The Family Meeting.

We are all here!
Father, mother, sister, brother,

All who hold each other dear.
Each place is fill'd; we're all at home;
Today, let no cold stranger come:
It is not often thus around
Our old familiar town we're found:
Bless then the meeting and the spot;
For once let be every care forgot;
Let gentle Peace assert her power,
And kind Affection rule the hour;
          We're all - all here,

          We're not all here!
Some are away - the dead ones dear,
Who throng'd with us this ancient town,
And gave the hour to guiltless mirth.
Fate, with a stern relentless hand,
Look'd in and thinn'd our little band:
Some, like a night-flash, pass'd away,
And some sank lingering day by day;
he quiet gave-yard - some lie there -
And cruel Ocean has his share:
          We're not all here.

          We're are all here*
Father, mother, sister, brother,
     You that I love with love so dear.
This may not long of us be said;
Soon must be join the gather'd dead,
And by the town we now are round,
Some other circle will be found.
Oh! then, that wisdom may we know,
Which yields a life of peace below;
So, in the world to follow this,
May each repeat, in words of bliss,
          We're all - all - here!
                               CHARLES SPRAGUE.