THE EMPTY CHAIR

Wherever is an empty chair —

Lord, be Thou there!

And fill it — like an answered prayer —

With grace of fragrant thought, and rare

Sweet memories of him whose place

Thou takest for a little space!—

— With thought of that heroical

Great heart that sprang to Duty's call;

— With thought of all the best in him,

That Time shall have no power to dim;

— With thought of Duty nobly done,

And High Eternal Welfare won.

Think! Would you wish that he had stayed,

When all the rest The Call obeyed?

— That thought of self had held in thrall

His soul, and shrunk it mean and small?

Nay, rather thank the Lord that he

Rose to such height of chivalry;

— That, with the need, his loyal soul

Swung like a needle to its pole;

— That, setting duty first, he went

At once, as to a sacrament.

So, Lord, we thank Thee for Thy Grace,

And pray Thee fill his vacant place!