William Baxter A Dream of Heaven (1852)

FROM

THE

MILLENNIAL HARBINGER:

FOURTH SERIES.

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VOL. II.] BETHANY, VA. JUNE, 1852. [NO. VI.
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A   D R E A M   O F   H E A V E N.

I dreamed the world had passed away,
      With all its toil and care,
That I had gained a happier clime,
      Where all was bright and fair.

A land where happy spirits dwelt,
      And oh! 'twas purest bliss,
To find the loved ones in that world
      That I had lost in this.

Glad was the welcome that they gave,
      And I knew not the pain
Of fearing, that the time would come
      When we should part again.

But as a bird from wintry climes,
      I folded soon my wing,
Content to rove no more, for there
      I found eternal spring.

Bright star-like flowers forever bloomed,
      By ever flowing streams,
Whose waters flashed most gloriously,
      In heaven's unsetting beams.

And music--oh! the melody
      Of that seraphic strain,
Which struck my ear when woke the hymn
      Of heaven's bright harper train.

Yet oh! the strain familiar seemed,
      Of that pure, lofty song,
"Salvation, power and majesty,
      To thee, O God, belong."

A crown was on my brow; but when
      Uprose that song so sweet,
Like those who sung, I gladly threw
      That crown before his feet.

But, mid the raptures of that song,
      I woke; but ah, what pain!
My high delights were visions all--
      I was on earth again.

Then while I live, may I, Oh God,
      Thy willing servant be;
Strive here to do thy will, and make
      My dream reality.

WM. BAXTER.      

[The Millennial Harbinger (June 1852): 360.]

ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

      William Baxter's "A Dream of Heaven" was first published in The Millennial Harbinger, Fourth Series, Vol. 2, No. 6, June 1852. The electronic version of the poem has been produced from the College Press reprint (1976) of The Millennial Harbinger, ed. Alexander Campbell (Bethany, VA: A. Campbell, 1852), p. 360. The poem was reprinted in The Ladies' Repository, Vol. 12, No. 7, July 1852, p. 246.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 21 June 1998.
Updated 28 June 2003.

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