-Twas a wild and stormy sunset, changing tints of lurid red
Flooded mountain top and valley and the low clouds overhead;
And the rays streamed through the windows of a building stately, high,
Whose wealthy, high-born master had lain him down to die.

Many friends were thronging round him, breathing aching, heavy sighs-
Men with pale and awe-struck faces, women, too, with weeping eyes,
Watching breathless, silent, grieving him whose sands were nearly run,
When, with sudden start, he muttered: -God! how much I-ve left undone!�

Then out spoke an aged listener, with broad brow and locks of snow,
-Patriot, faithful to thy country and her welfare, say not so,
For the long years thou hast served her thou hast only honor won.�
But, from side to side still tossing, still he muttered: -Much undone!�

Then the wife, with moan of anguish, like complaint of stricken dove,
Murmured: -Husband, truer, fonder, never blessed a woman-s love,
And a just and tender father both to daughter and to son�-
But more feebly moaned he ever: -Oh! there-s much, there-s much undone!�

Quickly, then, a proud, stern soldier questioned: -Say, will not thy name
Long descend in future story, linked with honor and with fame,
For thine arm was prompt in battle and thy laurels nobly won;
Patriot, citizen and soldier, what, then, is there left undone?�

Then the dying man upraised him; at his accents loud and clear
Into silence men lapsed quickly-women checked each sob and tear;
And he said: -To fame, home, country, all my heart, my thoughts I-ve given,
But, Oh dreamers, can you tell me what I-ve done for God-for Heaven?

-It was not for Him I battled with the sword or with the pen,
Not for His praise that I thirsted, but that of my fellow-men;
And amid the light now flooding this my life-s last setting sun,
I can see, misguided worldling! that there-s much I-ve left undone.�

Thicker, darker, fell the shadows, fainter grew his flutt-ring breath
Then a strange and solemn stillness, -twas the awful hush of death:
Hope we that a tender Saviour, unto gentle pity won,
Judged that dying man with mercy, whatsoe-er he left undone!