LINES IN MEMORY OF JAMES ERWIN
DIED 2OTH JANUARY 1910 AGED 19 YEARS

Oh, death how cruel is thy touch,
What grief when thou art near;
Why dids’t thou leave thy hand on such
As him we loved so dear.

So young, so bright, so full of mirth
We thought he was our own
But thou hast taken him from earth,
And we are left alone.

We often feel the teardrops fall
As we view the vacant chair;
We seem to hear the sweet voice call,
And think he still is there.

But as we drink life’s bitter cup
Of sorrow, grief, and pain,
A still voice whispers sweet, “Look up,
You’ll meet with him again.”

For death is but a messenger
Sent from a God of love,
To pluck earth’s fairest flowers,
To bloom in Heaven above.

And up among the angels
The one we loved awaits
To give to us a welcome
Within the pearly gates.

And so, although we are bereft
Of him we loved so well,
One blessed thought to us is left
He’s gone with Christ to dwell.

He’s safe with Him; oh, happy thought!
Safe from this world of sin;
Where pain and suffering enter not
Where all is joy within.

Anon, Ballyclose, 5th September 1910