LIVINGSTONE'S SOLILOQUY

“My heart to-day

Is strangely full of home!

How is it

With the dear ones over there?

Five years!

Five long-drawn years!

And one short moment is enough

To alter life's complexion for eternity!

Home! Home! Home!

How is it with you all

At Home?

And you, my dearest one,

Are ever nearer to me than the rest!

Your body lies

Beneath the baobab

In far Shapanga;

But your soul is ever nearest

When I need you most.

Where a man's treasure is

His heart is.

And half my heart is buried there with you,

And half works on for Africa.

Home! Home! Home!

Why should such thought of home

Drag at my heart to-day?

Why should I longer roam?

Why should I not go home?

Five years of toilsome wanderings

May claim a rest!

Nay! God knows best!

When He sees well

He'll take me home and give me well-earned rest.

The work is not yet done.

This land of Night

Is not yet fully opened to the Son

And His fair Light.

But — when the work is done —

Ah — then!— how gladly will I go —

Home!— Home — Home!—

To rest!”