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Show How hollow the chant o'er the fun?ral pa,, How freely the praise they r giving, 'Twould be Balm to the Bad, to pmise the poor wretch, With a few kindly words while he'a living. , How costly the hearse that bears the lone corpse, To its last resting place 'neath the sod; And we seemingly wish him a tender goodbye, But when living, we'd scarce give a nod. We solomnly chant o'er his grave a low dirge, For him that's cut down by the "Reaper:" We quit the sad scene, it fades from our view, We forget the lone grave, and the sleeper, C. L. W. Suggested at a Funeral ' How lavish we strew the sweet scented llowers, O'er the coffins and' graves of the dead; And 6peak in loud praise of their virtuous deeds, But while living a word is ne'er 6:iid. We place on the casket sweet emblems of love, We set beauteous wreaths on the lid, And award all our praises of good to the corpse, Who, when living not one could be said. Sweet garlands of lillies we hang on the bier, As tributes of love and respect; We pile his good deeds on the black coffin lid, But while living we'd surely neglect. We deck the white shroud with amaranths fair, We kiss the cheek tear-stained and . tan'd, Which in life ne'er received tho press of our lips, Nor hardly a shake of the hand. We garnish the coffin with tapestry rioh, And eulogize hi in that is cold ; !And praise all his deeds at his funeral But whll'st living," not one could be told. 'I |