: 
Vain is all the Future’s promise,
While the dreary Past is here.

Vain, oh worse than vain, the Visions
That my heart, my life would fill,
If the Past’s relentless phantoms
Call upon me still!

VERSE:  THANKFULNESS

My God, I thank Thee who hast made
The Earth so bright;
So full of splendour and of joy,
Beauty and light;
So many glorious things are here,
Noble and right!

I thank Thee, too, that Thou hast made
Joy to abound;
So many gentle thoughts and deeds
Circling us round,
That in the darkest spot of Earth
Some love is found.

I thank Thee more that all our joy
Is touched with pain;
That shadows fall on brightest hours;
That thorns remain;
So that Earth’s bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

For Thou who knowest, Lord, how soon
Our weak heart clings,
Hast given us joys, tender and true,
Yet all with wings,
So that we see, gleaming on high,
Diviner things!

I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
The best in store;
We have enough, yet not too much
To long for more: 
A yearning for a deeper peace,
Not known before.